Transport in Fiji : which one to choose, how much it costs

Fiji is the tourism hub of the South Pacific. On an archipelago of approximately 330 islands. You'll find plenty of travel options both between the islands and within the islands themselves. How to travel around Fiji?

Book hotels in Fiji upon prior request

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Air travel to Fiji

Fiji has two main airports: Nadi International Airport and Nausori International Airport in Suva. Domestic airports can be found on all islands and are basic and limited.

Most direct flights arrive from New Zealand, Australia or Los Angeles, and travelers from North America or Europe must usually connect through one of these airports.
The best prices can be found from Australia or New Zealand, especially during the low season from January to April. From North America or Europe the options are more limited. North American travelers heading to Fiji have two direct flight options to Nadi Airport: Air New Zealand or Fiji Airways. Both airlines have daily flights from Los Angeles, and Fiji Airways has two weekly flights from Vancouver via Honolulu. Air New Zealand offers convenient non-stop flights to Fiji via Los Angeles from Heathrow. Air New Zealand also offers a daily eastern route from London Heathrow via Hong Kong and New Zealand, although the journey takes 28 hours with two stops. The period from June to August and the Christmas holidays are especially popular and fewer discount offers are available.
Two airlines operate from Australia: Virgin Australia (virginaustralia.com) and Fiji Airways (fijiairways.com). Both airlines fly daily from Brisbane and Sydney and travel time is approximately 4 hours. Fiji Airways also operates four flights a week from Melbourne (5 hours).
A shorter flight (3 hours 5 minutes) is from New Zealand, with daily flights from Auckland.

Fiji has a second international airport, Nausori Airport, located in the capital Suva . However, if you are planning to visit Fiji's most popular tourist areas such as Denarau Island, the Coral Coast and the Mamanuca Islands, a direct flight to Nadi International Airport is the way to go.

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Domestic flights to Fiji

Traveling the Fijian archipelago by plane is an expensive way to get around the islands. With 28 airports across the country, there are plenty of domestic flight options to get you where you want to go. Most international travelers fly into major airports such as Nadi International Airport (NAN) and Nausori Airport (SUV), both of which are located on Fiji's main island, Viti Levu .

Small airstrips and airports serving domestic aircraft are located on the islands of Moala, Mana, Savusavu, Kadavu, Leikba, Vanua Balavu, Labasa and Taveuni. You can fly to these islands from Viti Levu . Airports operate on a flexible schedule, so be prepared to wait.

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Book inter-island domestic flights in advance. Otherwise there may simply not be any places.
Always confirm your return inter-island flight as soon as you arrive at a remote island within Fiji. This way, local airlines will know how to contact you in the event of a schedule change or cancellation.
Air Fiji flights from Nadi and Suva to Taveuni stop at Savusavu. Pacific Sun doesn't do that.
Weigh your bag as the baggage allowance on domestic flights may be 10kg instead of the 20kg allowed on international flights. You can usually take 20kg if you are connecting from an international to a domestic flight, but check with your airline.

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Helicopters and seaplanes

Airports are not the only places you can fly into Fiji. In Fiji, travelers not only have domestic airlines to take them from airport to airport and island to island, but also small charter planes, seaplanes and helicopters. Helicopters take passengers to resort helipads or beaches, and seaplanes take passengers directly to the resorts!

On seaplane flights, the baggage allowance is usually around 20 kg.

Seaplanes aren't for everyone - takeoffs and landings can be quite bumpy. For a helicopter or seaplane to operate a flight, there must be a minimum of two passengers.

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Rent a Car

Car rentals are widely available in Fiji. Each company has its own pricing policy: and you can often find discounts and special offers for long-term car rentals. All major companies have offices at Nadi International Airport. Most of them work 7 days a week, some around the clock. Before renting a car, think about how many kilometers you will drive. If you are going to travel far, for example to Suva (about 200 km), it is worth taking an unlimited kilometer rate.

Prices across all agencies range from $50 and up per day with unlimited mileage. Additional fee for risk reduction is about 10 dollars. It's worth getting local insurance when renting a car. Damage to the underbody and ceiling is not covered, so be careful when driving over Fiji's countless road imperfections and don't park under coconut trees!
All renters must be at least 21 years old, and some companies require that they be at least 25 years old and have at least 2 years of driving experience.
You can easily find gasoline at gas stations in all major cities. It is quite expensive.
In Fiji, you drive on the left. Seat belts are required. The speed limit is 80 km/h on the open road and 50 km/h in cities and other populated areas. You cannot drive a car while talking on a mobile phone. You must stop and let pedestrians pass at all designated crossings.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a criminal offense in Fiji. Police often block roads and test all drivers with breathalyzers.
Most roads in Fiji are narrow, poorly maintained and crooked. Not all local drivers are well trained, experienced or qualified, and some (including bus drivers) drive too fast for the conditions. Keep an eye out for potholes, landslides, sharp turns and stray animals - cows and horses pose a real danger, especially at night.
Be aware of speed bumps: most Fijian villages have them. They can cause serious damage to the underside of the car, and no local insurance will cover such damage.

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Buses in Fiji

Traveling around the main islands of Fiji by bus is the cheapest way to travel! 90% of Fiji's roads pass through the two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, so traveling by bus is a popular way to see the main islands.

Public buses are the most accessible form of transport in Fiji (and probably the riskiest!). Since this is Fiji, don't expect buses to follow a set schedule, usually stopping wherever and whenever you want. However, they will take you safely to your destination. You must pay for travel using an electronic card. Its denomination ranges from 2 to 100 US dollars. The card can be purchased on any bus, but you must pay in cash (Fijian dollars). You cannot pay for bus fares directly. These cards are valid for 30 days.
For a small additional cost, modern, comfortable and air-conditioned Fiji Express Coach Services buses offer a much more enjoyable way to travel over long distances. Express services usually run every half hour along Viti Levu Queens Road which will take you from Nadi to Sigatoka. Express buses are comfortable, air-conditioned buses that will cross the island in less than seven hours! There are express buses between Nadi and Suva either on Kings Road North or Queens Road South to Viti Levu. Express buses are slightly more expensive than public buses, but are very affordable: around FJD 22 per person between Suva and Nadi. The price is lower if you need to leave early. These buses stop at scheduled times, and some express buses , such as the Coral Sun Fiji, offer pick-up and drop-off at hotels and resorts.
There are also Hop-On Hop-Off tourist buses running on the island: buy a day or half-day ticket and hop on or off at any point on a tourist bus that travels along the route. These bus tours are a way to get a complete picture of your holiday in Fiji. Most bus tours offer half-day or full-day trips. Feejee Experience offers multi-day trips around Viti Levu . If you're staying on Denarau Island, one of the best ways to get around is the Hop-On Hop-Off bus. The open air Bula bus runs every 10-15 minutes and stops at all the main resorts and key tourist spots on the island.

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Transfer to your hotel in Fiji

The easiest way to get to the hotel from the airport is to use a pre- arranged transfer. You can choose from low-cost bus transfers and meet your travel companions along the way, or for a small additional fee you can choose a private transfer just for you. From the airport, you can drive to Denarau in about 20 minutes, to the Coral Coast in 2 hours, and to Suva, the capital of Fiji, in 3.5 hours.

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Transfer to your hotel in Fiji

The easiest way to get to the hotel from the airport is to use a pre- arranged transfer. You can choose from low-cost bus transfers and meet your travel companions along the way, or for a small additional fee you can choose a private transfer just for you. From the airport, you can drive to Denarau in about 20 minutes, to the Coral Coast in 2 hours, and to Suva, the capital of Fiji, in 3.5 hours.

Minibuses and minivans

There are also minivans and vans in Fiji that transport people. Registered minivans are easily identified by their yellow license plates, beginning with the letters LM for minivans and LC for carriers. Unlike regular taxis, minivans start from the main bus stations in Nadi, Suva, Lautoka and depart from these stations only after they have a sufficient number of passengers (usually four). Passengers are also picked up at bus stations along the route.
Passengers usually split the bill for a minibus ride. For example, a minibus ride between Nadi and Lautoka can cost around 100 Fijian dollars: each person will pay 25.
Minivans are significantly cheaper for traveling long distances.
This method is mainly popular for transporting locals between villages and towns on Viti Levu , Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau. In addition, more and more carriers are flying between Nadi and Suva.

Taxi in Fiji

Yellow taxis line the arrival terminal at Nadi Airport, waiting for tourists. These are typically SUVs, mid-size hatchbacks and people carriers that can seat four to six passengers. Taxis usually do not have child seats, and minivans must be reserved for large groups.

If you decide to hail a taxi on the street, be sure to check its license plate for LT or LH registration. Do not confuse them with minibuses, which pick up passengers at bus stops. Nadi Airport taxis are required to have meters, but drivers do not always turn them on.

There is no Uber in Fiji. Taxi services are available on the islands of Viti Levu , Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau. You can usually find taxi companies near bus stations in major cities. Keep in mind that taxis in rural towns may not have meters, so it's worth negotiating the fare in advance to avoid overpaying.

Water taxis

Water taxis are only available in Fiji between the main island of Fiji ( Viti Levu ) and Fiji's most visited island groups, the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. Elsewhere in Fiji, there are regular resort shuttles and ferries that provide an alternative to island hopping. Water taxis are the most expensive form of water transport in Fiji. Mamanuca Express serves almost all resorts on the Mamanuca Islands, as well as Viwa and Nanuya Islands in the Yasawa Islands. They have two water taxis: a 33-passenger fast water taxi and a 12-passenger small boat. Transfer cost at the resort: group 1-4 people 580-990 FJD / group 5-8 people 700-1150 FJD.

Water taxi bookings can be made directly through company websites, by phone or email, as well as through travel agents and booking sites.

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Fiji Ferries

Fiji is an archipelago of three hundred islands. And one of the most economical ways to travel between the islands is by ferry. Low-cost passenger and car ferries sail to Fiji's more remote islands daily or weekly.

There are several flights from the main island of Viti Levu to other island groups that depart regularly every day. From Port Denarau Marina you can reach the popular Mamanuca Islands in 45 minutes to an hour, while the slightly more remote Yasawa Group can be reached in about four hours.

Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands are the most popular islands in Fiji. You can get there by ferry: from 9:00 to 16:00 every day.

South Sea Cruises' three reliable shuttle boats from Nadi connect the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands with Denarau and Nadi Islands. Tiger IV and Cougar make three trips a day through the Mamanuca, and the Yasawa Express sails to and from Yasawa once a day.

Regular ferry services operate between the Port of Denarau and the resorts on the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands, as well as between Suvoi and Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Lomaiviti, Kadavu and Lau Islands.

There are also daily flights on longer-distance flights between Suva or Natovi to Viti Levu, Buresala on the Lomaiviti Islands and Nabuwalu. There is also a small ferry, Amazing Grace/Taveuni Princess, which operates between the islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu, while between Suvoy and Kadavu, Suvoy and Koro (Lau Islands) only have weekly freight ferries.

Ferries also operate between the main islands, carrying cars and passengers. However, their schedule can change dramatically depending on the weather and the condition of the ships.

Ferry routes to the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands:

Malolo Cat ( Viator / Tripadvisor ) and South Sea Cruises ( Viator / Tripadvisor ) serve the Mamanuca Islands, while South Sea Cruises/Awesome Adventures Fiji ( Viator / Tripadvisor ) serve the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands.

Port Denarau - Malolo Lailai Island: from 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Port Denard AU – Beachcomber/Treasure Islands: 45 minutes

Port Denarau – Barefoot Island Kuata/Wailalai: 2 hours

Port Denarau – Paradise Cove/Mantaray Island Resorts: 3 hours

Port Denarau - beach Blue Lagoon Beach Resort /Oarsman's Bay Lodge: 4 hours 30 minutes

Ferries to Lomaiviti, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu and Lau:

Interlink shipping line: Natovi – Nabuwalu (3 hours)

Fiji Sea Road: Buresala – Natovti – Nabuwalu (6 hours)

Gundar Shipping: Suva – Savusavu (12 hours) Savusavu – Taveuni (2-3 hours)

Goundar Shipping: Suva – Kadavu (4-8 hours )

Amazing Grace/Princess Taveuni: Buka Bay - Nakara (1 hour 30 minutes - 2 hours)

Ferry routes to the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands

Malolo Cat (Viator / Tripadvisor) and South Sea Cruises (Viator / Tripadvisor ) serve the Mamanuca Islands, and South Sea Cruises/Awesome Adventures Fiji (Viator / Tripadvisor) serve the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands:

Malolo Cat: Port Denarau - Malolo Lailai Island (1 hour)

South Sea Cruises: Route 1 – Port Denarau – South Sea Island – Serenity Island – Treasure/Beachcomber Islands – Mana/Tadray Islands – Castaway Island – Malolo Island – Port Denarau

South Sea Cruises: Route 2 – Port Denarau – Tokoriki Island – Matamanoa Island – Treasure/Beachcomber Islands – Serenity Island – South Sea Island – Port Denarau

South Sea Cruises: Route 3 – Port Denarau – South Sea Island – Serenity Island, Treasure Islands/Beachcomber – Mana/Tadray Islands, Castaway Island, Malolo Island, Port Denarau

South Sea Cruises: Route 4 – Port Denarau – Malolo Island – Castaway Island – Mana/Tadray Islands – Treasure/Beachcomber Islands – Serenity Island – South Sea Island – Port Denarau

South Sea Cruises: Route 5 – Port Denarau – Tokoriki Island – Matamanoa Island – Malamala Beach Club – Port Denarau

South Sea Cruises: Itinerary 7 - Part of the Amazing Adventures of Yasawa Itinerary

South Sea Cruises: Route 8 – Port Denarau – Malamala Beach Club – South Sea Island – Port Denarau

South Sea Cruises: Route 9 – Port Denarau – Malamala Beach Club

South Sea Cruises: Route 10 – Port Denarau – South Sea Island – Malamala Beach Club – Port Denarau

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Traveling to Fiji by ocean

You can arrive in Fiji by private yacht or on one of the few cruise ships that call at Lautoka or Suva. Several large cruise ships visit Fiji, but usually spend only a day in port, either in Lautoka, Suva or Savusavu, before cruising the islands. There are 4 ports for yachts in Fiji: Suva, Lautoka, Levuka and Savusavu. Permission must be requested at least 48 hours prior to arrival. Most yachts leave Fiji by September or October before hurricane season and start arriving again between May and August.

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