Things to do in Nadi, Fiji

I spent about 2 weeks in Nadi, Fiji, finding my feet, exploring, and planning my 3 month stay in Fiji.

Nadi is home to the main international airport in Fiji, Nadi International Airport, which is also the main hub for all of the South Pacific - it has connecting flights to and from places like the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga etc.

There's not quite that much to do in Nadi itself, but the surrounding areas have so many sites worth visiting. However, due to transportation issues, exploration and sightseeing requires a bit of planning around renting a car, joining a tour, or paying someone a flat fee to take you around for a fixed number of hours. 

That said, here are my favorite things to do in and around Nadi.

1. Garden of the Sleeping Giant: This botanical garden is located at the foothills of the Sabeto Range, about 20 minutes outside of Nadi. It was started as a private collection in 1977 by the late actor, Raymond Burr (star of Perry Mason and Ironside) but eventually grew into a massive tourist attraction. 

Garden of the Sleeping Giant showcases more than a thousand different species of orchids, and even more native flowers and trees covering almost 20 hectares, a few lily ponds. 

It takes less than an hour to walk through the garden however, if you make it to the stairs that go up into the mountains, that time can easily go up to 2 hours depending on how high up you go into the mountains. 

You can also reserve the garden for weddings, parties, and corporate events. The garden is open daily from 9am - 5pm and costs 30FJD, which includes a free mocktail at the end of your visit.

2. Day trip to sail, snorkel, or visit an island on the west coast of Nadi. Given the lack of white sand beaches, clear waters and general access to fun, chill times at beaches in Nadi, I strongly recommend taking a day trip to quell your island cravings. Through South Sea Cruises, you can go sailing for a few hours, swimming with manta rays, visiting Castaway Island (where the movie Castaway was shot), visiting South Sea Island (I did this), or spending all day at a beach club or resort.

- South Sea Island is a stunning destination in Fiji's Mamanuca Islands, known for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs and a variety of activities for visitors. The island is only a 45-minute ferry ride from Port Denarau and makes for a perfect way to spend a free day.

The only way to get to the Island is by tickets through South Sea Cruises. Your ticket grants you transportation which includes a shuttle pick up and drop off from your hotel to the Port Denarau, as well as the ferry ride to and from the island, on a huge catamaran with airconditioned lounges, open air decks and free Wi-Fi.

Once on the island, your ticket also includes free activities like snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, subsea adventure in a semi-submersible coral viewer, beach volleyball, pool access, free drinks all day, free lunch (bbq buffet), and a Fijian ‘Meke’ performance at lunchtime (daily except Sundays). 

You can also pay an additional fee for massages, scuba diving, and premium drinks but the basic cost is $222FJD/ $100 USD.

3. Grab a meal at Swagat Authentic Indian Restaurant: Due to the remnants of colonization, there is a huge Indian population in Fiji who are referred to as Indo-Fijians (their ancestors were brought over as indentured servants by the Brits to work the sugarcane fields in the late 1800s-early 1900s... you know how it goes). Anyway, as a result, there is a huge Indian influence in Fijian culture and really good Indian food everywhere. Swagat is by far my favorite Indian restaurant in Fiji, it has a location in Nadi and Suva (the capital of Fiji) and the quality was consistent at both spots. Their menu is extensive, I liked every single thing I had there, will be back if I ever make it back to Fiji, and strongly recommend going there for a meal... 10/10 recommend. First photo of is Palak Paneer, Chicken Lollipop, and Plain Roti. Second Photo is of Lamb Korma, Garlic Naan, Peas Pulao, with Ginger Tea. Each meal totaled a little over $40FJD (under $20USD)

4. Sabeto Mud Pool and Hot Spring: This locally owned and operated mud pool is located only about 30 minutes outside of Nadi, at the Sabeto Range, and close to Garden of the Sleeping Giant mentioned above (I recommend seeing both on the same trip). The Mud pool is heated by natural hot springs and it is believed that due to the mineral composition of the mud, it has healing properties that makes it great for detoxing and rejuvenating the body.

After stripping down to your conservative swim/sportswear, you will be given a bucket of mud and instructed to apply it all over your body. Try to bring dark-colored ones because it took me several washes to save my sports bra from permanent stains. After applying the mud, you'll have to wait for it to dry off so that's a good time to visit the souvenir market and check out other pools. Once dry, you'll be instructed to go into the first mud pool to rinse off as much as possible. Whoever you are assigned to will also take your phone and take photos of you the entire time.

All of the pools are naturally warm so this is an activity that can be done in cool weather however, it might take longer for the mud to dry if temperatures are low with not much wind so that might be something to consider. The pools are numbered, the first 2 are warm mud pools while the last 3 are hot springs lined with tiles. Therefore, the water gets cleaner the higher you go up the number of pools because you are required to go through them sequentially.

It felt therapeutic dipping into all of the hot springs and trying to figure out the warmest and coolest spots in each pool. I absolutely enjoyed myself though I think it would be a lot more fun with company. If you don't have a car, you will have to either pay a taxi to take you and wait for you or take the bus to Lautoka, get off on the side of the road and walk about 30minutes. Personally, I paid someone $90FJD (about $40USD) to drive me around for the day and it was totally worth it.

It costs $30 FJD/$13 USD for full use of the facilities for the day, $5FJD/$2 USD to rent a towel if you need one, and another $30FJD for a massage. You can also buy water or coconuts at an additional cost.

5. Denarau Island: Denarau Island is a small private resort development about 15 west of Nadi that can be reached by car via a short causeway over a creek. You can either take a taxi or public bus there. Denarau Island has a marina (Port Denarau), hotels, a golf course, and a gated residential community.

At the marina, you can take a ferry from Port Denarau to the neighboring islands (like South Sea Island), go shopping, or dine at one of the multiple restaurants there. On my third day in Nadi, I had lunch at Sails, a restaurant on the port, and honestly, this Moala Stack (shredded lobster, Moala prawns, roasted eggplant, vatu-i-ra fish and wild fern stacked on young coconut milk) remains one of my favorite meals over my 3-month stay in Fiji.

On one of 2 other days I was there to take the ferry out, I had breakfast at Lulu Bar and I really liked it as well. The waiter recommended that I have Lulu's big breakfast, which I got with a cup of Iced Chai for $41.71FJD (under $20USD), which I also enjoyed.

For the 9 hotels on the island, I've only been to Wyndham Resort and Sofitel Resort and Spa. Wydham is a timeshare so I'm not sure if you can get a day pass. Even if you could, it's beach lined by a seawall made up of rocks so you would be limited to only the pools and that's just not worth it. As for Sofitel on the other hand, you can walk there from the Marina, walk around the resort and eat by the beach, even if you're not staying there. The layout of the resort makes it such that swimming in the ocean is possible and wouldn't feel odd - this might sound like a random thing to say but given how much I had to hunt down swimmable beaches around Nadi, I promise it is a necessary share.

Chicken skewers by the pools

Sofitel beach

Wyndham beach

6. (Get a bus card) Take the bus: There are multiple buses that go through Nadi and neighboring suburbs/towns. A bus ride is about $2FJD but if you get a Vodafone card, it's under $1.60FJD (about 50cents USD) per ride and the cards are good for buses all over Fiji. The buses don't have windows and have little ropes you can pull to indicate you would like to drop off at the next bus stop. I recommend using them when you're not in a hurry because it's a really fun way to see each city, talk to locals, and keep transportation costs low.  

7. Visit Nausori Highlands: This beautiful mountain range is about an hour outside of Nadi, on the interior part of Viti Levu. It has amazing hiking and off-roading scenic routes, as well as a few waterfalls. 

On a clear day, you can see the beaches and sensational views over Viti Levu, the Mamanuca Islands and all the way to the Yasawa Islands on the horizon. Even when it's too cloudy to see that far out, catching a sunrise on the mountains can be a humbling, exhilarating experience. These photos are in black and white because I was paid to shoot at these spots for a campaign that hasn't been published yet and the clothes belong to them so it would be in poor taste... but I plan on replacing them with photos from the editorial shoot once the campaign launches in North America, Asia, and Oceania.

8. Visit a rural village: There are a number of traditional villages around Nadi where locals live rurally, eating primarily off the land, and under the leadership of the village chief. I recommend Viseisei, the oldest known settlement on the islands. It is believed to be the landing site of the first Fijians, providing rich historical insights into the origins and development of Fijian society.  The village still has traditional huts known as ‘bure,' crafted from locally sourced materials such as bamboo and thatch.

Stock photo of Viseisei

Visiting a rural village gives you a unique opportunity to engage with the local community, gaining a deeper understanding of the Fijian way of life. They are the perfect places to participate in community events like Kava ceremonies, explore local markets, or do a homestay with a local family for an immersive, enlightening Fijian cultural experience.

When you get to any village, you will need to give a donation/gift, called Sevu sevu, in appreciation for them opening up their community to you. Also, if you choose to spend the night (which I recommend or at least do a homestay in any village/city in Fiji), you'll get the opportunity to support local family, learn about one another's culture's intimately, and feel a sense of connection to the country.

9. Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple: It is the largest Hindu temple in the Pacific and in the southern part of Nadi. Entry fee is $5FJD, you can either walk the grounds yourself or join a guided tour from 8:30am - 3pm for the same fee. If you have never been to a Hindu temple or are just generally curious about its specific history, then it would be something worthwhile to visit.

10. Show up with an open mind: If you don't have time to explore the outskirts of Nadi and are not staying in a resort, you will be surprised by everything Nadi isn't. However, Fijians are generally warm, friendly, and easy to talk to so I encourage you to take a bus to town just to faff about, meet and talk to locals. After my first day of misadventures and a mindset change, I had a wonderful time in Nadi and would go back to spend at least a few days there doing some of these things again.