After almost 20 months of border closures, on 1 December, 2021, Fiji opened to fully vaccinated visitors from travel partner countries, Australia included. To say those countries were excited is an understatement. In that week alone, Skyscanner saw a +120% increase in search for flights to Fiji, with the spike in interest continuing in the weeks that followed.
Although not confirmed, it’s easy to assume a large chunk of those searching were families. The island nation has long been known for its many kid-friendly activities — jet boating, snorkelling and taking a nature tour, to name a few — as well as its abundance of family resorts.
But with so many on offer, how do you even go about choosing which one is right for you? Ahead, to make it easier for you, we’ve rounded up 10 of the island nation’s best kid-friendly resorts. While Denarau Island is known to house many of them, we’ve also included a handful of family-friendly resorts from other islands, so you and the crew have the option of seeing a quieter, other side to Fiji, too.
Denarau Island
Radisson BLU
Nestled among tropical gardens with waterfalls and a private beach, Radisson BLU feels far more remote than the 15-minute drive from Nadi Airport, and the less than 10 from Port Denarau, home to dozens of shops, would suggest. Kids can splash around in one of four lagoon pools, slide down a whitewater tunnel or dine at one of six restaurants.
Sofitel Fiji Resort
Family rooms and suites at Sofitel Fiji Resort offer bunk beds, as well as access to Niu Kids Beach Club, a kid’s club featuring splash and play water areas, a climbing wall, trampoline, playhouse and three interactive indoor play areas. And, for the older kids, the Teenage Zone for 12 to 16-year-olds should appeal with its X-Box, Playstation and arcade games.
Coral Coast
Outrigger
A long-time Fiji family resort favourite, Outrigger has a full day of activities kids and teens can choose from including supervised activities and tours, water polo, a sand dune adventure and even a student exchange trip to a local Fijian high school.
Shangri-La Yanuca Island
Set away on its own little island off the mainland, accessed via a bridge, Shangri-La Yanuca Island is guaranteed to be a kid-favourite with its inflatable water park in a lagoon and Little Chiefs Club, as well as the option to play mini golf, basketball and tennis. And for the adults, they’ll enjoy child-free area, The Reef Wing.
Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort
Planet Trekkers, the kids club at beachfront Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort, caters to two distinct age groups — ages 4-7 and 8-12 — and has three sessions throughout the day that each include a meal. Kids under four years old can visit, but must be accompanied by a resort nanny.
Pacific Harbour
Nanuku Auberge Resort
Planting mangroves and coral with the resort’s resident marine scientist, snorkelling beautiful reef Beqa Lagoon and taking a lesson in judo or boxing are just a few of the many activities kids can do at Nanuka Auberge Resort. Kids aged six and under have a dedicated nanny available to them from 8am–8pm.
Suncoast
Volivoli Beach Resort
Families will be spoilt for choices when it comes to water-based activities at Volivoli Beach Resort. Snorkel on its house reef in search of ornate ghost pipefish, seahorses and a resident white frog fish named ‘Froggy’, kayak through thick mangroves or cruise the sea at sunset, looking out for dolphins, and, for the adults, with a sparkling wine-in-hand.
Mamanucas Islands
Six Senses Fiji
Tree planting, bracelet weaving and pizza-making are some of the activities available at Six Senses Fiji’s kids club Grow with Six Senses. And for the whole family, the resort offers bike use, yoga classes and island-hopping day cruises. If you’re keen to have your kid learn much about sustainability, look no further than this resort.
Castaway Island
Holidaying with the kids is easy on Castaway Island with family-sized bures, conveniently located beachfront, next to the resort’s restaurants and sporting facilities, and with a kids club. There, kids can play educational games or embark on supervised adventures that will help them better understand Fijian culture.
VOMO Island
The Kids Village is the name of the kids club on VOMO Island. Most all of its activities have a distinct Fiji focus so your kids can learn about and better appreciate the island and its surrounding reefs. They’ll also get a lesson in the coconut tree, the ‘tree of life in Fiji’, as well as get the chance to make some arts and crafts using items found in nature.
Savusavu
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Jean-Michel Cousteau is all about lessening our impact on the environment, and junior eco-warriors can learn all about how to conserve and protect nature at the Bula Kids Club where they’ll be taught coral planting and traditional cooking. The resort also has a pool with a waterslide, a zipline and a trampoline.
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