Fiji is one of the favourite destinations for travel with kids but you may be confused about the best place to stay in Fiji? Should you stay in Denarau Fiji, on one of the many islands or perhaps the Coral Coast? Read on for the best family friendly accommodation advice for Fiji.
We have travelled to Fiji on a couple of occasions and have stayed in budget backpackers, right through to five-star Fiji resorts and the different areas really do offer different benefits and reasons to consider staying. Let me help you to work out how to choose a region so that you can select the best holiday for your family to Fiji in the South Pacific.
Denarau Island Resorts
Denarau for families offers top notch resorts and is easy, convenient and fun for a low stress trip. If you are after some indulgent resorts, plenty of options to keep the kids entertained and you are content enough to swim in some of the best resort pools then definitely consider Denarau for your next family trip.
What you need to know…
Nadi Airport to Denarau Island is just a short 15-20 minute trip meaning it is a great choice if you are arriving on evening flights with kids or if you have a super early departure. Quickest way to your hotel is via a direct transfer and for travelling infants you can book a Fiji transfer with child restraint through Tourist Transport Fiji.
Denarau Island has been created as a destination in itself with many high quality five star resorts ready to pamper you on your next break. Many travellers opt to use Denarau for a few days either side of a Fiji island resort to allow the hassle-free airport connections. This allows you the best of both worlds with a Fiji island experience and the opportunity to stay in one of Fiji's best Denarau resorts.
The weather in Denarau and Fiji generally is best between May to October which is the dry season. We have visited Fiji in both May and July with both producing warm, sunny days. There was a little more rain in May but predominantly overnight with the days clearing to stunning clear days.
Young kids love the Bula Bus which connects the Denarau Marina to all of the resorts. A fun hop-on hop-off travel option to visit all the little corners of Denarau or to resort-hop and try out the different pools or restaurants and cafes. A charge system has recently been introduced to this shuttle service which you can check on their website.
There is a supermarket in Denarau Marina for snacks and kids supplies along with some cafes which is a nice break from eating at resorts.
Restaurants are plentiful and you should try the options at all the other resorts, or alternately at the Marina restaurants or the Denarau Golf Club. Our favourite Denarau restaurant was "Nadina" found at the Marina which serves traditional Fijian food complete with a beautiful water view over the harbour.
Whilst the beaches in Denarau are clean they are the brown sand versions as opposed to the powdery white sands and crystal waters that you will find on the outer islands.
Best Denarau Resort for Families
We have provided our top three recommendations for family friendly resorts on Denarau Island below. We have provided a full review on the Radisson Blu Fiji Resort which you should read for more details on this hotel.
Keep in mind that Fiji and Denarau prices will peak over Australian school holiday periods. If looking for a cheaper deal try to check out dates outside of these times. May/June and August/September can give you a good price, quieter resorts and still within the dry season.
Our top choice for Denarau, the Radisson Fiji has a fantastic pool completed with sand play edges and a kids slide as well as suites that allow the family to spread out and enjoy their Fiji holiday.
A relaxing and high quality resort the Sheraton offers a stay and play deal when travelling with kids making it a great option. In addition they provide reciprocal access to the nearby Westin Resort facilities.
With a gorgeous lagoon pool and family friendly vibe the Sofitel is a long time favourite Denarau resort. The resort is undergoing a major refurbishment in 2020 so will be re-opening even better than before.
Things to do Denarau Island
Enjoy the resort pools! If you are anything like me the resort pool can be the major selling point for my booking as I love pools that allow you to set up in your own quiet space, read a book or chat whilst the kids play.
All resorts in Denarau offer fully immersive kids clubs and babysitting. Fiji resorts offer some of the most interactive and involved kids club activities where they can become immersed in the cultural learnings of Fiji. For older kids the evening events are always popular and worth booking your kids into.
Take a day cruise. There are many day trips to the Islands that can be booked to head out for the day and explore the open blue waters.
Take the kids to Big Bula Water Park. Always a winner with families this is a great new addition to Denarau.
Visit the indoor soft play centre Fun Factory Fiji located at the Denarau Marina. This one is a great option for toddlers if you get a rainy day.
Get Active - Excellent recreation and sporting facilities can be found in Denarau. The resorts offer world class golf and tennis along with calm, glossy waters which are perfect for kayaking, sailboats or stand up paddleboards. For those travelling with young children I also really enjoyed that the whole of Denarau is connected with pram friendly footpaths meaning you can go for a run or a relaxing evening stroll without walking along the roads.
Best Coral Coast resorts for families
The Coral Coast is located approximately an hour and a half from Nadi airport depending on which resort you are staying. More relaxed and low key than Denarau, the Coral Coast still offers top notch resorts with lush vegetation and white sandy beaches that are filled with interesting marine life. There is a small restaurant strip known as the Sunset Strip but you will need to check the location of resorts to see how accessible this area is to your location.
What you need to know…
It can be tricky navigating Fiji’s tourism to find authentic Fijian culture. Sadly, some of the resort tourist shows can come across as merely 'put on for the tourists' so it is nice if you can find genuine encounters with locals on your visit to Fiji. The Fijian people are warm and friendly and when you stay on the Coral Coast you are close to some small villages and communities, opening the door to some interesting interactions. We found a local who walked us to some remote waterfalls on the way stopping to show us the local school kids playing football which was nice to experience without being part of a tour.
The beaches on the Coral Coast are much prettier than Denarau and sunsets in the region are serene. Picture beaches with palm trees cascading towards the water and interesting sea life (lots of large sea snakes when we were there!) to get the kids into explorer mode. The natural environment on this part of Fiji is more tropical and dense with beautiful lush vegetation so you may find this to be a more authentic choice in Fiji.
A rental car is not a bad idea if staying in this part of Fiji as most resorts are spread apart and you are a little more restricted for places to eat beyond your own resort restaurants.
The Coral Coast offers a fabulous range of accommodation. There are no shortage of luxurious resorts that cater beautifully for travel with kids and as can be expected with Fiji they all provide exceptional services to keep your kids active and busy. For the budget conscious there are also some lower cost options for a holiday on the Coral Coast
Three Best Coral Coast resorts for families
The Intercontinental Fiji is your stylish option for a family resort holiday. With a sweeping beach and impressive pools this is luxury resort epitomised. With the Planet Trekkers kids club and an award winning spa both parents and kids are catered for.
One of Fiji's oldest resorts but still consistently one of the best. The Warwick offers an all-inclusive approach and has good connections with local tour operators to extend your experience beyond the resort.
Located on it's own private island, Yanuca the Shangri-La is connected by its own causeway to the main island. Highlights of the Shangri-La include the Sea Sports centre complete with diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and glass bottom boat tours. There is even a water park floating in the lagoon to keep the kids entertained for hours. Beautiful rooms, perfect scenery and a wonderful holiday for all.
Yasawa or Mamanuca Islands
Jumping on board a catamaran from Denarau Marina you can very quickly find yourself disembarking on the sandy shores of some of the most pristine pacific islands. There are many great reasons to include an island break when you travel to Fiji and most resorts are tailored to either families or couples so you can quickly get a clear picture of which island might suit your family travel style.
What you need to know….
On a trip to Fiji you will quickly come across the local phrase “Fiji Time” and this concept can never be as clearly articulated as spending a few days on a Fijian island. There are no schedules or expectations and you can simply savour the quiet family moments.
Due to the isolation of being on an island many resorts include full board options which can make travelling with kids really easy if you like all-inclusive travel.
For the very best beaches in Fiji you really do need to venture out to the islands. It is here that you can truly swim in those picture perfect turquoise waters that are famously splashed across the Fiji tourism sites
The very best snorkelling and dive sites are found on the remote reefs off the islands. Fiji is a fabulous spot to teach your kids to snorkel as the waters are calm and clear and the brightly coloured tropical fish can be found once you find that perfect snorkelling spot in Fiji!
Take an island break for what it is, a wonderful opportunity to rest and relax and to take in a beautiful destination with your family.
Best family friendly Fijian Island resorts
A five star resort experience on Naukacuvu Island. Kid friendly and oozing sophistication this island resort will give you the opportunity to snorkel up close to giant manta rays.
This resort is located on the stunning Nacula Island and allows for a budget friendly Fijian island escape. Comfortable accommodations cater well for families with suites catering for up to 4 in one room.
Staying in traditional Fijian thatched bures, Castaway Island can become your second home. A long time favourite for families travelling to Fiji.
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If you would like to read more detail on one of the best family friendly resorts in Fiji check out this review on the Radisson Blu Denarau.
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