I wanted this list to be unique. We love Fiji. And Fiji with kids truly is an ultimate family holiday destination to the tropical South Pacific! Sure there are the usual lists of package holiday deals with kids clubs and luxury day spas to indulge in. (Those are great too by the way). But there are is so much more to this tropical paradise. And a whole load of cool things to do in Fiji with kids that makes it such a unique family holiday destination!
Here is our tried and tested list of favourites and the best things to do in Fiji with kids!
1. Visit the Central Market in Sigatoka, Coral Coast
Wherever you are staying along the southern Coral Coast it is an awesome day out in Fiji with kids to visit the Central Market. And if this is your first experience of a Pacific Island marketplace then you are in luck! Sigatoka Market is a great place to start. Step off that bus (keep reading, you need to take a local bus at least once!) and be embraced by the buzz of the Pacific.
There is a huge covered market area with rows of tables and stalls set up. Let your eyes adjust and let the kids lead the way through.
2. Take a local bus in Fiji with kids
This is a must-do if you are interested in seeing a different side of Fiji. There is nothing quite like the tunes of island reggae blasting and the open windows to make you feel like you really are somewhere different!
It’s easy on the Coral Coast. All buses head from the outer villages to the bus stop outside the central marketplace, so you can’t go wrong. The price of a bus fare is less than a $1. Just hop on and pay your fare with cash in Fijian dollars. And taking a bus in Fiji with kids is convenient on the budget too and kids are free.
3. Get a Bula shirt
Another (pretty much) compulsory stop on your list of things to do in Fiji’s Coral Coast with kids. Seriously though, a Bula Shirt is more than just an item of clothing in Fiji. This is the epitome of culture, colour and pride on the island and an awesome way to make that tangible for kids.
You know the iconic, brightly coloured island style shirts? In Fiji, those are called Bula shirts. Join in and get yourself one!
4. Find cream buns in town
I am not sure if this is just us, but seriously… Cream buns taste better in the Pacific. There’s something about the iconic sweet treat stepping back in time, and returning to its former glory. There’s no need for all the fancy schmancy additives and dietary changes that have been made to bakery delights in the Western world.
Add this to your itinerary for Fiji with kids and let the kids enjoy this back-to-basics island treat. And trust me, they will love it!
5. Try a new kind of fruit
You will definitely find coconuts and pineapples in Fiji; as with any Pacific Island. But an awesome part of travel to Fiji with kids is the chance to try something new!
Some different fruits to try in Fiji include:
- Rose apple (kavika)
- Green mangoes
- Pomelo
- Sour sop/custard apple
- Plantain bananas (vudi)
- Fijian Longan (matoa/island lychee)
- Dragonfruit
- Papaya/Pawpaw
- Rambutan
6. Biausevu Waterfall Walk, Fiji with kids
Biausevu Waterfall (also known as Savu Na Mate Laya Waterfall) is an impressive 20m waterfall on the Southern coast of Viti Levu near the village of Biausevu. This is a great walk to do with kids, as the track is interesting without being too long or strenuous.
The hike is a gentle, mostly flat path through the jungle. Plus, the track crosses the river 9 times during the walk. You need to wear suitable shoes to either remove for the river crossings, or wade through. Our kids loved each crossing!
Walking distance: 3.3 km round trip
Suggested time: 1 hour
7. Take part in a Kava Ceremony
Aside from coconuts, this is the more official, traditional drink of Fiji. The drink of kava is made in many of the Pacific Island nations. The liquid drink looks somewhat muddy in appearance. It is actually a mildly narcotic and sedative drink made from the crushed root of yaqona (pronounced yang-GO-na) plant. The mixture is strained with water, giving it a muddy appearance. And it is served in a bowl made from a coconut shell.
But yup, you have to do it. At least to say you have tried it.
Wondering why? Well, the best thing about trying kava is the traditional ceremony that goes with it. (Albeit, getting your kids to try a mildly narcotic drink might not be a great idea). But they can certainly be part of the ceremony. So definitely add it to your list and itinerary for Fiji with kids.
The kava ceremony is fun and a great experience. Everyone must sit on the floor surrounding a large communal bowl of kava as part of the traditional kava ceremony. The chief of the village will speak first and lead the ceremony. And before each person drinks, on the chiefs instructions, the group must clap. (Kids will love it!).
The best place to try kava? We found the perfect opportunity at the entrance to Biausevu waterfall track. The kava ceremony is included as part of the admission fee to walk the track.
8. Swim at Maui Beach
We found a beautiful beach to picnic at, swim at and snorkel on our way to Biausevu Village. Maui Bay is not far from the turn off to Korolevu (when coming from Sigatoka) and has a long extended jetty out over the water. If you time it right for a high tide, you can swim off the end in beautifully clear water.
And if not, and the tide is out. It is still a great spot for a picnic under the shade of the trees, and an ideal place to meet some of the locals.
9. Instil a love of roti
I can’t tell you how grateful we were to have the most awesome host family in Fiji. Not only have they hosted us twice (over two different years). But host Mum, Sherin, is single handedly responsible for creating the beginnings of two new little Indian food lovers.
Fijian Indian culture and traditions in Fiji have evolved from the early days of labouring in the British-backed sugar cane industry. Nowadays in Fiji you can find an amazing Fijian-Indian food culture tracing heritage back to the flavours of Indian cuisine but with the twist of Pacific flavours. If you love Indian food (and who doesn’t!) and are keen for your kids to try something new. Now might be the perfect time!
10. Get hooked on coconuts
Thanks to a coconutty start to our Great Big Adventure on the Coral Coast of Fiji with the kids, I officially have two coconut loving boys. Oscar especially has taken this as a bit of a personal travel challenge… He found a new hero in 16 year old Felix who could open a coconut with a huge machete as if it was a peanut.
If you haven’t already tried and fallen in love with coconuts; now is definitely the time.
(Update: Since starting out in Fiji with kids, Oscar carried on his near daily coconut drinking through Brunei and the rest of South East Asia with serious dedication).
11. Find coconuts at the market
At our AirBnB there was a coconut tree with fresh niu coconuts. A neighbour climbed the tree and cut them down for us! (You can’t get much fresher than that). But you can otherwise find small stalls at the Sigatoka Markets outside selling green, niu coconuts.
On our first trip, there had been a recent storm and there was a coconut shortage. However, if you ask around (go inside and ask some of the Aunties at the vegetable stalls) you might be in luck and find our new friend, Sam. He was set up near the fishing shop with a mat on the ground and a few niu coconuts stacked left for sale.
12. Eat corn at a roadside stall
Even if you don’t think you’ll like it; you need to pull the car over and get out to smell the aroma of sweet corn cobs roasting on a roadside fire.
And as far as finding things to do along the Coral Coast of Fiji with kids, this is sure to satisfy. Our kids love the sweet taste of island grown corn. And I can guarantee the ladies cooking it up will love that your kids love it too!
13. Go play on the beach
You’re in the Coral Coast with kids; this is what it’s all about! And, this is the place the be if you want your kids to truly experience what life is like in Fiji. From day one when we headed to the beach on our first evening, and tentatively touched our toes in the delicious salty Pacific Ocean, we felt uplifted. It wasn’t long after sitting watch our kids play that we felt so amazed by kids. Our kids, those kids; kids everywhere! They are amazing creatures(!) aren’t they?! And the truth is that kids are kids wherever you are in the world. They have an instant connection through play that we can only wonder at.
We returned to the beach every single evening for each of our two trips to Fiji.
Go meet some awesome little locals!
14. Go fishing or take a day trip by boat
The Coral Coast is a popular place for local fihsermen. There are several charters availbe from the resorts, or you might get lucky like we did and find a great local host who is also a keen fisherman!
We stayed at an AirBnB in Olosara, where our host Sunny, is the finest of fishermen. He not only took our kids out on his boat in the shallows of the local bay, but we also had the chance to fish with some of the kids at the mouth of the Sigatoka River. It was sardine season on our first visit which kept our excited boys very busy!
15. Visit a school
The teacher in me is always curious to see other schools or preschools in any country. And we found visiting a school in Fiji to be a fun experience for our kids to be a part of too.
I know some of the resorts do routine visits to donate books and take tourists to certain schools. However, I always hope this is mutually beneficial. I suggest checking with your AirBnB host and asking what is appropriate.
We were lucky the local school just up the road had family connections with our host, so he even asked ahead and had arranged for us to visit at a time that worked for them.
16. Pick up rubbish on the beach
Albeit not part of our initial holiday planning for Fiji with kids. But this turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in the Coral Coast, and especially for the kids. We headed down to the beach with a bag to do a 30 minute beach cleanup and were joined by a huge crew of local kids!
It turned out our one bag was not big enough, as we ended up with a team of 20+ kids and a huge haul! That, along with the first afternoon of beach rugby, cemented a great gathering of local kids every evening at sunset on the beach.
Note: Be sure to check first how best to dispose of the collected rubbish. The street we stayed in had free rubbish collection so it was no worries there. But I know in some countries it is costly to dispose of rubbish, so even with the best of intentions this can be tricky.
17. Find your favourite sweet- cart
Have you tried Indian sweets before? There is an entire lane with Indian sweet-carts at the Sigatoka Markets!
Our kids have a hard time choosing which ones are their favourite. There is Jalebi, burfi, mahim halwa, jaangiri and much more. (And thus I admit it may have also become part of daily pilgrimage by local bus to the central market!).
18. Visit the Sand Dunes
The Sigatoka Sand Dunes are a National Park on the Coral Coast. They are located at the mouth of the Sigatoka river, approximately 3km from town. In actual fact, the Sand Dunes here are on the waiting list as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site as they are one of the largest archaeological burial sites in the Pacific. The dunes definitely stand out as one of the unique wonders of Fiji.
There are various short or long self-guided walks through the sand dunes, or you can book a tour and go boogie boarding down the huge dunes.
19. Meet some of the locals
If you asked anyone who knows us, they will agree we have a passion for meeting local people wherever we travel. In Fiji, it’s not hard at all. And certainly not if you are travelling with kids.
The market is a great place to start. And I can guarantee you won’t leave without meeting someone new or being introduced to their Auntie at the next stall lane over. Otherwise, park yourself by the beach in the shade of a coconut tree. And just wait.
This is one of the best things about holiday in Fiji with kids!
20. Walk around and say “Bula!”
Seriously, I have to finish with this one. This list-item might not technically be a ‘thing’ to do in Fiji with kids…
But on the Coral Coast, it most definitely is.
Grab that bus in to town and just start wandering. You won’t get far before you are greeted with a happy “Bula Vinaka!” from any shop owner, stall holder or passer by.
So go and join right in, and take your kids on a walk to smile and ‘Bula’ your way around Sigatoka. The happiness in the island greeting is infectious!
Where we stayed in Fiji
We knew Fiji has a lot of resort options and beautiful hotels. But as well as making the most of the tropical weather for swimming and beaches, we wanted to experience more of the culture.
An AirBnB in Fiji with kids turned out to be the perfect choice! We stayed in Olosara, with hosts Sunny and Sherin (AirBnB Sunny and Sherin’s Residence).
Sunny is well known in Sigatoka. A true fisherman, with a passion and energy for sharing all his knowledge about fishing and about life in Fiji. Sherin is an amazing cook, and we enjoyed sharing a meal with them plus breakfast most days!
Read more from Fiji with kids
A different side of Fiji: Holidaying away from resorts.
So there you have it. A huge list of 20 awesome things to do in the Coral Coast of Fiji – with kids! Let me know if you try some of these or have any suggestions to add!