Fiji travel info.
The practical stuff: visa, currency, seasons, island boats, driving, village protocol. Skim this once before your trip.
Quick answers
›Do I need a visa to visit Fiji?
Most visitors — including Australians, New Zealanders, and passport holders from the UK, US, Canada and the EU — receive a visitor permit on arrival for stays of up to four months. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from entry and you may be asked for an onward or return ticket. Check Fiji Immigration for your nationality before you fly.
›What currency does Fiji use?
Fiji uses the Fijian dollar (FJD, written F$). Cards are accepted at resorts, larger restaurants and tour desks; carry cash for markets, village visits, taxis and smaller operators. ATMs are at Nadi International Airport and in every main town.
›What language is spoken in Fiji?
English is an official language and is spoken everywhere tourists go. iTaukei (Fijian) and Fiji Hindi are the other official languages. 'Bula' is the universal hello and 'vinaka' means thank you.
›When is the best time to visit Fiji?
The dry season, roughly May to October, is cooler and less humid and is Fiji's peak season because it lines up with Australian and New Zealand school holidays. November to April is hotter and wetter, and is also cyclone season. Either half of the year works for beaches and day tours; book ahead in July and the September–October school holidays.
›How do I get to the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands?
Day boats and island transfers to the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups leave from Port Denarau marina, about 20 minutes from Nadi airport. Resorts on those islands usually bundle the boat into the booking or tell you which scheduled service to take; seaplane and helicopter transfers also run from Nadi.
›Which side of the road do you drive on in Fiji?
Fiji drives on the left, the same side as Australia and New Zealand. Speed limits are in km/h. A valid full driver's licence from home is generally accepted for short visits — confirm with your rental company, and expect unsealed roads, livestock and speed bumps outside the towns.
›What is sevusevu?
Sevusevu is the custom of presenting a gift of kava root (yaqona) to a village's chief or headman when you visit. Organised village tours handle it for you. If you visit a village independently, bring kava from a market, ask for the turaga-ni-koro, and dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered, no hats or sunglasses in the village.
›Is tap water safe to drink in Fiji?
Tap water is treated in Nadi, Suva and at most resorts, and many people drink it without trouble, but bottled or filtered water is the safer default outside the main towns and on the outer islands. Ask your resort what they recommend.
Before you go
- Visa: Most nationalities get a visitor permit on arrival for up to four months. Passport valid for at least 6 months from entry; carry proof of an onward ticket.
- Time zone: UTC+12, the same as New Zealand standard time and two hours ahead of Australia's east coast.
- Plug type: Type I (the flat 3-pin used in Australia and NZ). 240 V / 50 Hz.
- Tipping: Not expected. Many resorts run a staff “Christmas fund” box at reception if you want to leave something for the whole team.
Currency & cards
The Fijian dollar (FJD or F$) is the local currency. Kalena's currency switcher in the header lets you flip prices on the fly.
- ATMs at Nadi International Airport, Port Denarau, and in Nadi, Lautoka, Sigatoka and Suva. Outer-island resorts usually have no ATM — take cash out on the mainland first.
- Cards are accepted at resorts, tour desks and larger restaurants. Markets, taxis, village visits and smaller operators are cash.
- Tours and transfers booked on Kalena are prepaid, so you don't need cash for those on the day.
Language
English is official and spoken everywhere visitors go, alongside iTaukei (Fijian) and Fiji Hindi. Bula (hello) and vinaka (thank you) go a long way; moce is goodbye.
Climate & seasons
- Dry season (May–October): cooler, less humid, less rain. Peak season — lines up with Australian and New Zealand school holidays, so book tours and transfers ahead. See Fiji in the dry season.
- Wet season (November–April): hotter and more humid with afternoon rain that usually clears. Also cyclone season — keep an eye on forecasts and keep a flexible day for weather-dependent tours.
- The western side of Viti Levu (Nadi, Denarau, the Coral Coast, the Mamanucas) is drier than Suva and the east.
Getting around
- Airports: Nadi International (NAN) is the main gateway on the west of Viti Levu. Suva's Nausori airport handles domestic and some regional flights.
- Airport transfers: pre-booked transfers meet you at arrivals; metered taxis and resort shuttles also run. Browse Fiji transfers and tours.
- Roads: the Queens Road runs Nadi → Coral Coast → Suva along the south; the Kings Road loops the north. Local buses are cheap and frequent between the main towns.
Island boats
- Port Denarau marina is the departure point for the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups. Scheduled catamarans serve the island resorts daily; your resort will tell you which sailing to book, and many bundle it into the booking.
- Allow about 20 minutes from Nadi airport to Port Denarau, plus check-in time before the boat.
- Vanua Levu and Taveuni are reached by domestic flight or by overnight inter-island ferry from Suva or Natovi — check current schedules, which change with the season.
Driving
- Drive on the left. Speed limits are in km/h; expect speed bumps at every village.
- A valid full licence from home is generally accepted for short visits — confirm with your rental company when you book.
- Outside Nadi, Suva and the Queens Road, roads may be unsealed. Livestock, pedestrians and unlit vehicles are common at night; avoid rural driving after dark.
Culture & customs
- Sevusevu: when visiting a village, a gift of kava root (yaqona) is presented to the chief. Organised village tours arrange this; independently, buy kava at a market and ask for the turaga-ni-koro on arrival.
- Dress: cover shoulders and knees in villages and towns; a sulu (sarong) is the easy fix. Take off hats and sunglasses inside a village.
- Sunday is church and family day. Many shops and some tours close; resorts run as normal.
- Photography: ask before photographing people, especially in villages and during ceremonies.
Phone & internet
- Local SIM: Vodafone Fiji and Digicel sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at Nadi airport arrivals and in town. Coverage is good on Viti Levu and the Mamanucas; patchier in the Yasawas and on the outer islands.
- Wi-Fi: most resorts include it, though some outer-island resorts charge or limit it.
Safety & health
- Tap water is treated in the main towns and at most resorts; bottled or filtered water is the safer default elsewhere.
- Mosquito-borne illness (dengue) occurs, more so in the wet season — wear repellent, especially at dusk.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, reef shoes for rocky entries, and plenty of water — the sun is strong year-round.
- Petty theft happens in Nadi and Suva after dark; use hotel safes and taxis at night.
Emergency
- Police 917 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 910. Your resort reception is the fastest first call on the islands.
- Main hospitals are in Suva (Colonial War Memorial) and Lautoka; Nadi has a hospital and private clinics. Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended for outer-island stays.