What’s new in Fiji

Fiji, the heart of the South Pacific, is on the up, with a raft of new flight options as well as luxury hotels for 2024.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s hot in Fiji for 2024:

New Tahiti and New Caledonia flights

The ‘heart of the South Pacific’ gets closer thanks to new routes with Fiji Airways and Air Calin to neighbouring destinations Tahiti and New Caledonia. These new direct flights open a host of new two-centre options for holidaymakers.

This week Air Calin launched direct weekly flights from Nadi to Papeete (Tahiti), which in July 2024 will play host to the Olympic surf competition

Commencing 7 December 2023, Fiji Airways will launch twice weekly direct flights from Nadi to New Caledonia’s capital, Numea.

Hotel Additions

Scheduled to open early in 2024, the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa showcases 340 rooms, a spa, and seven dining outlets, including a Beach Club and nightclub.

Nukubati, the South Pacific’s first solar-run resort has recently transitioned to an exclusive dive island retreat. Guests have the opportunity to dive the world’s third-largest barrier reef system, The Great Sea Reef, a reef system that is 95% unexplored.

Extensive refurbishment of the five-star Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa is scheduled for completion in November 2024. Future luxury additions underway include Vatu Talei and Radisson Blu Naisoso, expected to open in 2025 and beyond.

Seventh Heaven Fiji, a floating retreat in the Mamanuca Islands, has launched a private overnight experience. Guest will experience this 100% solar-powered, floating paradise all to themselves, including snorkelling, kayaking, massages, and all-inclusive dining. Prices start from AUD$3,495 per night.www.seventhheavenfiji.com.

Luxury Cruise Expeditions

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji‘s new small ship expeditions take travellers to corners of the Pacific not accessible by larger ships.  MS Caledonian Sky, elevates the cruising experience in Fiji by exploring less-visited areas of Fiji. The company has announced new itineraries into the most remote and parts of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. Cruises on the MS Caledonian Sky start from $3,297 per person for the three-night itinerary. captaincookcruisesfiji.com

Romance

Fiji has proved to be the capital of romance in 2023, having played host to Love Island Games, to Love Island USA, The Bachelorette USA and Married at First Sight Australia.

For 2024 VOMO’s tiny Private island of Vomo Lailai can be booked by just one couple per day to enjoy a  gourmet champagne picnic, with just a two-way radio to communicate with the world, and the option to take a short hike up to Mt. Vomo where they will be greeted with a friendly ‘Bula’ and a delicious breakfast.

A favourite of Hollywood heartthrob Chris Hemsworth,  Tavarua Island Fiji, aka ‘heart island’, is a small luxury surf resort shaped like a heart, which will play host to the 2024 World Surf League in August.

Beyond the Beaches: Indigenous Tourism

A little more than half of Fiji’s 900,000 population is Indigenous, and the destination has seen a growth in grassroots Indigenous experiences which include the Sigatoka River Safari and a new three-day hike – the Highland Escape from Talanoa Treks . This explores through the central heart of Viti Levu. The new itinerary allows guests to discover a lesser seen side of Fiji. In a small group of no more than 12 people, guests will stay in remote villages and trek along rugged trails with a guide. Led by a Fijian conservation expert, the group will learn about the islands’ biodiversity, ecosystems and get a unique insight into Fiji’s natural and cultural heritage, talanoa-treks-fiji.com

Ocean Stewardship in Fiji 

With ocean conservation a top priority for the UN in 2024 resorts are increasing their ocean conservation and education efforts.

Guests staying at Six Senses Fiji, on Malolo can experience being a coral gardener for the day, thanks to the newly announced partnership with Coral Gardeners, an organisation established by young surfers, free divers, and fishermen of French Polynesia. Guests at Six Senses Fiji will learn about coral conservation by joining the marine restoration team in the water in planting coral fragments. sixsenses.com/fiji 

Sporting Events in 2024

Ocean Swim Fiji (27-31 May 2024): Dive into Fiji’s fifth Ocean Swim event, offering challenging yet rewarding ocean swims, relaxation, and local Fijian culture.

World Surf League (August 20-29, 2024): Fiji is home to one of the world’s most famous waves, Cloudbreak, and will welcome the world’s best surfers to compete at World Surf Fiji from 20-29 August 2024, following a seven-year hiatus..

Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, said: “The launch of two flight connections to Tahiti and New Caledonia cements Fiji’s position as the heart of the South Pacific. “

These build on improved international connections from the UK, the recent addition of Vancouver and the reopening of Japan and Hong Kong, which make it easier than ever.”

“We have a host of exciting sporting events for 2024 and, after a seven-year absence, the very best surfers from around the world are coming back to Fiji.”

Agents can visit specialist.fiji.travel to become a member of the Fiji Matai online training.

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