Pacific Island Paradises

– 28 – www.paradises.com Fiji and only a half-hour drive south of Nadi. A trip to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves in the Yasawas is one of the 'must-do' activities for travellers. A trip to Fiji's most picturesque village, Navala Village in the Nausori Highlands is a trip back in time. On the banks of the Ba river against the stunning backdrop of the Ba highlands, the villagers of Navala still live in traditional thatched roof 'bures'. On the road from Nadi to Suva are the Kula Bird Park, rafting Navua Gorge at Pacific Harbour and the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. In Suva, the national museum in the historical Thurston Gardens stands right next to Government House with its colourful guards dressed in red tunics and white sulus. Founded much earlier than other Pacific island museums, the national museum is unrivalled in the islands for the extent of its collection of anthropological and historical material. Savusavu is home to the unusual attractions of the Nakama thermal springs and Namale blowholes. Wasali Nature Reserve is an untouched rainforest with hiking trails leading to spectacular views. Where to stay Accommodation is prolific and there's something for every budget from luxury hotels, resorts and villas, to Fijian bures with modern facilities, cottages, lodges, townhouses and apartments. Bures, based on traditional village thatched roof houses, are very popular with tourists as they provide an authentic Fijian atmosphere. The Fijian design incorporated into most hotels help maintain the exotic ambience of this South Pacific paradise. Food and entertainment Most nightclubs, restaurants and cinemas are located in the city centres with most of the larger hotels and resorts providing their own entertainment in the form of Fijian nights that include a lovo (food cooked in an underground oven), sometimes the yaqona ceremony (kava drinking) and always a meke (song and dance). There's a good selection of restaurants in the major centres featuring Chinese, Japanese, Indian, French, and European foods. A number of places offer Fijian cuisine that is most often seafood, cooked in coconut milk and steamed or boiled rather than fried. Getting around In Fiji motorists drive on the left side of the road, and overseas or international driving permits are valid for six months. There are a number of rental car agencies, an extensive local bus service on each of the main islands and deluxe coach tours. Taxis are inexpensive and predominantly metered. Ferries, helicopters and seaplanes provide transportation between an extensive network of docks and airfields throughout the islands and resorts. Activities Fiji is renowned for the variety of activities available. Water-based activities include snorkelling and diving spectacular reefs, surfing and SUP on world-class waves, kayaking to secluded bays, jet ski jaunts, challenging game- fishing and inter-island sailing. Land activities rival their watery counterparts for thrills with skydiving, cross-country cultural treks, canyon river rafting, tree-top ziplining and off-road buggy adventures. — F i j i —

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