Fijian experience, 7 day itinerary

5 August 2015


Tourism Australia and Qantas sign new multi-million dollar deal

5 August 2015 – By Laurie Foulon


The weather in Fiji from June to October has an average high temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and an average low of 20 degrees Celsius. This is the Fijian dry season so there is generally low humidity and it is usually very comfortable in the month of July.

The Yasawa and Mamanuca group of Islands are located on the North West side of Fiji and usually have less rainfall than the Eastern side, with slight to moderate rainfalls.
The sea temperature is approximately 25 degrees and the average wind speed is between 6-12 knots. There is approximately 11.5 hours of sunlight per day and is a beautiful time of the year to cruise Fiji.

Thanks to the proximity of these islands, being no more than 75 nautical miles from tip to toe, we can easily make changes to the itinerary that will enable the charter party to get the most out of their trip.

Day 1 | Denarau Marina to the Mamanuca Islands

Depending on our departure time we will do a short 1.5 hour cruise to the South West to the Mamanuea Islands, and aim to anchor in the lee of the Tavarua Island which is in the centre of the surfing capital of Fiji – and includes the ‘Cloud’ and ‘Restaurant’ breaks. Even without the surf interest, these islands are stunning and are a great start to the trip for all onboard. If the weather does not suit this anchorage, a short 1 hour trip will take us to the Malolo Island lagoon, home to the famous Muscat Cove Resort and Marina and explore the surf breaks by tender.

Day 2 | Malolo and Tavarua Islands

Spend the day exploring the Malolo and Tavarua islands which can include surfing, swimming, snorkelling, shopping and sightseeing. You can relax in the cool waters at the sand bar.
The snorkelling is excellent here and it is a great place for watersports. We will be spending the night here and an evening walk ashore around the resort might be nice idea before dinner.

Day 3 | Navadra and Vanua Islands

After breakfast and maybe a morning swim or surf, we will sail 3 hours to the North West towards the Navadra and Vanua Islands. These stunning islands have a beautiful beach stretch and great snorkelling on the Garden Reefs there. The beach can be accessed by tender from mid to high tide otherwise paddleboards or kayaks can be used at low tide. If weather permits, we will anchor here for the night or sail a quick 1 hour to the North for South Waya Island and anchor at Yalobi Bay which is more protected.
There may also be an opportunity to visit the local village where you will receive a warm welcome from the local villagers who will happily show you around their village including the local school.

Day 4 | Naviti Island

Waking up at Navadra Island or the protected waters of Yalobi Bay is a beautiful way to start your day.
After a refreshing swim and breakfast we will make our way North for 1.5 hours to Cuvu Bay on the Southern end of Naviti Island which is a fantastic place to snorkel and a rare opportunity to swim with manta rays.
We will fish along the way and see if we can catch something tasty for lunch.
We can anchor here for the night or continue 2 hours North to the Blue Lagoon near the Nanuya Levu and Matacawa Islands.

Day 5 | The Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon was the location of the 1980’s movie “The Blue Lagoon” staring Brooke Shields. This is a beautiful place to spend the day and a great place for a hike should you wish to stretch your legs.
The snorkelling here, as you can imagine, is breathtaking and the beaches are picture perfect.
We can anchor here for the night or move to nearby Sawa-i-lau Island.
Sawa-i-lau is famous for its underwater caves. Here the locals will help you through a small underwater cave and when you resurface you will be in these exquisite caves.
The lagoon has some really good snorkelling spots or be explored by kayak or paddle board. Ashore are some shell markets which are definitely worth a visit.

Day 6 | Yasawa Island and Champagne Beach

After our usual morning swim and breakfast, we will relocate 2 hours North to Yasawa-i-Ra, which has one of Fiji’s best beaches aptly named Champagne Beach.
The snorkelling is terrific and it is an ideal spot for a beach BBQ. In the evening you can go ashore to watch a Meke, a traditional Fijian dance and cava ceremony.

Day 7 | Heading South

For the last two days of the trip we will make our way South to eventually end up back in Denarau Marina. Depending on how everyone feels we can re-visit a favourite spot, explore new coves and bays such as the beautiful Somosomo Bay on North Naviti Island, or Paradise Cove in the South. Both locations are located within
approximately 3 hours of cruising.
There may also be a chance to do some more surfing but that will depend how adventurous everyone feels at the time. Regardless of where we stop in the last few days, we will explore as much out of the Fijian islands as we can.

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DISCLAIMER
Sample itinerary created by Ocean Alliance.
Words by Ocean Alliance and the Captain of 122ft MASTEKA 2.
Media enquiries:
laurie@oceanalliance.com.au