Fiji with kids will check all of the vacation goals for your family! Are you thinking about your next tropical vacation overseas? Do you have kids, young or old, and are open to the idea of a family trip abroad? Fiji should most definitely be raised up to the top of your list. The non-stop overnight flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Fiji’s capital, Nadi, is only 8 hours, which also equals an ideal amount of overnight rest (on an airplane of course). When you wake up, you’re in an untouchably beautiful and unique tropical destination in the South Pacific.

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Flight to Fiji with Kids

As a starting point, ample flight preparation is key. Henry and Andrew have become to love flying, as we create it into an exciting part of our family adventure. Kids activities, snacks, and screens make that easy (for the most part) to accomplish. Sticker books with easily removable stickers, drawing pads with washable crayons or pens, snacks that fit into one large zip lock bag including a disposable water cup with a lid, iPads loaded with their favorite games and shows alongside a pair of headphones (Spider-Man and Batman of course), and blowup ottomans that take only 15-30 seconds to inflate, are the solution. Each kid has their own fun-sized backpack, and if you need to bring a stroller, the Nano is the best, as it folds up nicely in your overhead compartment so you don’t have to drag your kids all the way through customs after your flight. We also just bring one other adult-sized backpack on the flight with diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and any adult items you want to have on board (books, iPads, etc.). For the overnight flight to Fiji, the first hour or two of the flight was designated for fun play, snacking, and screen time, and the last 6-7 hours for sleep. Now to the fun part – FIJI!

Where We Stayed in Fiji with Our Toddlers

Located just steps away from Fiji’s Coral Coast, with a swimming pool and hot tub overlooking the South Pacific Ocean, our two-story Resort Villas Fiji Airbnb welcomed us gloriously. The host and staff were fantastic – very engaging and fun, educational about Fiji’s culture and history, had very reasonably priced and trustworthy childcare for the adult-only getaways we needed, and also did our laundry – amazing. The head of the staff, Joe, and his wife Vera, still hold a strong happy memory for our family, and this bond all started with a traditional Fijian Lovo Welcome Ceremony. This introduced our family to Fiji’s culture, and food, which was delicious seafood, vegetables, and meats that we cooked underground, followed by a traditional ceremony, Kava drinking, and eating and more eating.

Things To Do on the Islands, Beaches & Ocean

The number of kid-friendly activities went on and on, which gave us more to do in the one week we had for our vacation. On the oceanfront, thanks to the coral reefs surrounding Coral Bay, the water was very shallow for hundreds of yards out. This was the perfect way to acquaint Henry and Andrew with the ocean side of the island life – shallow and warm water. Steps away from Resort Villas Fiji, the kids (2 and 4 at the time) were able to walk on the sand, around the coral in the ocean to find blue starfish, hermit crabs, and baby sharks that do not bite, just like that song you may have heard of. We also took a quick (45 minutes) and safe gorgeous boat ride for a day trip to Yanuca Island, where we saw dolphins along the way. The island was as picturesque as an island gets, with a grassy play area at the top, benches for a picnic, sandy beach, and water play options, such as snorkeling, paddleboarding, and more – in some of the clearest water we have ever seen.

Things To Do on the Island Mainland

Returning to the mainland, we organized a tour of a local K-8 school and village with one of the families who lived there. During the school visit, every student greeted us with Bula (hello), huge smiles, spirited high fives, and performed songs for us. It was quite the positive feeling to hang out with so many polite and friendly children. Henry and Andrew were in awe throughout the tour, but it opened up their eyes to children and a school in a country far, far away from San Francisco. After the school tour, our private tour of the local village brought us through a coastal community. The village is made up of about 100 Fijians, who build each and every house on their land together and support each other day in and day out to ensure they get the most out of life – very humbling and a great example for Henry and Andrew about the sense, importance, and proactive nature needed of and for a successful community. Different from ours, but the same positive values members of a community should possess. All were so welcoming and nice, the way it should be.

The diversification of Fiji’s activities around the Coral Coast (on the mainland front) are plentiful. Kula Wildlife Eco Park enhanced Henry and Andrew’s drive and interest in Fiji’s wildlife and love for water play. This zoo-like park, plus water play attraction, introduced the meaning of conservation, while also bringing light to the joys of a playground filled with water spouting up from the ground and dumping in perfectly timed buckets from up above. We literally spent an hour at this water-filled playground, before and after the numerous animals we met, water slide Tony cruised down (37 years old), and zip line Emily mazed on (38 years old).
If you still have an ounce of adventurous energy left before your flight home, Biausevu Waterfall is absolutely worth it! The one hour in and one hour back hike is easy to moderate, and a guide is recommended. Be sure to wear waterproof shoes and swimsuit because you will get wet – you need to cross several shallow and safe creeks and streams along the way. Also, bring plenty of water since it does get hot. Henry and Andrew were 2 and 4 at the time, so we did have to carry them on our shoulders, etc. during parts of the hike, but there are several rest points with benches along the way to have a quick snack and/or water break while you soak in the beautiful nature. The destination is the gold – breathtaking waterfall that you can take turns swimming in, and the water is shallow enough (the first half of the lagoon), where you can bring your young ones with you in your arms. It can be a bit slippery and rocky in parts, so do it with a cautious mindset (which I am sure you have already). The hike back was a breeze with the refreshing invigoration of the waterfall experience in your mind, body, and soul.

Vinaka Fiji – We Will Be Back

Fiji with kids is completely worth it and doable, and our family plans to return – after we travel to a number of other bucket list destinations first. Remember, when you leave Fiji or encounter a friendly Fijian during your travels (basically every Fijian), say Vinaka, which means thank you. Vinaka Fiji!!

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