Bula from Fiji!

After spending the past month living in campervans in the middle of Australia and New Zealand’s winter, we were more than ready for a bit of warm weather, rest and relaxation! We spent a lot of our time in Fiji taking it easy in our resort; relaxing on double bed sun loungers by the pool, sunbathing, swimming and reading. We also explored Nadi town centre, visited Sri Siva Subramaniya temple and had our first experience of Korean BBQ.

Me exploring Nadi

Me relaxing at our resort

Me at Sri Siva Subraminya temple

Nick cooking us up a Korean BBQ storm

However, we couldn’t go to Fiji without visiting some of the islands. During our stay, we visited Robinson Crusoe Island and Malamala Beach Club, where we had two of the most amazing days.

Robinson Crusoe Island

Robinson Crusoe Island was everything you could want from a Fijian island: white sands, clear waters and wonderful hospitality. And despite what Daniel Defoe would have you believe, there wasn’t a single cannibal in sight. We started our day by getting a boat out to a nearby reef where we snorkelled with sea turtles! After arriving back at the island, we got to watch someone climb a coconut tree and throw down coconuts for us to enjoy.

Coconut tree climbing

Me relaxing with my coconut

We then saw some fire walking and were provided with a delicious lunch that had been cooked in a Lovo. (An earth oven, similar to a Hāngi in New Zealand.) After we had finished eating, we were treated to a traditional Fijian dance performance and fire dancing.

Traditional Fijian dancing

 

Fire dancing

One of the best things about Robinson Crusoe Island is that you get an unlimited amount of free drinks included in your package. Nick and I definitely got our moneys worth out of this. I spent most of the afternoon lazing in a white-rope hammock: glass of white wine in one hand and a book in the other; leaving only to take a swim in the beautifully clear and sun-warmed ocean to cool off. I was in paradise.

Me relaxing and making the most of the free wine!

The day ended with a crab race and a leaving dance that we all joined in with, before (very reluctantly) boarding the boat that would take us back to the mainland; the staff waving us off as we sailed away.

Malamala Beach Club

Malamala Beach Club is part of the Mamanuca Islands and is the world’s first beach club located on its very own island. The island is very small (you can walk around it in twenty minutes) and has the famous Fiji white sands and crystal clear waters. It was absolutely beautiful and left us feeling as though we had stepped off one paradise directly into another.

Me and Nick in the infinity pool at Malamala Beach Club

We had booked a poolside bed overlooking the infinity pool and were very well looked after by the staff. Whilst there, we ordered champagne and the most delicious cheese board, which were both brought directly to the bed for us to enjoy as we lounged in the sun, drying off from the ocean. I was in heaven.

Delicious cheese board!

Malamala Beach Club lets you make use of all water sporting equipment for free, and so Nick and I spent a lot of our day there playing in the water. We kayaked around the island twice whilst singing Moana; went snorkelling and saw starfish and found out that I am better at paddle boarding than Nick! 

Me kayaking

We left the island just as the sun was setting and I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect end to the most perfect day.

The sun setting on our day at Malamala Beach Club

If you’re planning a trip to Fiji, my advice would be to stay in a resort on an island if you can. If that isn’t possible (because it is unbelievably expensive to do so!), definitely make sure to take some day trips from the mainland whilst you’re there. The mainland of Fiji doesn’t come close to doing the country justice. If that’s your plan, I couldn’t recommend trips to Robinson Crusoe Island and Malamala Beach Club highly enough. If you want to spend the day relaxing and sunbathing in a tropical paradise, with some optional water sports and entertainment thrown in, there are no better places to go.