Helpful
Travel Information
Get to Know
the Fiji Islands
Fiji’s cluster of heavenly islands is located in the middle of the South Pacific, just west of Australia and north of New Zealand.
Scattered across 1,290,000 square kilometres of ocean, it’s a tropical paradise of palm-fringed white sand beaches and lush rainforests ringed by thriving coral reefs and fish-filled lagoons.
Roughly one third of our 333 islands are inhabited. Most people live in the urban areas of the two larger islands – Viti Levu & Vanua Levu.
Straddling the 180th Meridian, Fiji is exactly 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Daylight savings kicks in around November to January, when Fiji moves one more hour ahead.
There are two seasons here – warm and even warmer! It’s a sunny, tropical climate that’ll wash the winter chills from your bones.
From December to April, the temperatures are a comfortable 22° – 33°C. But expect May to November to be slightly cooler with temperatures range from 19°- 29°C.
Fiji’s population of more than 880,000 is a melting pot of indigenous Fijians (i-Taukei), Indo-Fijians, Chinese, Part-Europeans and other South Pacific Islanders who call Fiji home. Despite their varied cultural backgrounds, locals are collectively referred to as Fijians.
English is Fiji’s official language but you’ll often find that most people are bilingual – speaking Fijian or Hindustani as well.
Fiji’s religious beliefs reflect its multiculturalism. Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are peacefully practiced alongside each other.
Outside hotels and resorts, people dress modestly – even more so when visiting a Fijian village. Always carry a sulu (sarong, lavalava, pareu) to cover bathing togs or shorts and singlet tops. It is best to visit one with a Rosie tour guide as there are many traditional protocols to be observed.
Fiji is free from malaria, yellow fever and major tropical diseases. Inoculations are required if you are travelling from an infected area.
Most towns have a medical system in place with government and privately run hospitals, clinics, surgical centres, dental service and pharmacies.
The local electric current is 240 volts AC 50Hz. Fiji’s three-pin power outlets are identical to Australia and New Zealand.
Most leading hotels and resorts have universal outlets for 240v or 110v shavers, hair dryers and other electrical appliances.
Multi-purpose adapters and/or voltage converters can be purchased at some major department or hardware stores but if you are travelling to a remote area, it is probably wise to bring one with you.
Fiji’s country code is +679. Many hotels and resorts generally have direct dialling facilities (IDD).
International mobile networks like Vodafone Fiji Limited, Digicel and Inkk Mobile have a huge presence in Fiji making it relatively easy to connected.
Free wifi is available for 30mins at the Nadi Airport arrivals concourse and most major hotels also offer wifi. But you can also pick up a temporary local sim card from any of their outlets at the airport or in major urban areas.
The Fijian dollar is the basic unit of currency with denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2. There is a 24 hour currency exchange service at the arrivals concourse at Nadi Airport and in major towns.
Banks are open 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday – Friday and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays at selected areas. ATMs are located around the country and at larger resorts and hotels.
Useful Travel Tips
For Your Journey
To hire a rental, a valid driver’s license is required. In Fiji, cars are right hand drives on the left side of the road. Speed limits are 60km/h (approx. 40mph) and when passing residential areas such as villages, speed bumps reduce the rates to 40-50km/h and on the highway, motorists can enjoy 80km/h drive.
Professional drones must be pre-registered with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF). They’re restricted within 5km of an aerodome and it’s only courteous to notify a property before using one.
You are entitled to the following duty and VAT free concessions:
– Dutiable goods accompanying passengers (other than alcohol and tobacco products) not exceeding F$1,000.00 in value.
– Personal goods and not intended as gifts or for sale – personal effects, household effects for returning residents or intending residents, articles taken out of Fiji on departure on which duty and tax have been paid.
Adult passengers may bring the following goods duty and VAT free, provided they are for personal use.
– Cigarettes, not exceeding 200 sticks or
– Cigars, not exceeding 200 grams net weight or
– Tobacco not exceeding 200 grams net weight or
– Any combination of (1) to (3) above, provided the total net weight does not exceed 250 grams
– Spirituous liquors not exceeding 2.25 litres or
– Wines, not exceeding 4.5 litres or
– Beer, not exceeding 4.5 litres or
– Any combination of the goods in paragraph (5) to (7) above, provided that the combination does not exceed the equivalent quantity under any one paragraph
– Other dutiable goods, not exceeding F$1,000.00 in value.
Fiji is a country which carefully guards itself against human, animal & vegetable pests & disease. It is free of all serious plant & animal pests & diseases and it wants to maintain this privileged state.
The importation of vegetable matter, seeds, or any animal product is prohibited without the relevant import permits from the Ministry of Primary Industries( Agriculture/Fisheries/Timber & Sugar). A permit is required also for the importation for Cats, dogs & other live animals. Such animals will require to be kept in quarantine isolation on arrival. The length of such isolation periods will depend on the country of origin of these animals. Bio Security officers are stationed at the international airports at Nadi and Nausori and the ports of entry for vessels. Fiji is a signatory to the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora & Fauna (CITES).
A tourist is required to obtain an export permit and CITES certificate form the Ministry of Environment to enable them to take the following aquatic products out of the country: coral of any species, turtle shells of any species, shell of any species of giant clams, whales tooth.
A 9% Government Value Added Tax (VAT) is applicable to all goods and services in Fiji. Visitors staying in hotels and resorts are subject to 6% Service Turnover Tax (STT) and Environment & Climate Adaptation Levy of 10%.
You can claim a Tourism VAT refund at the airport and be sure to have your original purchase receipt.
Learn Some
Fijian Phrases
Hello | Bula (inf)
Hello | Drau bula (dl)
Hello | Dou bula (pl)
Hello | Ni bula (mp)
Good morning | Yadra, Ni sa yadra
Good afternoon/evening | Bula, Ni sa Bula
Good night/Goodbye | Moce, Ni sa moce
How are you? | Vacava tiko?
Long time no see | Sa dede da sega ni sota
What’s your name? | O cei na yacamu(ni)?
My name is … | Na yacaqu o …
Where are you from? | O ni lako mai vei? O kemuni mai vei?
I’m from … | O yau mai …
Pleased to meet you | Ia (ni) bula
Good luck | Vanuinui vinaka
Cheers/Good health! | Bula!
Have a nice day | Vanuinui vinaka ki na siga ni kua
Bon appetit | Da Kana
Bon voyage | Vanuinui vinaka e nomu volau
I love you | Au domoni iko / Au lomani iko
Get well soon | Nuitaka ni ko na vabulabula totolo
I don’t understand | Au sega ni taura rawa
Could you speak slowly please? | Vosa mada vakamālua?
Could you repeat that? | Tukuna tale mada
Please write it down | Kerekere, mo ni vola
Do you speak Fijian? | O(nī) kilā na vosa vakaviti?
I speak little Fijian | Au kilā vakalailai na vosa vakaviti
Do you speak English? | O(nī) vosa vakavālagi?
How do you say … in Fijian? | Na cava na kena vosa vakaviti ni …?
Pardon (what did you say?) | Ō?
How much is this? | E vica na kena i-sau?
Sorry | (Nī) vosota sara / (Nī) vosoti au (general) Tulou / Jilou (when invading space)
Please | Yalo vinaka
Excuse me | Au lako mada yani (to get past)
Thank you | Vinaka, Vinaka vaka levu
Where’s the toilet? | E vei na vale-lailai?
This gentleman/lady will pay for everything | Na turaga/marama oqo e na sauma taucoko
Would you like to dance with me? | Ko via meke kei au?
Leave me alone | Biuti au tu madaga
Help | Kere veivuke
Fire | Kama
Call the police | Qirita na ovisa
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year | Me Nomuni na marau ni siga ni sucu kei na tawase ni yabakiHappy Easter | Vanuinui vinaka ni Siga ni Mate
Happy Birthday | Vanuinui vinaka ki na nomu siga ni sucu
Yes | Io (ee-o)
No | Sega (senga)
House | Vale/bure (valey/mburey)
Village | Koro (ko ro)
Church | Vale ni lotu (vah-ley nee lohtoo)
Shop | Sitoa (seetoah)
Eat | Kana (karna)
Drink | Gunu (goo noo)
Coconut | Niu (new)
Quickly | Vaka totolo (vaka toe-toe-lo)
Slowly | Vaka malua (vaka mar lua)
A little/small | Vaka lailai (vaka lie lie)
A lot/great | Vaka Levu(vaka levu)
One | Dua (ndu a)
Two | Rua (ru a)