Nadi, Fiji is a beautiful destination which has something to offer for every type of traveler from stunning beaches, to thrilling adventures for adrenaline seekers, and plenty of activities to immerse yourself in Fijian culture.
While Fiji has so many beautiful islands to enjoy, Nadi Fiji is home to Fiji’s only international airport and is the perfect way to start off your Fiji vacation.
We visited Fiji as part of a 2-week vacation which also included New Zealand and Australia. With limited time, we decided to stay in Nadi Fiji as opposed to flying to one of Fiji’s smaller islands which was the right decision as it turned out there is plenty to see and do here. A few of the hightlights are:
- Relaxing in the Sabeto hot springs where we in mud and then dipped in the hot pools making our skin super soft
- Scuba diving with sharks on an excursion 3 hours north of Fiji (to this day this is the best scuba dive I’ve ever done- a must-do for any scuba diver)
- Island hopped to nearby remote islands with turquoise blue waters and incredible snorkeling, and ended with a lunch on the Island where they filmed the movie “Castaway”.
Nadi, Fiji is truly one of my favorite places I have ever been to and surprisingly was the highlight of my entire trip which included both New Zealand and Australia).
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Best Place To Stay In Nadi
Radisson Blu Resort Fiji
We stayed at the Radisson Blu Resort located just 25 minutes from the airport and could not say enough good things about it. This 5-star hotel has six on-site restaurants with different cuisines, 5 beautiful lagoon pools, and the perfect location on the beach to watch the sunset.
Aside from the amazing facilities, the best part about this hotel is the staff. Every single person we encountered from the front desk staff to the restaurant staff to the pool staff was so friendly and engaging. Despite it being a large hotel, most of them even remembered our name.
This was one of the best hotel experiences I’ve ever had. We included a lot of scheduled tours in our itinerary, but I could’ve spent our whole trip relaxing at this hotel.
Although it’s a 5-star hotel, the price is very reasonable, averaging around $170 a night. We found the cheapest price for this hotel on booking.com.
12 Best Things To Do In Nadi, Fiji
Soak in the Sabeto Hot Springs
On day one of our Fijian adventure, we enjoyed the mud, hot springs, and massages in beautiful scenery at the Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pools. This was such a fun and relaxing experience, and it left our skin feeling super soft!
You’ll start by lathering yourself up in mud. The mud had already been collected from a nearby source pool and set out in buckets by the staff.
Next, your guide will take you through a variety of different hot springs to soak in. The first bath is the “mud pool” where you wash off the majority of the mud. There are four pools in total and each of them gradually get hotter as you go.
Afterwards, you can pay an additional fee for a 15-minute massage (which I highly recommend). The prices are very reasonable and it’s the perfect ending to a relaxing excursion to the Sabeto Hot Springs.
We would highly recommend visiting during your time in Nadi. The guides here were amazing and offered to take lots of photos.
Tip: Wear a darker color or an older bathing suit; my pink bikini never fully recovered from the mud!
Explore The Garden Of The Sleeping Giant
Located just a few minutes from the hot springs is the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. The gardens are home to a vast collection of orchids and native Fijian plants and are well worth the visit.
Walking through the lush gardens is such a peaceful atmosphere and is nice to spend part of your day.
We spent about 45 minutes here on our tour but could’ve spent 1-2 hours exploring and enjoying the tranquil environment.
To end the experience at the garden, you are treated to a refreshing juice which is perfect on a hot day.
Visit Sri Subramaniya Temple
The Sri Subramaniya Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the Pacific and is a must-visit for your Fiji itinerary. The temple itself is fairly small, but colorful paintings and carvings are very impressive.
You will need to take off your shoes before entering and a sarong will be provided free of charge if you are not covered up enough.
30 minutes is enough time to explore and appreciate all the details of the temple.
The first 3 places on this list, we visited on the Discover Nadi tour (listed below). We did this tour on our first day in Fiji. It was a great introduction to Nadi and Fijian culture!
Highlights
- Learn about Fijian culture with a small group
- Includes Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, Sabeto Hot Springs, and Garden of the Sleeping Giant
- Great reviews and 4.5 star rating on Viator
Take A Day Cruise To Different Fijian Islands
If you’re looking for clear, turquoise waters, amazing snorkeling, and the best island hopping experience, then this excursion is for you!
Our first stop was at a sandbar for some snorkeling and it was some of the best I’ve experienced! We saw colorful coral reefs and plenty of fish.
Next, we stopped for another snorkeling adventure to a reef that was much deeper than the first. Here, we got to jump off the boat, swim around and snorkel.
Our last stop was one of my favorites when we got to explore Monuriki Island where they filmed the movie “Castaway”. This island has been owned by the same family for generations. We were given a tour by one of the family members where he pointed out where certain scenes from Castaway were filmed. He also gave us a demonstration of climbing up a tree and getting a coconut. Coconuts are one of the main sources of income for the island (other than tourism).
We had lunch on this island. The food was delicious, the drinks were plentiful, and we even got to try some kava.
But the staff is what elevates the experience so much. There’s a reason for all the 5-star reviews they receive! They seem to love what they do and are friendly and engaging the entire trip.
We did this excursion on our last day to Fiji and it was the perfect way to wrap up our Fiji experience. This tour is very popular, so be sure to book in advance!
Scuba Dive With Sharks At Beqa Lagoon
The shark dive with Beqa Adventure Divers was hands down one of the most exhilarating moments I’ve had while traveling. If you have your scuba diving license, this is a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience.
This excursion is a two-tank dive, with each dive lasting around 40 minutes. You will get to see an incredible variety of sharks from lemon sharks, black tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, and maybe even a tiger shark! But the main star of the show is the bull sharks. We were surrounded by at least 40 bull sharks.
This dive takes place about 3 hours north of Nadi at Beqa Lagoon. While there are several different companies that offer this excursion, we would highly recommend Beqa Adventure Divers. Not only were all of the staff members extremely friendly and passionate, but their wealth of knowledge about the sharks was incredible and they are heavily involved in conservation efforts. They adhere to strict rules and high safety standards but always make you feel completely safe and looked after. You can book this excursion directly through their website here!
If you don’t have your scuba diving license but are looking for a similar shark encounter, check out this highly-rated shark snorkeling experience!
Try Kava
Kava is a traditional Fijian beverage which is made from the Yaqona root.
The drink is made by grinding the root into a very fine powder and then mixing it with water. The drink is a little thick, but it does not have a bad taste to it.
You’ll receive the drink by sitting cross-legged and receiving the drink with two hands (which is a sign of respect).
It is said to have calming and relaxing properties, but we did not notice anything super substantial after drinking it.
A few excursions that you can experience a kava ceremony during are:
Watch The Sunset
Nadi had some of the best sunsets I have ever seen. The orange and pink hues against the calm waters give you some incredibly beautiful views.
We watched the sunset almost every night from our hotel at The Raddison Blu Resort Fiji, but here are a few more incredible spots to catch a sunset in Nadi:
- Fiji Sunset Dinner Cruise Including Fijian Cultural Show: This 3-hour scenic cruise offers a 3-course dinner (with the option of upgrading to fresh caught lobster), musical entertainment, and a Fijian cultural show
- Wailoaloa Beach: This popular beach is not only a scenic spot to watch the sunset, but there are plenty of restaurants nearby to grab a drink or grab a bit before or after.
Experience a Traditional Fire Performance
If you’re interested in learning about traditional Fijian culture from local villagers, the Cultural Night Tour is a great option for you.
This excursion takes place after sunset in a local village where you will get to learn about the etiquette and traditions of the local people as well as see how to make the food.
The best parts of the tour come next when you get to take part in a traditional cava ceremony before watching a fire show and Meke performance.
A meke performance is a traditional performance that tells a story through song and dance.
Although we did not go on this tour because our hotel (Raddison Blu) had its own fire performances, the Fiji Cultural tour gets rave reviews. Some of the highlights from the reviews are the warm welcome from local villagers, the incredible performances, the delicious food, and the insight into Fijian culture.
Book it: Cultural Night Tour
Visit a local market
Paying a visit to one of Nadi’s bustling markets is a great way to try the local fruits and vegetables. A few common items you’ll come across are fruits like pineapples, mangos, guava, breadfruit, coconuts, and passionfruit and vegetables such as taro, sweet potatoes, okra, and cassava.
You’ll also likely come across cava which is used in a traditional Fijian beverage (more information on this to come!)
We visited a local market on this Discover Fiji tour, but a few markets you can check out on your own are:
- Nadis Market: A popular farmer’s market open 7am-5pm Monday- Saturday and closed on Sunday.
- Namaka Mini Market: A local market open 7am-6pm Monday-Saturday and open on Sunday from 7am-2pm.
Take A Day Trip To Cloud 9- Floating Island
Cloud 9 is a two-story floating platform in the middle of the ocean where you can drink, eat, swim, snorkel, lounge, and enjoy a beautiful day out on the water.
The platform is surrounded by turquoise blue, crystal clear water, and reefs which are awesome for snorkeling. If you want more of a relaxed day, there are some day beds on the first floor where you can lounge and take in the beautiful view.
The cold drinks and upbeat music create the perfect atmosphere which has everyone up and dancing by the end of the trip!
The boat ride to the platform is a bit long, taking about an hour, but worth the trip.
This is definitely an adult experience, and we would not recommend bringing kids on this excursion.
Book It!: Fiji: Day Trip to Cloud 9 Floating Platform Including Food and Beverages
Go Ziplining
If you’re looking for some adrenaline rushes in your Fiji vacation, this ziplining tour is perfect for you.
The course features 16 zip lines with high speeds and beautiful views of the landscape and ocean.
The tour concludes with a limestone exploration.
Book It: Largest Zipline in the South Pacific and Cave Exploration In Nadi
Unwind By The Pool
The tropical environment of Nadi, Fiji makes it the perfect spot to sit back and relax by the pool. The ocean breeze and laid-back vibes of the island create the ideal environment for rest and relaxation.
We stayed at Radisson Blu which featured 5 beautiful lagoon pools. The resort was extremely spacious. and we were never had to worry about getting a lounge chair by the pool.
We’d Like To Hear From You!
We hope this blog post gives you valuable information to plan your perfect Nadi, Fiji vacation. The people of Fiji, scenic beaches, cultural tours, and endless adventures secured Nadi as one of our top vacation destinations. We hope you love Nadi as much as we did!
