pool at Beachouse Backpacker’s Resort – Coral Coast of Viti Levu Island

10 Free Things to do in Fiji

In two recent posts about Fiji, I pointed out that this Pacific island nation actively markets to and caters for budget travelers. All around Fiji’s scattered islands travelers can find beach-side budget resorts, dorm rooms, and inexpensive rooms at city budget hotels & guest houses.

Read more about Fiji’s Budget Resorts here.

Most of the free activities I’ve found available in Fiji are a direct result of their resort systems. You see, accommodation rates at a majority of resorts – from budget to upscale – include a whole variety of fun activities. Paying overnight guests get to join most everything there for free. You could say that Fiji’s resorts are set up as inclusive packages.

Not every single resort necessarily has all of these freebies on offer, but each resort will have most of them. And many resorts do offer all.

When you visit a Fiji resort, you may as well plan on spending most of your time there. On small, remote islands that will be your only option anyhow. And while staying at resorts on the main islands, you can get into nearby towns and do a few interesting excursions, but there’s not really too much to see or do out there. You’ll probably have the most fun and the most activity choices at the resort itself.

 At most Fiji’s resorts you can:

kava session – kava drink and singing – at a budget resort

1. Join kava drinking & singing sessions

Nearly every hotel, guest house and resort in Fiji offers free kava, usually in the form of evening kava singing sessions.

Kava is Fiji’s ‘national drink’, made from a native root, and imbibed for every kind of function imaginable: welcoming people, giving farewells, community meetings, political functions, business meetings, and simply hanging out with friends. Whenever people get together, they sit around a bowl of kava, drinking together.

Kava does not taste anything like alcohol. It tastes to me like ginseng, a Chinese medicinal root. But it’s Fiji’s version of an intoxicating drink. I’ve had it a few times, but never felt the least bit ‘drunk’, though it can make the lips and tongue numb

here I am kayaking in Fiji

2. Kayak on the sea

Most of Fiji’s islands are surrounded by barrier reefs, lying 100-400 M offshore. The reefs protect the islands from the full brunt of the vast Pacific Ocean and create a calm, shallow inner reef area lining the islands’ shores.

The generally calm, clear water is perfect for easy sea kayaking. And that’s a fun way to explore the coast, reach shallow reefs for snorkeling and get some outdoor exercise.

Many resorts, even budget resorts, have kayaks on hand for guests to use free of charge.

3. Snorkel on coral reefs

Fiji’s barrier reefs create a shallow inner reef that is easy to access from shore and generally quite calm with crystal clear water. To reach the colorful coral gardens and vibrant tropical fish on your own, either swim out from shore or kayak out to the reef edge.

Generally in Fiji, you’ll have to snorkel the inner reefs at high tide since large tracts of the inner reefs become completely exposed during low tide. Be careful not to get caught out on the reef when the tide is receding.

If you carry your own snorkel gear, you won’t have to pay any rental fees.

tanning poolside in Fiji

 4. Work on your tan

If you’re heading to an exotic Pacific Island like Fiji, chances are you’re looking forward to gaining a superb golden tan. Whether you prefer laying in the sun at the pool, beach or grassy lawn, you can soak up some nice hot sun rays during your Fiji vacation.

If you prefer gaining your tan while being active outdoors, you can do that while kayaking, surfing, snorkeling or strolling the beach.

5. Hang out poolside

Just about every resort and hotel in Fiji has a pool. If you get tired of the sand, switch to the pool where you can swim, relax in lounge chairs, work on your tan some more, or just hang out in the water chatting and staying cool.

beach at Beachouse Backpackers Resort – Coral Coast of Fiji

 6. Enjoy the beach

Besides suntanning, beaches are great for walking, jogging, shell hunting, swimming, enjoying scenic views, reading, chatting with friends, playing Frisbee or volleyball. Take your pick or enjoy them all.

 7. Play beach volleyball

Many beach-side resorts also have a volleyball court set up and offer daily volleyball games in late afternoons. Of course guests can take up a game anytime during the day on their own, too.

8. Play billiards

Curiously, billiards table are very popular in Fiji and most resorts & hotels have one. Guests are free to use them whenever they like.

It’s a great chance to hone up your billiards skills or idle away a few lazy hours on quiet afternoons or cloudy days. In evenings, the billiards tables become a much more social scene. They make another great place to meet and chat with fellow travelers, and have a bit of congenial competition.

Lash with new travel friends

 9. Meet & chat with other independent travelers

Many of Fiji’s budget resorts attract independent travelers. As a result, they are great places to meet up with people from all over the world, exchange travel tales & impressions of Fiji, and make new friends. Maybe you’ll even find a new travel buddy or romance

10. Get online (may or may not be free)

Fiji’s budget resorts have mixed policies when it comes to internet use. Some resorts offer free, unlimited wifi while others charge about $4-5FJD per day or even $4-5 FJD per hour. If internet access is important to you, make sure you check out the resort’s policies before making a reservation.

If your resort charges hourly rates for internet connection, you’ll probably be better off buying a Fiji sim card for your mobile phone or usb modem ($5 FJD / $3 US) and a monthly pre-paid internet package ($10-30 FJD per month) depending on the amount of data you need).

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You might also find the following posts useful:

10 Surprising Facts About Fiji

Fiji’s Amazing Budget Resorts

Photos of Viti Levu – Fiji’s main island

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