Family Travel - A Trip of Firsts

A family trip to Fiji leads to new adventures, from scuba diving to sailing the scenic waters of the welcoming island nation

By Claudia Laroye

My son’s request for a ‘high tide’ serving of kava, a brimming cupful of the mild narcotic drink given as a welcome in Fiji, was symbolic of his enthusiasm to go ‘all in’ on our adventurous trip to this South Pacific nation.

As a 17-year-old, he’s fully embracing the spirit of bula (life), and the kava is one of many new experiences we encounter on our holiday. It will be a family trip of firsts – first time sailing, kayaking and learning to scuba dive at a legendary resort. And drinking kava.

KAVA CEREMONY

© TOURISM FIJI

According to the taxi driver who picked us up in the warm, early morning sunshine at the Nadi airport, drinking kava is a must-do. “You haven’t been to Fiji unless you’ve drunk kava,” he advised.

This local tip was gold. Embracing cultural traditions and trying new things are major travel objectives for our family.

But you don’t have to imbibe the slightly peppery brew to feel Fiji’s warm welcome; the hospitable spirit of bula is everywhere. Like the Hawaiian aloha, bula has more than one meaning – welcome, hello, enjoy, life. You can’t help but smile and be happy when you say the word.

In addition to being a welcoming place for families, Fiji is home to countless soft adventures on land and sea, from a ride on a bilibili boat to a hike to secret waterfalls, offering a wide variety of experiences for kids of all ages. Its 300-plus islands are spread over three million square kilometres, with about 100 of them inhabited and home to a variety of resorts.

A FAMILY ENJOYING A BILIBILI RAFTING EXPERIENCE

© TOURISM FIJI

While we don’t have a year to visit all of Fiji’s tropical paradises, we do a bit of island hopping during our trip. We board a ferry from Port Denarau on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, bound for tiny Castaway Island (Qalito Island is the Fijian name) and the Castaway Island Resort.

The small island is covered in a bright green tropical rainforest, which shades the pathways between the thatched-roof bures (bungalows). Our family’s bure is made of local timber with a hand-painted ‘tapa’ ceiling done in distinctive Fijian design.

I appreciate the bure’s air conditioning as the temperature is rising despite the ocean breeze. Just outside, the soft, white sand beach awaits and becomes like a second home during our stay.

The turquoise lagoon waters are warm and inviting for swimming and water sports. I settle into a palm-shaded hammock to read, keeping an eye on the beach and listening to the mix of Fijian, Australian and New Zealand accents.

A stay at Castaway Island includes all the equipment required for kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing and snorkelling. My husband and son are keen to try sailing a small catamaran.

DIVERS EXPLORING A CORAL REEF

© AWESOME ADVENTURES

Pushing the boat into the water with their guide, they hop in and are off on the surf, the small craft’s colourful sail moving past the beach with the breeze. It’s our son’s first time trying his hand at operating a marine craft, and he’s loving it. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, I can’t think of a more beautiful place to learn the art of sailing.

Lamenting our too brief time on Castaway, we depart back to Nadi for a short flight to the second largest of Fiji’s islands, Vanua Levu. We’re welcomed at our destination, the five-star Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, by a chorus of singers and the warmth we’ve grown to love – another hearty expression of bula.

AT JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT OCEANFRONT BURE BEDROOM SUITE. JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT

© JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT

In addition to being known for its fine dining and Bula Club of kid-friendly programs for all ages, the property provides extensive marine-focused activities, taking full advantage of its location on Savusavu Bay.

KAYAK AND CATAMARAN ADVENTURES ARE OFFERED AT JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT

© JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT

The waters teem with colourful tropical fish and coral reefs. The renowned Namena Marine Reserve, one of the world’s top scuba diving sites, is only a short boat ride away.

We’re not ones to let this opportunity go to waste and we sign up for some entry-level scuba lessons at the Cousteau Dive Centre. After a short time in the pool proving we’ve mastered the hand signals and regulator apparatus, we step off the dock and drop under the shimmering blue water into a whole new world.

AERIAL VIEW OF JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU RESORT

© CHRIS MCLENNAN PHOTOGRAPHY

The ocean is alive with sea creatures, and the vibrant fish in a rainbow of hues seem brighter and more vivid than we’ve ever seen before. Coral gardens provide shelter for tiny animals and fish, which dart in and out of holes and between crevices in this living ecosystem. We look at each other in wonder, our emotive smiles worth a thousand words.

As we ascend to the surface in a cloud of our own bubbles, I linger in the warmth of the South Pacific, grateful for our family time, wrapped in the embrace of Fiji’s beauty and spirit.