Fiji Holidays 2012

Your trip to the Fiji Islands is going to provide you with a true island holiday. With the mix of Polynesian to the east and Melanesian to the west no matter where you go you will be greeted with cultures rich in song and dance.

These songs and dances have been passed down from one generation to the next and are always performed at certain life events. However, with urbanization increasing throughout the islands you will need to visit the rural villages to get a true look at this type of life.

Places that can’t be missed

The coasts of the Fiji Islands offer some of the best opportunities for snorkeling, diving, and even surfing. One of the reasons why diving is so popular in Fiji is because of how protected the islands are.

Off the coasts of the Fiji Islands are some of the biggest coral reefs that you will ever find which is what protects the island’s coast from the harsh Pacific Ocean. One of the best dive spots around is the AstroLabe Reef, which is the fourth largest reef in the world. The best place to go surfing is at Frigates Passage located on the edge of Beqa Island’s lagoon. If body surfing is more to your liking Natadola Beach offers you the best waves.

Shark feeding, which is offered at numerous Fiji resorts, is a popular thing to do on the islands. The most popular spot for this activity is “Shark Reef,” which is located just off Pacific Harbour’s coast.

Local cuisine

To really get a feel for what Fiji has to offer you on vacation you need to try out some of the local cuisine. Some of the local dishes that you need to try out include Rourou, lovo, Duruka, Cassava, and Kokoda.

Lovo is a combination of meat and root vegetables cooked in an earth oven, while kokoda is cubed raw fish that has been soaked in lemon juice for at least three hours. The cubed raw fish is then served with coconut cream and topped with tomatoes, chilies, and onions. When dining in Fiji tipping is not required, but you can donate to the restaurants Christmas funds if you wish to leave some type of tip.

Climate

Fiji has what is known as a South Seas tropical climate and because of this only has two major seasons. The rainy season lasts from November to April, while the dry season runs from May to October.

The ideal time to visit the islands based on the temperatures is from June to October. During these months, you can expect to see temperatures ranging from 72 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The high humidity is something to watch out for, but by late afternoon and early evening, the trade winds have cooled the air considerably.

Hurricane season lasts from November to April, but the last cyclone to hit the area was Kina back in 1993.

Wildlife

Being an island much of the wildlife that you will see can only be seen here, unless by chance your local zoo happens to have a certain species.

Birds found in Fiji are among some of the most brightly colored birds that you will ever see. In fact, Fiji has over 100 species of birds, including musk parrots, silktails, fantails, and honeyeaters.

Most of the land animals that can be found on the islands are going to be reptiles, including the small crested iguana found on Yaduataba Island and the banded iguana that is found all throughout Fiji.