Our Winter Escape to Fiji

09 Aug Our Winter Escape to Fiji

Some of our holidays involve a lot of research and planning before deciding where to go and what to do, while others are decided merely by seizing a great opportunity. Our July 2022 holiday to Fiji falls into the latter category.

In late 2021 my eldest step-daughter, Belinda suggested that we take a family holiday to Fiji with her, her husband and two children, as she’d seen an amazing offer that included airfares, accommodation in a well known resort and all meals. Maggie’s other three daughters and their families were also invited, although only one other family could make it. For us the deal was so good we booked immediately, but holding some concern about Covid – Could overseas travel from Australia be shut down again? Could we catch Covid in Fiji and be stranded there?

As it turned out we caught covid two weeks prior to our Fiji holiday, during a short trip to Queensland and were out of quarantine just in time.

The Radisson Blu Resort (along with the Sheraton, Wyndham, Sofitel and Hilton resorts), is on Denarau Island; which was created from reclaimed swamp land on the western coast. In reality it is only partly separated from the main island, Viti Levu, and is not far from the city of Nadi.

We each purchased a five day pass to ride the Bula Bus, which takes passengers from resort to the Marina and back, as well as to others resorts along the way.

Bula is a greeting that means something similar to “hello”. So the Bula bus is the Hello bus. As it turns out all of the Fijian people you pass while on the bus shout “Bula” to you. And of course it is polite to shout Bula to them.

We visited the Denarau Island Marina several times to explore and shop. On one occasion we were there to catch a ferry to Malamala Island for the day.

Malamala is approximately a 30 minute ferry ride from Denarau Island Marina.

Having arrived on Malamala we scrambled to reserve day beds with shade, close to the Malamala Beach Club and infinity pool.

Swimming, eating, drinking and resting were our main activities at Malamala and the same back at Radisson Blu Resort.

It was enjoyable to wander through the resort gardens ….

…. and late in the day, to sip a cool drink, while the sun descended into the sea.

On several occasions we strolled along the foreshore and through the resorts to the north of Radisson Blu.

The seven days in Fiji passed quickly, however by that time we were ready to go home and face the mess left by a flooded Tuggerah Lake.