FJ
Nadi
Fiji’s gateway town, with a colourful Hindu temple, markets, hot springs and the resorts of Denarau
Fiji’s gateway town, with a colourful Hindu temple, markets, hot springs and the resorts of Denarau
This brightly painted Dravidian-style Hindu temple, at the end of the main street, is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times.
Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes.
Photo: Rickard Törnblad, CC BY-SA 4.0
At the foot of the Sabeto mountains, this garden was started by actor Raymond Burr and holds a large collection of orchids along shady walkways.
Photo: Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 PL
Coat yourself in warm mud, let it dry in the sun, then rinse off in natural hot spring pools. It is often combined with the garden.
Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
The town market sells tropical fruit, root crops, spices and kava root. It is a good place to see daily life.
Photo: Rickard Törnblad, CC BY-SA 4.0
A short drive away, Denarau Island has big resorts, a golf course and Port Denarau marina, where most boats to the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands depart.
Photo: Simon_sees, CC BY 2.0
Try Indo-Fijian curries and roti, kokoda (raw fish in coconut and lime), and fresh tropical fruit.
Port Denarau has many restaurants; Nadi town is cheaper.
Nadi International Airport has flights from Australia, New Zealand, the US and Asia. Taxis and buses link the airport, town and Denarau in 15–30 minutes.
Express buses run along the Queens Road to the Coral Coast and Suva.
Fiji uses the Fijian dollar (FJD). Resorts are pricey; local food and buses are cheap.
Culture and countryside before the islands.
Visit the temple and market, then relax at Denarau.
Tour the Garden of the Sleeping Giant and the Sabeto mud pools.
If invited to a kava ceremony, clap once before and three times after drinking.
Cover up when visiting villages and temples.
Open-air local buses are cheap and frequent.
November to April is cyclone season; check forecasts and consider travel insurance.
Quick answers for planning time in Nadi.
Yes, for a day or two of culture and countryside before the islands.
About 20–30 minutes by road.
A large, colourful Hindu temple in Nadi, open to respectful visitors.
Port Denarau.
May to October, the dry season.
English is an official language; a few words of Fijian (bula, vinaka) go a long way.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Fiji travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.