Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# 2 people, 1 week and $840 Fijian... Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
evehancock 01:42 UTC 10 Mar 2007 | Hi All! Its been fantatsic to read all the posts and get an insight into where to go in Fiji. We are a couple who'll be in Fiji for 7 days, landing in Nadi. Is Nadi a good place for a stop over or is it worth trying to get out of there as soon as possible? The past posts seem to recommend the Yasawas islands, especially Octopus Resort. As backpackers, we are particularly restricted by budget. Having said that, we'd like to do as many activities as possible: diving, snorkelling... We've heard reports that you can go snorkelling for as little as $60 fijian a day? Is this true? Can you recommend any good operators to go with? I've done some research myself and found a great looking place called Stoney Creek Resort (near Sabeto Mountains) which boasts of Hot Water Springs, a waterfall, pony trekking, mountain biking and the list goes on. Has anyone stayed here? It seems really reasonable, costing only $60 fijian per night per bure. Anyway, I really appreciate the tips and advice. I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks in advance, Eve. :o) |
melbar 02:02 UTC 10 Mar 2007 | my son stayed at stoney creek, he would not stay there again. accom there is cheap, meal cost is high, its isolated and you always need taxis to get out. with your minibudget not the place. the whole western side is gearded to get your money out of you as quick as possible. depending on your arrival you better get on an early morning bus (sunbeam express from the nadi market) get over to suva side and from there make your way to Levuka, Leleuvia or Caqalai. Just google for it to find out details. | 1
evehancock 05:03 UTC 10 Mar 2007 | Hi Melbar Thanks for responding! The information is really useful, especially on Stoney Creek. Luckily we arrive first thing in the morning so we'll be able to get the bus across. Have you any suggestions for good accomodations or activitiy operators on the suva side of Fiji? Thanks again, Eve. | 2
melbar 10:22 UTC 10 Mar 2007 | suva is just a stepping stone to the rest of fiji. from there you could go to levuka, good for some history and local culture, good diving.... check www.levukafiji.com got many links, then go to bobosfarm for 2 days, more fiji culture, hiking.... then for 2 days to leleuvia for the island and beach experince... btw: the company that runs leleuvia belonges to mike and stanley hancock | 3
oldpro 13:29 UTC 10 Mar 2007 | Personally, I'd recommend Ovalau etc as well. However, for a 7 day holiday you might end up losing a lot of time getting there and back to Nadi -- something to consider at any rate. Perhaps a direct flight to Suva and then to Ovalau/Levuka if all the connections work out. Otherwise, busing and boating is going to cost you a day's travel one way. I'd get out of Nadi as quick as possible. Octopus resort is OK, mainly because of it's location on Waya island. If you have your own gear, snorkeling doesn't cost anything! You can rent gear for less than half the price you mention. I'd expect a FJ$60 price tag to include a boat ride somewhere. #3 I'm curious about your remark on the company running Leleuvia. I was there a bit over a year ago and the resort was just starting to recover from some sort of legal tussle between an mainland chief who claimed to 'own' leleuvia and a European guy who had set up the resort and dive facility -- and finally gave up the fight and left. When I was there, it seemed that only a local group was running the place, with no outside involvement and no dive shop on site. So has the situation changed (hopefully improved) yet again? | 4
melbar 14:43 UTC 10 Mar 2007 | old pro you right with the time constraints. I wonder who told you the nonsens about a tussle between chief and a european..... | 5
evehancock 03:30 UTC 11 Mar 2007 | Hi Well thanks for the help. Bobo's Farm looks fantastic! Sorry - I meant diving for 60FD a day, not snorkelling! Thanks so much. Any recommendations on accomodation in Suva or Levuka also very gratefully appreciated. We already have our flights into Nadi so unfortunatly I think we might have to give Ovalau a miss... :o( Eve. | 6
oldpro 13:27 UTC 11 Mar 2007 | I stayed at the South Seas Private Hotel in Suva. It's sort of a backpacker place, but a nice location (quiet!). Perhaps 10-15 minutes' walk from central Suva and the markets. Most rooms and a dorm or two (shared showers) are in a nice old building with a large veranda. Kitchen and laundry facilities. A couple of 'luxury' rooms with private facilities are in a separate building at the back. In Levuka there's the Royal Hotel if you want a colonial experience. Lots of atmosphere. It's also the contact and pickup point for Epi's Tour, a hike to a village located in Ovalau's old volcanic cauldera. Recommended if you enjoy jungle hikes. Next door is Mary's Lodge if you want a closer look at daily Fijian family life. Rooms are basic and facilities shared. But a good place to mix it with other travellers and Mary's family. I had an intro dive for 70FD. I don't know for sure, but perhaps prices for single dives might be in the same range. | 7
oldpro 14:17 UTC 12 Mar 2007 | Sorry, just noticed .... Levuka is a town located on Ovalau island, so if you can't make it to Ovalau, then Levuka is off your list | 8
evehancock 22:11 UTC 12 Mar 2007 | Thanks everyone! | 9