11 Hours at Nadi Airport

Any ideas about how to make 11 hours in Nadi Aiirport as painless as possible? I don't have any lounge passes... in at 5:00AM out at 4:00PM.....

If it's possible to leave the airport, you could go across the road to Raffles Gateway Hotel. They have pleasant gardens you can walk around, a large pool, a reasonable restaurant (you can eat outside in the garden). They welcome casual visitors and will give you towels if you want to swim - there may be a small charge for that, and there are showers available next to the pool.
If you have to take your luggage with you, there is a left luggage place at the airport (at the far end past check-in area. It could take 30 - 40 minutes to go through Immigration and collect your luggage, and of course you will have to check back in for your next flight. Depends where you are going to as to how long that check-in time is - for NZ it is now only 90 minutes but we usually allow 2 hours. So that probably gives you around 8 hours in all.
You would have plenty of time to have a look round, into Nadi or up to Lautoka (Lautoka is more interesting and not so touristy) - either by local bus (interesting in itself) or taxi (always agree the price beforehand, but the official rate is FJ$1/km, plus a small flag fall fee. Easy to get a cab at the airport, or check with the Rosie travel desk at Raffles. No way would I spend the entire day at Nadi Airport!

Lounge passes? :-)
First trip to Nadi?

Take TaiMarilyn's advise. You do not want to spend 11 hours in the airport.
Take a bus to Lautoka.
Best market in Fiji, lunch at Blue Ginger Café or The Chilli Tree.

Cheers,
Peter

TaiMarilyn... Thank you... I really appreciate the help. I'm passing through to Tonga. Is the luggage storage coin-op or a manned drop? secure?

Peter_n_Margaret... Thanks... I'm not keen on looking around Nadi and I've been to Lautoka to/from the Yasawas. Is Raffles within walking distance to the airport?

Raffles is a 2 minute walk from the airport.

Luggage storage is in a secure room. the person on duty will take your bags and store them on shelves, you are issued with a receipt which must be produced before the bags can be uplifted.

can take a cab to one of the resorts on Denarau then catch the Bula bus which will take you to other resorts on the island. Lots of shops, and restaurants. Once you get through customs at Nadi there are lots of duty free stores and others to shop at.

There is also a lovely orchid garden, the garden of the sleeping giant, that is a worthwhile visit. It was originally started by actor Raymond Burr (Ironsides and Perry Mason).

this link have very detailed information where to store your luggage at the Nadi Airport

http://www.fijitraveltips.com/index.php/recently-asked-questions/we-have-a-10-hour-layover-in-nadi-can-we-store-our-luggage-at-the-airport

and this link shows you just how closes Raffles Gateway Hotel is to the airport

VERY CLOSE

http://www.fijitraveltips.com/index.php/features/close-to-nadi-airport

nztourist .. thanks

I agree with #1 and in fact have done just that. It was perfect.