Fiji with young children

Hey everyone. I am travelling to Fiji in a couple of months with my husband and 3 daughters, aged 5, 3 and 2. We are staying at Hideaways on the Coral Coast, and then transfering over to Treasure Island for a few days.

I have so many concerns I hope someone can help put my mind at rest.

Firstly, I will only be drinking bottled water, but should I also refuse ice in drinks and be wary of salads which are probably washed in local water ( I was caught out in Bali by this, much to my detriment!)

Secondly, we have arranged transfers from airport to Coral coast through Hideaways resort. Can anyone tell me about how long this trip will take? Is it usual for there to be child restraints in such transfer coaches? And are the roads decent or are they terrible and windy (one of my daughters gets car sick).

Thirdly we are transferring from Denarau to Treasure via water taxi to limit travel time (again so hopefully my daughter won't get sick). Has anyone used the water taxi service and is the ride relatively smooth?

I am looking forward to our holiday, however quite nervous as have not taken our girls internationally yet, and I fear health and safety standards may be below ours in Oz. We were sort of forced into this holiday because of a family wedding, and had it not been for that we would have waited until the girls were older so that they would be able to enjoy the kids clubs etc.....anyways, hope someone can help me.

Have been to most of the resorts in the Mamanuca's and have never bought bottled water. Some resorts provide drinking water, in the ones that don't we boil it but some are desalinated sea water and don't taste very good.
Some islands pipe water from the mainland and some have fresh water delivered by barge.
Have just checked and Treasure has water piped in.
All have provided some sort of fresh water that has not made us sick.
We always helicopter out to the islands as the sea trip can be rough.
Not sure about the length of time Hideaway to Denarau, probably around an hour, the road is ok not too windy and fairly flat, I would doubt they would have child restraints.

You are obviously an overprotective mother. Its not a bad thing.

My two grandsons have been over here to me twice, and all though I
boil their water and keep it in the fridge, I have witnessed many times them
running to the tap and helping themselves. Last time they were here they were
3 & 6yrs. Give them bottled water for your own peace of mind. they will surely
swallow water when they are under the shower. I never drink anything but tape
water. Iceblocks with wrappers are safe unless you buy it at some little dairy where some of them
make homemade ones on a stick without wrappers. I would trust the water in them but
not the hygien of the making. I would not give it to my grandchildren. The ride down to Hideway
is plesant enough and I dont think your children will get car sick. No the buses will not have restraints.
I'm sure you'll be fine. Children will pick up all sorts of rubbish and put it in their mouth
wherever they are. People pick up all sorts from swimming pools all over the world. You'de be amazed
what germs our bodies can fight. .
Salads with manyonaise, I dont touch, as with this heat it goes off so quick. Undressed salads is fine.

I'm a New Zealander and I have known of more food poisoning in NZ than here in Fiji where I now live.

Have a great holiday.

"I will only be drinking bottled water...."

And thus producing more garbage during your short visit than most Fijian families produce in a year.

FYI-Fijian water is safe and delicious and you are a fool to believe that what you're drinking out of a bottle is any better than what comes out of a tap.

In fact bottled water is usually that-unfiltered tap water sold to the gullible and credulous.

Thanks for your comments guys. I know I may sound over protective, but I really don't fancy a week stuck in a bure in a foreign country with an ill child (hardnosethehighway, I'm not sure whether you would be able to relate to this scenario), so would rather play it safe that sorry. Nothing ruins a holiday quicker that a sick kid!

As someone who has 6 children with 4 different women I know more about sick children than most.

Give them that the locals eat/drink/no more than half a day in the sun/water and they'll be right.

The trip to Hideaway by taxi would be about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 , road is rough by Aust standards. My daughter who gets car sick was oK (but she, sister and husband slept the whole way) a bus will take longer if it stops at other resorts along the way.
We didn't drink tap water but were lucky to stay at places (in 3 weeks) that provided filtered water. I don't think I'd drink it straight from the tap but would boil it first. But we did have ice, cocktails, salads etc and none of us had any problems in or after the 3 weeks. However use your judgement, especially about food lying around in bay marines in buffets. Make sure you take some basic useful medications. The rule of thumb if you take them, cart them around, you will never need them (we take a bagful, hubby's a pharmacist!). Fiji's not first world, but it's not third world either. Common sense is the go (and washing hands!).

Dear over protective mum, hopefully I can put your mind to rest.
1. Dont drink bottled water, (I agree with previous comments that this is environmentally irresponsible) Tap water in Fiji is better than Sydney's tap water. We have been to Fiji 3 times with our kids (including 10 days on Treasure Island) and NO-ONE ever gets sick. And yes Treasure Island has piped water from the mainland.
2. If you or your kids are likely to get seasick, DON'T TAKE THE WATER TAXI. It takes ages and the crossing is often roug. We went to Treasure Island on the floatplane (which was great until we were getting off and my wife ignored the Skipper's advice to take off her shoes to walk out on the float - she fell off into the water!!!). The other (slightly more expensive) option is the helicopter.
3.Health and safety is NOT a concern. The fijian people are some of the friendliest in the world. You will be safer there than in Australia. And try not to worry SO MUCH - everyone in your party will have a much better holiday if you can relax a little and enjoy the fact that Fiji is not the same as home (actually I think it is better!). Have a great time!

The tap water in most places in Fiji is fine to drink. No need to waste money and natural resources on bottled water in Fiji except on some of the smaller islands. The small islands usually rely on rain catchment and some places don't properly care for the water.

The Queens Road goes to Hideaway. It is paved, with some potholes, and not very winding. It'll take between one and a half and two hours to drive there from the Nadi airport.

John
Rakiraki, Fiji