Getting from Nadi airport to Port Denarau

I am going to Fiji in June 2014 and my plane is scheduled to arrive at Nadi airport at 7:05am. I would like to catch the Yasawa Flyer at 8:30am and was wondering if that's doable. Will I be able to clear customs and immigration and catch a cab to the ferry in time? I am thinking of only taking carry on bags to make it happen.

That seems highly unlikely, given the size of the planes that fly into Fiji. Even without checked bags, you are still going to have to queue up to get through customs. Also, we don't know where your flight is departing from--if it is LAX, flights have a nasty habit of leaving late. You then have an 11 km ride to Port Denarau.

its not the bags that will hold you up but all bags are x rayed, its getting off the plane and through customs, even if you were seated at the front seats of the plane, I don't think you would make it.

Where are you going on the Flyer?
Maybe there are other options to get you where you want to go.

Cheers,
Peter

Unlike the others, I think that with only carry-on luggage and a taxi you have a good chance of making it - IF your flight arrives on time.
I would say just try it but don't prebook anything.
If you make it, you can book accommodation even when on the Flyer itself, and if you don't, just spend 1 night around Nadi.

I agree with Lazlo - and with no bags to pick up you can get through the arrivals hall fairly quickly. Try to get off the plane quickly, run through to Immigration, don't stop to listen to the serenaders...

Because I might be cutting things a little too close, I am thinking of starting off at the Beachcomber Resort, it looks like there is a 9am boat which will give me another 30 minutes to play with. From the Beachcomber I can then make my way two days later to the Yasawas.

Beachcomber is a 'party' Island and they have their own boat that leaves from Anchorage which is a sister resort just a bit north from the airport.
One night there would be an option too (better food than Beachcomber) followed by one night at Beachcomber, or straight on to the Yasawas.

Cheers,
Peter

Hi, yup, do-able. Tho rushed. Getting thru customs and out should take you 30 minutues if all goes well and there's not a lot of others clearing customs in-front of you, so get plane seats up front. If you make prior arrangements with the Flyer, then on arrival check-in with their office (open 24hrs) which is immediately where you come outside the main terminal, you are all good to go. It's would be too tight to get their transfer but you could get them to 1) call their office at Denaru to say you are on your way, and 2) get a cab direct to the harbour. It is Fiji after all! if by slim chance it doesnt happen, you could get Octopus's own boat which leaves a bit later for a direct trip to their place, then go onward thereafter. Or fly up by seaplane. or get at least to one of the places that morning on the Flyers route to continue on the next day. or just go someplace in the Mamanucas.

Thank you to everyone who responded to my posts. I put together the following trip and had a few questions. Trip details are as follows:

June 20th: Depart on the Yasawa Flyer to Blue Lagoon/Coral Reef for three nights
June 23rd: Yasawa Flyer to Octopus Resort or Mantary Island for three nights
June 26th: Yasawa Flyer to Beachcomber Resort for two nights
June 28th: Yasawa Flyer to Anchorage Resort for the last night
June 29th early morning flight out of Nadi

My questions are as follows:

1) Should I book all the hotels individually or submit the itinerary to Awesome Adventures Fiji and have them book all the resorts and Yasawa Flyer together?

2) I can't decide between Octopus or Mantary Island, I really want to snorkel with the manta rays.

Peter,
I just put together my itinerary, can you tell me what you think?
Thanks

Hi, that all looks fine and do-able. So long as you make the Flyer on morning one, prebook this leg. If you are booking one of the package deal boat/stay kinda trips I guess you will need to book your boat legs now, but you can change these easily should you need to when you are on your way - your island accm will call the boat, or you can just do it when you get on the boat, they are all pretty easy going. I dont think there is any saving to be had by buying all your stops inadvance, so i have just bought the leg I want as i get on board. Looking at your stops I think you may be on a package, so expect you will be dorming it at each point. If so you will need these booked at this time of year so you know you can get in there, this time of year does get busy and places fill up because the resorts are not large. If you have a choice Id rec Blue Lagoon over Coral View (not reef) as the front beach there is much much nicer, and you get much nice sunsets. The snorkelling is really great at Mantaray but the resort not yet nearly as nice as Octopus. Mantarays swim thru a channel closer to Mantaray than Octopus so the manta boys go out and look for them and only when they see them do they come back and qucikly call for passengers, where you can also go there from Octopus but they run it on the hope they will see them. Beachcomber was one of the original places but aint what it was due to underfunding and now much better access and resorts up to the Yasawas, but go see yourself as im sure youll still have a great time, exciting there the Flyer wont take you direct to Anchorage (but above someone says they have there own boat you might be able to get that to there, but if its just you it will cost much more and not be on a Flyer package fare -Anchorage is ok but nothing special), so the Flyer goes to the Denaru Harbour and youd need to taxi there. But for the hassle I'd find somewhere cheap or dear near there or take the free drop off bus the Flyer has that eventually finds its way via most hotels to the airport. If so you could stay at Raffles or its neighbour and just walk over to the airport for your flight if you are leaving the next day.