Nadi airport to Octopus Resort

I believe I have done most of my research and have a few questions before I book a dorm bed at the Octopus Resort. Does anyone know if my plane lands at 6:00 in the morning, do I have enough time to make it to their water taxi at Lautoka by 10:00 a.m. ? For all those who have stayed at the Octopus, did you use their taxi service to/from airport to Lautoka, or did you find something less expensive?

Thanks for your help!
Bon

We opted to take the Yasawa Flyer to Octopus instead of their boat - a bigger boat and we got to see some of the islands along the way - but cost about $10Fjn more. We were picked up at the bus stop in front of the Raffles Hotel - about a 5-10 minute walk from the airport. I am trying to recall how early the bus came - I am thinking 7 or 7:30am. So it might be possible if your flight is on time (we found immigration,customs and baggage retrieval went quickly) to get to Raffles before the bus leaves for Denarau Marina. Raffles also has a shuttle to the Hotel but it might be faster to walk. Google Yasawa Flyer to get more information - also you will have to book with them so they will know to pick you up. We used the Octopus boat on the way back as it worked better with our flight time. Hope this helps!

The bus referred to in #1 above (Hi Doreen!) leaves from Raffles at 7.30am. The email for the Yasawa Flyer is naditravelcentre@awesomefiji.com - they can give you the exact information. If that doesn't give you enough time, the Octopus van will pick you up at the airport around 8.30- 9am, and I think when we did that the cost of the van was included in the boat fare, no extra.
Are you intending to go soon? - don't delay in booking as they are very busy. If you're there between 22 September & 6 October - say hello! - I'm there then.

Thanks so much for your advice! Sorry, I won't be able to say hi as I will be there end of January.
Cheers, Bon

When we stayed at Octopus they met us at the airport and took us straight to the boat. There's loads of time - it only takes about 20 minutes to Lautoka marina from the airport.

I have recently booked my stay at Octopus, including boat transfers (42US$ per person, one way). I'm arriving at 5.55 am at the airport and their pick up time at the airport is between 8.30 and 9.00 am.

Consider booking their boat transfer for your convenience, you can always take the Yasawa flyer when you're going back to the mainland.

Hi

I will be travelling to Octopus island on the 9th July. My flight gets in at midday and I dont want to stay on the mainland for a night before heading out to octopus. Is there any other option to get out to the islands in the afternoon? And I'm not forking out for a plane or private water taxi either! Seems a bit odd that there is only one service in the morning and none in the afternnoon now from Nadi to Octopus? Is it all a con to get you to stay on the mainland for the night?
paddy

The only other way is to "fork out for private water taxi". There is and only ever has been morning departures to get out to the Yasawas. You have 2 choices for Octopus - the Yasawa Flyer which leaves Denarau Marina in Nadi at 8.30am and gets to Octopus around 11am - stopping at many other islands on the way - or Octopus boat "Magic" which leaves at 10.30am from Vuda to the north of Nadi. Obviously you will not be interested in the helicopter service which could get tyou out there in the afternoon at a high cost.
You could investigate times for a boat to get out to Beachcomber and stay there for one night and be picked up by the Flyer the next morning if you would rather stay on an island instead of on the mainland.
No way would Yasawas resorts be trying to get you to stay a night on the mainland instead of coming out to them for your whole stay!

Edited by: TaiMarilyn

thanks. I wonder why there are no affordable avo transfers . Doesnt make commercial sense to me as there surely are lots of afternoon flight arrivals into Nadi.

Unless boats are very fast (not too many of them in Fiji) - journey times to the Yasawas are simply too long to allow for return journeys to the mainland in good daylight. You will not find many (any) boats willing to do the journey in the dark with the risk of hitting one of many reefs. No long evenings in this part of the world either - dark comes early! Combined with the chance of adverse sea conditions making journeys even slower - better not to schedule afternoon trips.