DIY day trips

HI Everyone

This March my daughter and I are heading to Fiji for a week of some serious R & R.
We normally backpack and tour independantly however this time we decided to do something different and are staying at the Sheraton at Denaru for 6 nights through a flights and accomodation package.

I am hoping the pool, the cocktails and the odd massage will give me the must needed relaxing week I am longing for however I knowing what I am like I may get a little bored at the end. So I was hoping that some of your well traveled TT's would be able to suggest some DIY day tours from Nadi?

I have done searches and it seems that expensive day tours seem to dominate but I am sure some of you have done your own thing and can give me some instruction on what I can do for a day or two that would be fun?
Any suggestions?

Hi, You can do some day trips but it will get a little expensive as you will sometimes need to hire a car. Locals hire for about $25/day but I don't know the tourist rate. Public transportation is cheap but will be too slow & not go exactly where you want sometimes. Here are some 1/2 day ideas in Nadi area: downtown has the produce market & a pretty Hindu temple, Sabeto area ($1 bus ride) and then taxi from main road ($5) has waterfall hikes, hot springs & mud baths, and the Sleeping Giant garden (tickets @ $12 each). Also, notice how locals catch a running cab or van when they are returning from Denerau to their bases in town...you just pay 50cents instead of hiring at $5, 10, or more.
Full day trips farther afield are to the north to see the highlands, traditional Navala village & you can probably call ahead to fix up a nice lunch at Bulou's at 6510194 or 6666644x2116- this is a 2 hour ride and 1/2 will be on an unpaved road. Quite a bit closer you can go to see a regular town(as opposed to Nadi's tourism) at Lautoka($2 bus) and if you arrive in the morning, you can go up to Abaca which is a nice park with trails and waterfalls(make sure you arrange your pick-up with Kalesi at 6666644x1234 or try calling Cathay Hotel). South towards the Sigatoka/Coral Coast area you can go to Natadola beach & perhaps grab a nice lunch and see the sand dunes a bit further along. Also there is Nakabuta which is one of the 'pottery villages'. Across the river is Tavuni Hill Fort ($12/person ticket) which is a historical site and a little further is the Kula Eco Park where you can see some of the local, rare wildlife. All of these would take 1-3 hours depending on your interest so you can put 2 or 3 together for a full day. I would recommend either of the paid tours offered by www.adventuresinparadisefiji.com because they are a good value for the money with food and drinks included and they are interesting. And of course there are some day trips out to sea...I would recommend a day trip to Beachcombers or a trip on the Whale's Tale (not CaptCook). More expensive than land-based trips but good fun. Denerau is like one big antiseptic gated community nowadays so if you try a few of these trips you will see some of the 'real' Fiji, meet some great people, and have some fun adventures. It'll be well worth it. Good luck!

Photosnapper you are a wealth of information. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond with all the details..

Very very much appreciated :-)