GOING RTW

Hi at last I am free and old enough! (50ish) reasonably fit and healthy to do a RTW solo trip as follows; california/mexico/hawaii/fiji/new zealand/tasmania/melbourne/perth

I am staying with family in california/mexico and Hawaii but I need some ideas about where to stay in Fiji. Hoping to stay 2/3 weeks in mid-August 08 but don't want to go to the main islands really, want somewhere truly Fijian. Sea sand and a budget thatched accommodation or staying with a family.

Want to swim, snorkel, kayak etc and maybe scuba which I already have experience of. Not bothered if there's no hairdryer etc!!! Just confused about the best island(s) to visit in the time. Any comments would be appreciated.

Also any suggestions of where to stay in Hawaii, I am going with my sister and family for a week (not sure which island tho) and will be staying solo for another 2 weeks. Any suggestions again for which island to stay on and thatched accom again and truly Hawaiian!

Will be going to NZ, both islands and again havn't got a clue as to the best places to visit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated x

RTP (round the pacific), not RTW.

To be honest I'm not sure what it is that you want. I wonder if your preconceived ideas and stereotypes are the cause of your confusion. You don't want the 'main' islands but want something 'truely Fijian'. This assumes that the one eliminates the other -- thereby unnecessarily limiting your options. Or by 'main islands' are you simply thinking about the yasawa resorts? If you want budget level sea, sand etc (all that authentic Fijian stuff) but with fewer tourists, consider Leleuvia island, just off Ovalau island, which is just off east Viti Levu. Nearby Caqalai island is similar.

Have you read and thought through a guidebook yet? That was my first step. It goes a long way toward eliminating confusion about the 'best' islands. David Stanley's Fiji Guide is very good.

I second Ovalau with the combination of one of the off-shore Islands and Bobo's Farm. All about that area on www.levukafiji.com

I might add that activities like kayaking and scuba diving are only available on the touristy islands, not on "truly Fijian" ones.

Sorry Lazlo, that's wrong. Leleuvia is offering sea kayaks, Caqalai is planning on it, soon. Scuba from Levuka.

I'd just get yourself to Nadi in the first instance and stay at somewhere like Skyway Lodge it could be called - I referred to it in a recent thread, and you'll find it in BUGp and though Nadi has it's grotty side, it's a place that you can check out going deals rather than book ahead and get ripped off.
Get to know your staff at the lodge and they may steer you well, but don't rely on it.
Awesome are the typical touristy org., but hey tourism is spelt Fiji in other languages, and they have a number of different packages if you want to try the Yasawas - to me, be better than going to just one island.

For your NZ planning, have a look at BBH and they have a free guide you can have posted, and great for independent hostel listings.
If you're getting there about September, it'll be cold and wet in many places particularly on the south island, but also on north island.
Have a look at Magicbus to give you some ideas on itineraries but you can still do it independently with Intercity having bus passes and then there's also NakedBus for cheap fares and sites like Backpackerboard for general info.

If it's just Australia you're going on to and then flying home across the pacific, you ought to look at at doing Oz first and then getting the better weather in NZ a bit later.

You may not want to add too much into your trip, but be a shame to come so far and not pop up north for a bit of asian culture.
Tigerairways have some pretty cheap fares between Melbourne and Singapore, and there's also cheap options to other asian locations with other airlines as well.
And then there's Oasis doing Hongkong to Vancouver if you wanted to make more of a loop out of it all.

Nomads Skylodge was place I was thinking of for accomodation in Nadi - check if they do airport pickups or should be about $5 by taxi.

There's also a whole host of hostels down by the Nadi Bay, but you are even further away from the town area then and beach ain't anything to write home about.

I stayed at the skylodge in Nadi - they do a free transfer to and from the airport but on arrival in Nadi I had to wait for about 40 minutes until the bus was full! Otherwise it was really cheap to get a taxi.

In Fiji, I went to Vorovoro Island which I can't recommend enough. Depends what you're looking for, but there were lots of cultural activites and things going on there.

In Hawaii, I stayed in Waikiki for the first few nights and then spent 5 nights on Maui where I hired a car and drove around. I loved Maui and the Road to Hana is amazing (although I drove this alone and didn't appreciate the views as much as I should have as a lot of the time I didn't take my eyes off the road!) I only spent one night in Kauai and should have spent longer there. The island is beautiful, although it rained a fair bit when I was there it just seemed to make everything greener.

Bulabear, Leluvia and Caqalai ARE touristy islands by my definition, exactly because they offer these things, along with accomodation.

#8

which is exactly my pointed about the mixed message that the OP is sending .. wanting the tourist-oriented facilities, but wanting something "truly Fijian", whatever that is supposed to mean. A resort is a resort, however you cut it. But, all considered, I find Leleuvia, Ovalau etc as good an experience of Fijians and/or 'real' Fijian daily life as one could find anywhere.

Yes I suppose I do have pre-conceived ideas. I imagine a lot of people do who dream of visiting somewhere totally different to their everyday lives. I have read up a bit but obviously not enough! Think now that I am sorting out the itinerary and my dream is hopefully becoming reality I am a bit scared! Just don't want to waste a minute...

Thanks for the info, Leleuvia is one I was considering as Yasawa doesn't really fit the bill, attracts a bit too youngish crowd for me. I will give DS guide book a look.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Thanks for that Bulabear. Have looked at loads of islands/areas just wanted opinions of someone who's been ther and done it.

Well, just don't get too preconceived on what ages go where for my experience is that you'll find people of all ages travelling just about anywhere and a social mixing of the generations is not out of the question.

Hi all, would like to thank you for the hints and tips, much appreciated