The Travel Guide to Denarau Island for Families

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How to Get to Denarau

Denarau Island is located just north of Nadi International Airport, around 25 minutes drive. It’s one of the easiest Fiji holiday destinations to get to when arriving in Fiji via the Nadi Airport, with a wealth of options for getting between the airport to your resort in Denarau.

Denarau by Taxi

Taxis are a popular way to get from the airport to Denarau, as the taxi rank is situated right outside the airport exit. The drive takes about 20-30 minutes, costing FJ$30-$50 one way. Taxis have enough seats for a family of four, as well as four pieces of luggage. Larger taxis can be booked. Note that taxis need to be booked in advance when departing from Denarau. Denarau Hire Cars are the only taxi company allowed to do pickups on Denarau. Get tips on taking a taxi in our 10 Things You Need to Know About Taxis in Fiji.

Denarau by Airport Transfer

Private and shared airport transfer services are available to get you between Nadi Airport and Denarau Island. These services can be booked in advance, where your driver will be waiting for you at the airport on your arrival. Check out private transfer recommendations in the Denarau Transport Guide.

Denarau by Bus

The public bus service in Nadi and Denarau is the cheapest way to get to Denarau. The public bus operator servicing Denarau costs around FJ$1-$2 per person between Nadi and Denarau. To get around Denarau, the hop-on-hop-off service costs around FJ$8 per adult for the full day. Children under 12 travel free with a paying adult. Learn more about these buses in the Denarau Transport Guide.

For more advice on getting around Denarau, including the Denarau Marina water services, check out our 5 Ways to Get to Denarau.

© Chris McLennan - Tourism Fiji

Adventure Activities for Families

For the family that loves to be active and adventure together, Denarau has the perfect selection of activities. There’s so much happening outside of the resorts, from family-friendly island trips all the way to extreme sports like skydiving – which yes, even kids are safe to do! However, because we know that most parents don’t like throwing their kids out of planes, here are some super family-friendly adventure activities in Denarau.

Family-Friendly Island Excursions

Denarau is the main port for the idyllic tropical islands of the Mamanucas and the Yasawas. There are many day tours departing from the marina that is sure to give you and your family a day of fun and adventure. Oolala Cruises offer a family-friendly excursion to snorkelling hotspots, as well as a four-hour stay on Savala Island where kids will be able to play in the sand, kayak, snorkel and more! Find out more about Oolala Cruises on Viator and Tripadvisor. The tour also includes hotel pick-ups and a buffet lunch. Kids will also love the sailing adventure of the Tivua Island cruise with Captain Cook Cruises. Get picked up from your hotel and whisked away on the pirate-like sailing ship, with a guided snorkelling tour, glass-bottom boat tour, buffet lunch, cultural entertainment and kava ceremony included. More information can be found on Viator and Tripadvisor. Finally, South Sea Cruises offers a 9-hour boat trip to Beachcomber Island – a family-friendly excursion with snorkelling, buffet lunch and free time on the island. Learn more about South Sea Cruises on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Zipline Tours

The ultimate adventure for kids and kids-at-heart awaits in the forests of Nadi, a short drive from Denarau. Hotel pick-up is included in ziplining tours with Zip Fiji (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Sleeping Giant Zipline Fiji. The experience includes more than just flying on giant ziplines, with waterfalls, caves and magnificent tropical forest to discover on the tours. Find out more in our 5 Best Zipline Tours in Fiji.

Waterpark in Denarau

That’s right, Denarau has its own waterpark with giant fibreglass and inflatable waterslides and fun inflatable obstacle courses that will keep the kids entertained all day! There’s an on-site cafe, as well as hair braiding available.

Jet Boat Rides

A thrill ride awaits on the high-speed jet boats of Denarau. Suitable for thrill-seekers of all ages, jet boat rides with Excitor Fiji (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Jet Fiji will take you down the river inlets and out on the sea complete with 360-degree spins and near-misses.

Check out 5 Fun Family Day Trips from Denarau and 10 Epic Adrenaline Activities in Fiji for more inspiration.

© Mark Snyder - Tourism Fiji

Cultural Activities for Families

One of the aspects of a family holiday in Fiji that kids find the most fascinating is the island culture. Cultural dancing known as a “meke” captivates the little ones with enthusiastic chanting and singing. The Fijian warriors are always a hit and get the imaginations going.

Visit a Fijian Village

One of the most family-friendly cultural tours with plenty of excitement to keep kids captivated is at the Fiji Cultural Village. The village has many options from tours around the preserved Fijian bures to cultural shows with a traditional “lovo” feast included! Learn more about Fiji Culture Village on Viator and Tripadvisor. Alternatively, modern Fijian village visits are included in many sightseeing tours out of Denarau, like the Coral Coast cultural tour with Valentine Tours, visiting Natadola Beach and the village of Veisabasaba. More details on the tour can be found on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Sabeto Hot Pools

Good squelchy muddy fun awaits at the Sabeto Hot Springs, a 30-minute drive from Denarau. Kids will love the novelty of spreading wet mud all over themselves, while mum and dad will get some time to relax in the hot springs. The complex is run by a family in the local village, who are happy to talk to guests and share the Fijian way of life. The complex also has a massage parlour, souvenirs and often meals prepared by one of the villagers, which is worth trying if your kids are not fussy eaters. Tours from Denarau like this Mud Pool & Garden Tour give families plenty of time to enjoy the activity, as well as the opportunity to explore the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, an orchid garden and tropical rainforest with plenty of space for kids to run around. Find out more about the tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.

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Resort Activities for Kids

One of the things we love about a family holiday in Denarau is that there’s always something for kids to do, even when mum and dad want to relax. The Denarau resorts are packed with activities for kids, with complimentary kids’ clubs and good splashy fun in the swimming pools.

Resort Kids’ Clubs

Denarau’s family-friendly resorts offer kids’ clubs for all their guests, giving your little ones the opportunity to mingle with kids their own age and engage in the local culture. Resorts like the Radisson Blu‘s Blu Banana Kids Club has fun-filled itineraries of Fijian games and crafts for ages 1-3 and 4-12. Sheraton Fiji Resort‘s kids’ club activities include face painting, fish feeding and language lessons. The Fiji Hilton Beach Resort‘s IKA Kids’ Club features an outdoor play area, as well as two indoor activity rooms where the young guests can engage in local arts and crafts all day.

There are also babysitting services available in most resorts where hourly charges apply.

Children’s Playgrounds

No matter where in the world they are, kids love playgrounds. All the child-friendly resorts in Denarau have their own outdoor playgrounds with slides, swings – the full works. So when your kids need to burn off some energy you know where to take them.

Resort Swimming Pools

What kid doesn’t love to spend some time in the pool with mum and dad?! Every resort in Denarau has at least one pool, but most have multiple options to keep things fresh. Resorts like the Radisson Blu Resort has a dedicated kids’ pool complete with a waterslide, while the Hilton Fiji Resort has seven different outdoor pools to choose from!