10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com
10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji

20 Essentials You NEED to Pack for Fiji 🤿

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Packing Essentials for Fiji

What are the things you can’t forget for an island holiday in Fiji? You already know you need some sunglasses and probably a few pieces of underwear, but what else are absolute essentials? Although we have a complete packing list in What to Pack for Fiji: Fiji Packing List (which you absolutely need to browse through, by the way), there are some handy items and essentials that are worth talking about in detail. We go through them all in this list of the essentials to pack for Fiji!

1. Sarong (Sulu)

Locally known as a “sulu”, a sarong is part of the everyday attire for both men and women in Fiji. Not only are they light and airy for the warm temperatures, but they cover the legs as a more modest style of clothing that is preferred especially in Fijian villages. For travellers, a sarong is essential to pack for a trip to Fiji for village visits. What’s more, they’re lightweight and compact to fit in your day pack, making a quick cover-up for trips to villages or even towns. If you don’t have a sarong or can’t buy one at home, there are readily available in just about every souvenir shop in Fiji. For more clothes to pack, see our full packing list in What Clothes to Pack for Fiji.

Learn more about village customs in Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village.

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2. Reef-Safe Sunscreen

It’s kind of a no-brainer but sunscreen is absolutely needed in Fiji! With UV levels of 4-11, high-factor sunscreen of SPF 30+ needs to be applied every three hours to reduce the risks of sunburn. Due to the fragile coral reefs in Fiji, it’s also important to use sunscreen that is “reef-safe” or “coral-safe”. Check out our recommendations in the 10 Best Reef-Safe Sunscreens and 5 Best Sunscreens for Kids and Babies.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

3. An Extra Layer For an Evening By the Beach

Although Fiji has a warm tropical climate year-round, there are times when you’ll be glad to have a light cardigan, shirt or something to cover up, such as while you’re enjoying sunset cocktails by the beach or getting back on the boat after swimming.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

4. Purification Water Bottle

For travellers staying in the same resort in an urban area for their entire trip, this item is not necessarily needed. However, if you plan on travelling to the outer islands, stay in villages or remote resorts, then we recommend taking some precautions when it comes to drinking water. A Lifestraw Bottle has a filtration system that removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, as well as 99.9% of waterborne protozoan. Check out more handy items like this in the 20 Must-Have Gadgets & Accessories for Fiji.

For more tips on drinking water, see Can You Drink the Water in Fiji?

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

5. Day Pack/Beach Bag

With so many little things to carry around with you on day trips in Fiji: camera, sunscreen, money, water, etc., a day pack is very much needed. Beach bags are a good idea for trips to the beach or short trips to town, whereas small backpacks will be more comfortable for full days out and about. So depending on what you plan to do in Fiji, choose a style of day pack accordingly. For more advice, see the “Baggage” section of our Fiji Packing List: What to Pack for Fiji.

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6. Seasickness Pills

With 333 islands in Fiji, chances are you will be on the water at some point during your trip. For this reason, seasickness pills are always a good idea, especially when going on small boats or if you have a weak stomach. See more medication to take to Fiji in What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Fiji.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

7. Snorkelling Gear

Snorkelling is a must-do in Fiji, especially at the archipelago is known as the “Soft Coral Capital”. Although many accommodations and tours on the water include free snorkel rental, they are often of questionable quality and certainly don’t compare to bringing your own! Nothing ruins snorkelling more than an ill-fitting mask. We highly recommend masks and snorkels by TUSA Sport, as they are made with high-grade pure silicone and have a high-flow purge valve that makes clearing your snorkel a breeze.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

8. A Valid Passport + Outward Travel Ticket

Duh! Of course, you need your passport! But make sure that your passport is valid for entering Fiji, as passports must be valid for at least up to six months after your intended departure date from Fiji. On a similar note, you will also need to have a travel ticket out of Fiji already booked before arrival. Some travellers may also need a Pre-Arranged Visitor Visa to enter Fiji – see Do You Need a Visa to Visit Fiji? for more details.

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9. Swimwear

Yep, you’re probably going to be spending a lot of time in the water in Fiji, so swimwear is an absolute essential. In Fiji, men wear boardshorts-style swim shorts. For women, a bikini is a popular choice for staying in a resort, but a one-piece swimsuit may be more “stable” for watersports or more modest for staying in a village. See What Clothes to Pack for Fiji for more clothing to pack.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

10. Quick-Dry Travel Towel

Sure, many accommodations provide beach towels. But if you’re staying at an accommodation that doesn’t or you don’t want to take their bulky beach towels on a day cruise, then we suggest taking a much better beach towel: a quick-dry travel towel! You can find these microfibre towels at any outdoor store, but we like 4Monster Camping Towels that fold up nice and concise.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

11. Rashies (Rash Vest)

As mentioned, you’ll likely be spending a lot of time on the water, which is, quite frankly, hell to manage sun protection! Sunscreen needs to be reapplied pretty regularly and we’d rather spend more time snorkelling than getting out of the water for a sunscreen top-up. And your kids agree! We strongly recommend adding a rash vest/rash guard/rashie to your packing list. We like Sharkskin for their rapid-dry rashies which have SPF 50+ protection, come in fully recyclable packaging and are saltwater, chlorine and UV-resistant so can be used for many more holidays to come.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

12. Fiji First Aid Kit

Make sure you pack a little first aid kit for the illnesses or injuries you may encounter in Fiji. Medication to remedy heatstroke, mosquito bites and gastro bugs make up the essentials, while band-aids and antiseptic wipes/cream are your standards for injuries. See our full list of every item to put in your Fiji first aid kit in our guide, What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Fiji.

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13. Fijian Dollars

The official currency of Fiji, Fijian Dollars are essential to pack for Fiji! We recommend bringing enough for the first few days of your trip, so you don’t have to pay foreign exchange plus credit card surcharges at every vendor. Then, just withdraw another stack of cash from the ATMs when you are ready. Find out more in What is the Best Way to Pay in Fiji?

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

14. Mosquito Repellent

In a country that’s prone to Dengue Fever, having some mosquito repellent is absolutely essential for your trip to Fiji. Although many resorts have mosquito control in place, it’s always a good idea to have some repellent with you, just in case you come across an area where the annoying little buzzies are wreaking havoc (like, pretty much anywhere).

See our recommended repellents in the 10 Best Mosquito Repellents for Fiji and alternative mosquito control methods in the 10 Ways to Avoid Mosquito Bites in Fiji.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

15. Digital Copies of Your Travel Documents

And just in case you forget your flight booking, lose your passport, or can’t remember the place where you are staying; make sure you have everything also as a digital copy that you can access even without the internet.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

16. Flip-Flops

With tropical temperatures, endless stretches of sand and probably a lot of time on your feet, you bet that flip-flops (or “jandals” if you’re Kiwi or “thongs” if you’re Australian) are going to be the first thing you throw in your suitcase. Make sure you bring a pair that’s comfortable.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

17. Walking Shoes

Speaking of being on your feet, walking shoes are certainly essential if you plan on doing any of the amazing island hikes (which you totally should)! You might even find walking shoes are more comfortable for your flights between Fiji and home, as well as for long days shopping in Suva or Nadi.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

18. Reef Shoes or Water Shoes

If you have them, they’re great to have in Fiji. Although the beaches are mainly sandy, there are broken bits of coral and devilish stonefish that you will not want to stand on with exposed feet! A good pair to have are the unisex Mishansha Water Shoes while Speedo Kid’s and Toddler’s Water Shoes are great for little ones.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

19. Some More Modest Clothing

With temperatures of 18-31°C (64-88°F) all year round, it can be pretty tempting to just pack a singlet and a pair of short-shorts and be done with it. However, Fiji is a religious country where modest clothing is quite important to the locals. With that in mind, be sure to respect the local customs by not wearing anything way too revealing as you’re out and about in towns and villages (which is pretty much everywhere outside of your resort). We recommend light fabrics such as sustainable bamboo by Moso Morrow that provide a good cover-up while keeping you cool (and looking great).

For more outfit advice, take a look at What to Wear in Fiji: Clothes Packing List.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

20. Travel Adapter

Finally, one last essential to pack for Fiji is a pretty obvious one for seasoned travellers but important nonetheless! Fiji uses Type 1 power outlets with a voltage of 240 V and 50 Hz. For travellers from New Zealand and Australia, your electrical appliances should all work fine, but travellers from the US will not only need a travel adapter but a voltage converter. Learn more about electricity in Fiji in our guide to Fiji Electrical Outlets & Power Plugs.

10 Essentials to Pack for Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

More Essentials to Pack for Fiji

That’s it for our list of essentials to pack for Fiji. For more on the packing list, make sure you scroll through the following guides:

Finally, don’t forget a thing to prepare for your trip by using The Best Fiji Travel Guide and Fiji Travel Tips: 30 Tips for Travelling in Fiji.

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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