What to Do for Free (or Cheap) on the Coral Coast
It’s true, not all days during your Coral Coast holiday can be taken up with pricey scuba diving trips, spa treatments and fishing charters. That’s why we’ve put together this quick list of free and cheap things to do on the Coral Coast!
You might be surprised by the number of free activities available in resorts, as well as free and cheap attractions scattered across Fiji’s southern coast.
While you’re here, discover more tips for staying on a budget in our Budget & Backpacking Guide to the Coral Coast.
Table of Contents
1. Do a Dive Lesson… For Free! – FREE
Scuba diving is always considered an expensive activity, so make sure it’s right for you by taking advantage of the free introductory scuba diving lessons in resorts!
Budget accommodations on the Coral Coast, like Mango Bay Resort, offer a complimentary scuba diving lesson in the resort pool.
Check out more resort recommendations in our 10 Best Budget Accommodations on the Coral Coast.
Location: Mango Bay Resort – Signposted off the Queens Road, Namatakula Village. For more information, see How to Learn to Scuba Dive in Fiji: The Ultimate Guide.
© FijiPocketGuide.com2. Take Part in a Kava Ceremony – FREE
Experience a Fijian kava ceremony – a staple of the Fiji islands where new visitors share a narcotic drink with villagers (or the resort staff).
Kava ceremonies and “sessions” are organised at resorts such as The Beachouse, Mango Bay Resort, Crusoe’s Retreat and Bedarra Beach Inn, giving guests an opportunity to taste the drink and learn about the ritual surrounding the ceremony.
However, the most authentic version of a kava ceremony is when actually visiting a village through a guided village tour, such as Off-Road Cave Safari, Sigatoka River Safari or the Biausevu Waterfall Tour with Go Local Fiji.
You can also visit a village independently. Fijians are very welcoming, but you’ll need to be prepared with some yaqona (kava root) to present as sevusevu (a gift).
For more information, see Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village.
Location: All over the Coral Coast! See the links above to check out the location of each resort/tour listed.
© FijiPocketGuide.com3. Make Your Own Fijian Souvenir – FREE
On the theme of Fijian culture, budget travellers will get lots more free opportunities to learn about Fijian arts, crafts and food through resorts like Mango Bay Resort, The Beachouse and Crusoe’s Retreat.
Make your own souvenir in a traditional Fijian weaving lesson, learn to cook Fijian dishes, make coconut jewellery and more!
Location: Mango Bay Resort – Signposted along Queens Road, Namatakula. The Beachouse – Queens Road, Korolevu. Crusoe’s Retreat – Signposted along Queens Road, Namaqumaqua.
© FijiPocketGuide.com4. Visit the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park – CHEAP
Fiji’s first national park, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is a must for travellers on a budget. The park, just south of Sigatoka, is protected for its unique nature and history. Arrive at the visitor centre, which is open daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm, where it’s around FJ$10 per adult to access the walking trails.
It offers two main walking options: a one-hour shaded walk that is less steep and a more challenging two-hour hike with great views. The area is home to 36 species of birds, and it’s recommended to arrive early for birdwatching.
Special arrangements for early arrival can be booked in advance via the Sigatoka Sand Dunes website, as are guided tours throughout the day.
See more activities like this in the 5 Best Walks & Hikes on the Coral Coast.
Location: Visitor Centre Car Park, Queens Road, Yadua. About 4.5 km (2.7 mi) southwest of Sigatoka town.
© FijiPocketGuide.com5. Check Out the Shops and Markets in Sigatoka – FREE
More ways to get outside of your resort are by visiting the nearby towns. The hub of the Coral Coast is Sigatoka, which is full of craft stores and the Sigatoka Market. The market is a must-do, not only to see the array of tropical fruits and vegetables but also to mingle with the friendly stallholders.
Local buses and taxis are a cheap way to get to and from Sigatoka. Otherwise, inquire if your resort operates a shuttle service.
Location: Market Road, Sigatoka.
© FijiPocketGuide.com6. Visit the Biausevu Waterfall – CHEAP
This breathtaking waterfall and swimming hole is a popular natural attraction that many pricey tours take visitors to.
However, it can also be done for rather cheap. Either drive or take a taxi to the village of Biausevu, where local villagers will guide you to the Biausevu Waterfall, also known as the Savu Na Mate Lava Waterfall, for a small fee in Fijian dollars (cash).
Alternatively, guided tours to the waterfall are available with Go Local Fiji or Coastal Inland Tours. Discover more trips like this in The Best Day Trips from the Coral Coast.
Location: Biausevu Village, signposted along the Queens Road at Korolevu.
© FijiPocketGuide.com7. Experience Kayaking – FREE
A staple of any waterfront accommodation on the Coral Coast, kayaks are almost always available to hire for free! Get out on the water and explore the coast or test your relationship or friendship in a double kayak! Just ask the resort staff where are the best places to paddle to.
For more experiences for two, check out the 10 Most Romantic Things to Do on the Coral Coast.
Location: All over the Coral Coast – see the 20 Best Resorts on the Coral Coast for ideas. Plus, learn more about kayaking in the 5 Best Kayak Tours in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.com8. Snorkel in a Lagoon – FREE/CHEAP
Discover the tropical fish and colourful underwater world of the Coral Coast by making use of the complimentary snorkelling equipment.
Although the off-shore snorkelling is not as good as what you would find on Fiji’s outer islands, resorts on the Coral Coast like the Mango Bay Resort, Crusoe’s Retreat and Bedarra Beach Inn have access to a lagoon with some fantastic snorkelling.
Alternatively, many resorts like The Beachouse offer snorkelling boat trips, usually at an affordable rate.
Location: Mango Bay Resort – Signposted along Queens Road, Namatakula. The Beachouse – Queens Road, Korolevu. Crusoe’s Retreat – Signposted along Queens Road, Namaqumaqua. Bedarra Beach Inn – Sunset Strip, Korotogo.
© FijiPocketGuide.com9. Get Competitive with Some Beach Sports, Table Tennis, Yoga and More – FREE
Many budget resorts on the Coral Coast offer plenty of ways to get competitive with your partner, family or fellow travellers on land with sports such as beach volleyball, table tennis, pool table, badminton, and beach favourites like crab racing and coconut bowling. For a bit of rejuvenation, The Beachouse even offers free daily yoga classes!
© FijiPocketGuide.com10. Scout Out the Cheap Eats on the Coral Coast – CHEAP
It’s true that the resorts on the Coral Coast don’t offer the cheapest meals (nor the most flavoursome) when compared to the eateries in town. So be sure to scout out some of the cheap eats when exploring the Coral Coast!
Try Indo-Fijian curries, fresh Fijian-style seafood, Chinese dishes, and quaint lunch stands that we recommend in our Top Cheap Eats on the Coral Coast!
Location: See the link above for recommendations and their locations.
© FijiPocketGuide.comMore Free and Cheap Things to Do on the Coral Coast
That’s it for the free and cheap things to do on the Coral Coast. For more tips to help plan the perfect trip, check out the following guides:
- 17 Ways to Save Money When Travelling in Fiji
- 10 Best Surf Spots on the Coral Coast
- The Food Guide to the Coral Coast: Places to Eat & Food Tours
Finally, don’t forget to bookmark The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Fiji. Trust us; there are a lot of useful tips!
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Coral Coast Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Regional tourism website)
- Sigatoka Town Council (Local council website)
- Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
- Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Coral Coast Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Regional tourism website)
Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
