10 Best Things to Do in the Yasawa Islands with Kids

1. Snorkel with the Fish from Your Resort or on a Snorkelling Safari

If you’re travelling with kids who are keen swimmers, don’t hesitate to discover the underwater world of the Yasawa Islands. Snorkelling is the most accessible way to get close to the coral reefs teeming with tropical fish.

All the resorts in the Yasawa Islands have snorkelling opportunities, either by transporting you by boat to the best nearby snorkelling spots or straight from the resort’s beach.

Location: See the 10 Best Snorkelling Resorts in Fiji and 10 Best Beaches in the Yasawa Islands for recommendations and their locations.

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2. Learn How to Scuba Dive (for 10+ Years)

On a similar note to the point above, scuba diving is another must-do in the Yasawas if your kids are old/brave enough. Children as young as 10 years old can learn to scuba dive with Yasawa Island’s PADI and SSI-affiliated resorts.

Some fantastic family resorts where you can learn how to scuba dive are Barefoot Kuata, Barefoot Manta, Blue Lagoon, and Paradise Cove.

For more recommendations, see How to Learn to Scuba Dive in Fiji: The Ultimate Guide.

Location: Barefoot Kuata – Kuata Island, the southern region of the Yasawa Islands. Barefoot Manta Resort – Northwest coast of Drawaqa Island, the central region of the Yasawa Islands. Blue Lagoon Resort – Southwest coast of Nacula Island, the central (Blue Lagoon) region of the Yasawa Islands. Paradise Cove – Naukacuvu and Nanuya Balavu Islands, the southern region of the Yasawas Islands.

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3. Jump on a Boat Trip to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves

While you might find it hard to leave your resort in paradise, it’s always worth exploring the other islands and natural attractions of the Yasawas. A popular trip is to the limestone Sawa-i-Lau Caves. The towering limestone pillars are bound to take your breath away and get the imagination of your little ones running. It’s one of the must-dos in the Yasawa Islands!

For a quieter experience, we recommend opting for an afternoon trip rather than a morning one. You’ll have more space to explore and soak in the mystical atmosphere of these ancient caves.

Location: Sawa-i-Lau Island, the northern region of the Yasawa Islands. Plan your trip to the caves using How to Get to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves in Fiji.

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4. Discover the Fijian Culture in a Village Visit

With many of the resorts sharing islands with and hiring staff from Fijian villages, the local culture is very much alive and incredibly accessible in the Yasawa Islands. Village visits are a popular family activity in Yasawas, which family-friendly resorts like Blue Lagoon and Octopus Resort both offer.

See traditions in action as you meet local villagers and get to explore their village. Meeting and playing with the village children is also always an uplifting experience for all of the family. To incorporate yourselves more into village life, consider a homestay with one of the families in the Yasawa Islands’ villages.

Check out 10 Authentic Village Stays in Fiji for more information.

Location: See the 10 Best Village Tours in Fiji and 10 Best Homestays in the Yasawa Islands for recommendations and their locations.

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5. Learn How to Craft Jewellery or Weave Hats

If your kids love arts and crafts, then they’ll love the array of Fijian craft activities available at Yasawa’s family resorts. Get the kids involved by making their own woven hat, bag or coconut jewellery. Craft lessons are available at resorts such as Naqalia Lodge and Mantaray Island, as well as in the family resorts’ kids’ clubs (see below).

Location: Naqalia Lodge – South coast of Wayasewa Island, the southern region of the Yasawa Islands. Mantaray Island – North coast of Nanuya Balavu Island, the southern region of the Yasawa Islands.

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6. Check Out the Tropical Nature on a Walking Trail

While it’s tempting to spend all your time exploring the landscapes underwater in the Yasawas, it’s definitely worth exploring on land as well. Discovering the wildlife, tropical forests, and magnificent viewpoints is a fun way to spend some family time together.

Each island resort has a number of walks to discover, including some gentler walks for the little ones. Ask at your resort where the best walks on the island are for your family’s ability. Some resorts even offer guided walks.

Location: See recommendations and their locations in the 10 Best Walks in the Yasawa Islands.

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7. Enjoy a Family Fishing Trip

Fishing is a classic family bonding activity, but it rarely gets more exciting than fishing in the Yasawa Islands. Mum and Dad have the opportunity to catch some whoppers with game fish like Pacific sailfish, mahimahi, giant trevally, yellowfin tuna and much more – check out What Types of Fish Can You Fish For in Fiji?

Along the way, the little ones can give reef fishing a go so they can experience the pride of catching something for dinner! Almost all of the resorts in the Yasawa Islands offer fishing trips, so be sure to inquire.

Alternatively, if you want to experience the Yasawa Islands on a fish day trip, Reel Fish Fiji offers just that, departing from Port Denarau – see the 10 Best Fishing Charters in Denarau.

Location: See the 10 Best Fishing Resorts in Fiji and The Complete Guide to Fishing in Fiji for recommendations and their locations.

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8. Learn More About the Underwater World on a Marine Talk

Incorporate a bit of education into your family holiday to the Yasawa Islands by checking out the latest conservation program or discovering the local marine life with the resident marine biologists at Barefoot Kuata and Barefoot Manta Island Resorts.

Marine biologists at the resorts are keen to share their knowledge about the fascinating marine life around the island. You never know; this might be your chance to see some amazing wildlife close-up!

Location: Barefoot Kuata – Kuata Island, the southern region of the Yasawa Islands. Barefoot Manta Resort – Northwest coast of Drawaqa Island, the central region of the Yasawa Islands.

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9. Get Competitive with Beach Volleyball or Football

Playing sports together is a fun way for the family to connect, and the resorts in the Yasawas have a multitude of ways to get competitive! Resorts like Mantaray Island Resort have beach volleyball, tug of war, beach football and frisbee golf.

Or join the staff at Barefoot Kuata for coconut bowling or crab-racing! In fact, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a resort in the Yasawas that doesn’t have nightly crab-racing competitions.

Location: All over the Yasawa Islands! Check out the 10 Best Family Resorts in the Yasawa Islands for ideas.

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10. Take Your Kids to the Fantastic Kids’ Clubs

Kids get a chance to mingle with others their own age and engage with the local culture at the Yasawa Islands’ kids’ clubs!

The Green Gecko Kids’ Club at Blue Lagoon Resort, for instance, is free of charge for children over three years old. Activities include baking lessons, crafts, sandcastle competitions, face painting and crab racing.

Alternatively, the Octopus Resort‘s kids’ club and the Crooked Coconut Kids Club at Paradise Cove offer similar services for children over three years for kids to get involved with Fijian language games, painting, hair braiding, nature walks, coconut husking, snorkelling tours and much more.

Location: Take a look at the Yasawa resorts in the 20 Best Kids’ Clubs in Fiji for recommendations.

© Mark Snyder - Tourism Fiji