The Guide to the Ferries in the Mamanuca Islands
Staying in some blissful island paradise in Fiji is all good, but actually, getting to a remote island is somewhat of a head-scratcher. Luckily, there are regular ferries to and from the Mamanuca Islands several times a day. We go over the ferry companies, routes, prices and how to book in this complete guide to how to take a ferry to the Mamanuca Islands.
For more information about these islands, check out The Complete Guide to the Mamanuca Islands and the 20 Best Resorts in the Mamanuca Islands.
Table of Contents
5 Quick Tips for Taking a Ferry in the Mamanuca Islands
Here are our top tips to ensure your journey is smooth sailing (pun intended!):
- Both ferries for the Mamanuca Islands depart from Port Denarau, which is around 10 km (6 mi) from Nadi.
- All of the Mamanucas’ ferries have courtesy transfers to Port Denarau from Nadi, which need to be booked in advance. Otherwise, make your own way there using the advice in the 5 Ways to Get to Denarau Island.
- Consider cheaper options, like the Mana Flyer departing from Wailoaloa, if you’re on a budget.
- Check-in for your ferry transfer at least 30 minutes before departure.
- Ferries have the same baggage allowance as most airlines – carry-on bags of up to 7 kg (15 lbs) and main luggage weighing up to 25 kg (50 lbs).
For more tips, check out the 10 Tips for Taking the Ferry in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Mamanuca Islands Ferries
There are two catamaran ferry companies in the Mamanuca Islands with regular schedules: Malolo Cat and South Sea Cruises, as well as a smaller company Mana Flyer.
Malolo Cat
Offering high-speed catamaran ferries between Port Denarau and Malolo Lailai Island, Malolo Cat is worth considering as your island transfer if staying at the Plantation Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort or Musket Cove. They have four services a day and a courtesy coach between Port Denarau and the Musket Cove Nadi Airport office and the Fiji Gateway Hotel if booked in advance.
South Sea Cruises
South Sea Cruises offers a range of routes around the various island resorts of the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands several times throughout the day. For an additional cost (included in the ticket price once you have booked), they offer a coach transfer between Port Denarau and Nadi, Wailoaloa and Denarau accommodations.
Mana Flyer
It’s also worth mentioning the Mana Flyer, which offers scheduled boat transfers between Wailoaloa and some of the Mamanuca Islands. The Mana Flyer departs Wailoaloa Beach to Mana Island, Funky Fish Beach Resort on Malolo Island, Beachcomber Island, Treasure Island and Bounty Island. They also offer complimentary road transfers from Nadi accommodation, excluding Denarau resorts.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Mamanuca Islands Ferry Routes and Durations
Does the ferry go to the island or resort where you’re staying? The route guide below should give you some indication.
Malolo Cat Ferry Route
Malolo Cat has just one route between Port Denarau on the mainland and Malolo Lailai Island, stopping at Plantation Island Resort/Lomani Island Resort and then at Musket Cove Island Reosrt. The trip takes approximately one hour one way. There are three departures per day.
South Sea Cruises Ferry Routes
South Sea Cruises has a wide range of ferry routes to most resorts around the Mamanuca Islands. Trips take between 30 minutes to one hour, depending on which island you’re travelling to. Routes from Port Denarau include the following:
South Sea Cruises Route 1 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 2 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 3 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 4 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 5 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 6 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 7 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 8 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 9 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
South Sea Cruises Route 10 (Duration from Port Denarau) – Departs Daily
Mana Flyer
The Mana Flyer departs Wailoaloa Beach daily to the following schedule:
Nadi hotel pickup: 8:30 – 9:30 am
Boat departure: 10:30 – 11 am
Arrival Nadi: Around 2 pm
Check out more routes and durations for Fiji in The Guide to Travelling in Fiji by Ferry.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Cost of the Mamanuca Ferries and Where to Purchase Tickets
The ferries in the Mamanuca Islands are certainly not known for their “affordability”, as certain companies have a monopoly on ferry transfers to most islands in the Mamanucas. Prices are determined by which island you are travelling to, usually, the more time travelled on the ferry the more expensive the ticket is. So that we only have to keep one price page up to date, check out ferry prices around Fiji and our complete cost guide: How Much Do Water Taxis & Ferries Cost in Fiji?
Where to Book Ferry Tickets for the Mamanuca Islands
Ferries in the Mamanuca Islands must be booked in advance. This can be done directly through the ferry companies’ websites, over the phone, via email, or their ticket offices.
South Sea Cruises has an office at the Customs Hall of Nadi International Airport, while you can book the Malolo Cat at the Musket Cove office at the Nadi Airport. Both companies also have a ticket office/check-in desk in the passenger area of Port Denarau.
Alternatively, ferries can be booked through the travel desk or reception of most Fiji accommodations and travel agents.
For more about booking ferries, check out How to Book Cruises Around the Fiji Islands. Finally, check out more ferry prices around Fiji in our guide: How Much Do Water Taxis & Ferries Cost in Fiji?
More About How to Take the Ferry to the Mamanuca Islands
That’s it for our guide to how to take the ferry to the Mamanuca Islands; for more information about ferry travel in Fiji, check out the following articles:
- What are the Ferry Passes to Travel Around Fiji?
- 10 Tips for Taking the Ferry in Fiji
- How to Book Cruises Around the Fiji Islands
Finally, if we’ve missed anything, you’re likely to find it in The Guide to Travelling in Fiji by Ferry.
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:
- Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Fiji (General travel 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])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - 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])
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