The Best Time to Visit Fiji 🗓️ (Inc. Weather, Diving and More)

When to Visit Fiji

As cliché as it might sound, there’s never really a “bad” time to visit Fiji. It all depends on how important the weather, crowds and the cost of travel is to you. Fiji is a tropical country that experiences warm temperatures year-round. It only really experiences two distinct seasons: the dry season (winter) and the wet season (summer). Like the names suggest, one season experiences more rainfall than the other, which may be a good time for savvy travellers to experience fewer crowds and the lowest cost of travel.

We’ll go through the things to consider and the seasons in Fiji with this guide to the best time to visit Fiji.

The High and Low Season in Fiji

When planning when would be the best time to visit Fiji, the low season is well worth considering. The low season or “off-season” is during Fiji’s wet season when the country tends to have fewer tourists (except during the Christmas and New Year‘s holiday season). The high season or “peak season” is the dry season when tourism in Fiji is at its busiest.

Low Season in Fiji: November to April (with the exception of the Christmas holiday period)
High Season in Fiji: May to October

Find out more about the low season in 10 Reasons to Travel in the Low Season in Fiji.

The best time of the year to visit Fiji - Mandatory Credit Mark Snyder Tourism Fiji

The Best Time to Visit Fiji for the Weather: The Dry Season

Months: June, July, August, September, October and November
Tourist Season: High season

Fiji Weather in the Dry Season (Winter)

Temperature: 19-29°C (66-84°F)
Rainfall: 70-150mm (2.8-6″)

Find out more about the weather for each month in:

About the Dry Season in Fiji

The dry season is the most appealing time for most holidaymakers to come to Fiji, due to this season typically having the least amount of rainfall and the most comfortable temperatures coinciding with cold winters in the nearby countries of Australia and New Zealand. That’s not to say that it doesn’t rain at all, so it’s best to set expectations right to avoid disappointment.

Because it is the most popular time to visit Fiji, airfares and resort rates tend to be at their highest, especially from June to August. Later in the season is when you will start to see fares decreasing and the tourist numbers dwindling.

The Best Places to Visit in the Dry Season

There’s not really a “bad” place to visit in the dry season in Fiji. Nevertheless, here are a few suggestions…

For more great places to visit, see our Travelling Fiji: Month-by-Month Guide.

What is the best season to visit Fiji - Pixabay

The Best Time to Visit Fiji for a Cheaper Trip: The Wet Season

Months: December, January, February, March, April and May
Tourist Season: Low season (Christmas & New Year – High season)

Fiji Weather in the Wet Season (Summer)

Temperature: 22-33°C (72-91°F)
Rainfall: 180-310mm (2.8-6″)

Find out more about the weather for each month in:

About the Wet Season in Fiji

The “Wet Season” or the “Rainy Season” can’t help but conjure up damp and dreary images ruining your holiday in paradise, but it sounds worse than it actually is. Sure, Fiji’s summer season is the wettest and most humid time of the year to visit Fiji, but rainfall patterns tend to be short, heavy and soon change back to sunshine.

Because of this higher rainfall rate than in winter, the wet season is the quietest time to visit Fiji, resulting in fewer crowds, lower airfares and resort rates. That’s all with the exception of the December holiday season, where things get more expensive and busy around Christmas and New Year.

The Best Places to Visit in the Wet Season

If you’re looking for the driest climates in Fiji, these are the island groups and regions of Viti Levu to consider travelling to.

Mamanuca Islands
Yasawa Islands
Nadi, Viti Levu
Denarau, Viti Levu
The Suncoast, Viti Levu

For more great places to visit, see our Travelling Fiji: Month-by-Month Guide.

The Best Time to Visit Fiji for Seasonal Activities

If you’re visiting Fiji with the intention of doing a particular activity, then be sure to research the best seasons to do your chosen activity. Scuba diving, surfing, fishing and wildlife activities all have “seasonal” elements.

The Best Time for Scuba Diving in Fiji

In terms of visibility, the winter season a.k.a the “dry season” is considered the best time for scuba diving in Fiji. June to November experiences much less precipitation than the rest of the year, which can improve visibility. Visibility in the winter season can be 30-50m (98-165ft). See how this compares to scuba diving in summer in When is the Best Time to Dive in Fiji?

The Best Time to Surf in Fiji

There’s never really a bad time to surf in Fiji but there are better months for different skill levels. In short, the best months to surf in Fiji are for:

Beginners – November to May
Intermediates – March to April and September to October
Experts – May to August.

Be sure to check out our guide, The Best Time to Surf in Fiji, for much more tips.

The Best Time to See Wildlife in Fiji

One of the most popular seasonal wildlife activities is swimming with manta rays, which can only be done between May and October. If you’re visiting Fiji to see other wildlife, then the wildlife seasons are as follows:

Manta ray season: May to October
Whale season: June to October
Turtle season: All year round
Bird season: All year round
Shark season: All year round
Dolphin season: All year round.

The Best Time for Fishing in Fiji

Fishing can be enjoyed all year round in Fiji, but particular game species have better seasons than others. Aim for the following months for your targeted species:

Blue Marlin: November to January
Black Marlin: November and December
Sailfish: June to September
Yellowfin Tuna: November to March
Dogtooth Tuna: October to March
Skipjack: January to February and August to October
Mahimahi: October to January
Spanish Mackerel: October to December
Wahoo: June to September
Giant Trevally: June to September.

Again, we have much more advice that you won’t want to miss in What is the Best Time of Year for Fishing in Fiji.

Finally, if you’re getting married in Fiji, then we have a guide for that too. Check it out in When is the Best Time to Plan a Wedding in Fiji?

4 Things to Consider for Choosing a Time to Visit Fiji

As you can see, the best time to visit Fiji is different for everyone. There are four main aspects to consider when choosing the best season to travel Fiji.

1. The Weather

Let’s not beat around the bush. You’re not planning a tropical getaway to be cold and miserable. Luckily, Fiji is warm all year round, but there are seasons with higher rainfall and humidity that you might want to think about before you book your flight.

2. The Crowds

Fiji is a country that never really feels too “crowded”, with the exception of the largest resorts in the high season… So if you want to really escape from it all, consider choosing a less busy tourist season to visit Fiji. Alternatively, there are plenty of remote boutique island resorts which always feel quiet.

3. The Cost

The resorts, airlines and even some activity providers know when most tourists want to visit Fiji, and they are not afraid to take advantage of this with their prices. If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider visiting Fiji in its low season.

4. The Activities

While most activities can be done year-round, there are times of the year that are better for certain activities than others. Plus, there are a few seasonal activities too, such as swimming with manta rays, which is only available between May and October. There are also distinct seasons for fishing and for surfing.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Time to Travel to Fiji

Still not sure when the best time is to visit Fiji? Here are some commonly asked questions about when to visit with some quick-fire answers.

What is the Best Month to Go to Fiji?

November is the best month to go to Fiji by having warm and dry weather yet fewer tourists. There also tends to be good travel deals during this month.

What is the Hottest Month in Fiji?

The hottest month in Fiji is typically January or February.

How Bad is the Wet Season?

Some years have been worse than others, with some wet seasons bringing cyclones. Find out more in How to Prepare for a Cyclone in Fiji.

When Should You Not Go to Fiji?

We don’t really believe there is a time not to go, but if you’re picky, avoid January and February when there is more likely to be rainy spells. Additionally, you might want to avoid December to avoid expensive airfares.

Does Fiji Have a Hurricane Season?

Yes, the hurricane season is otherwise known as the cyclone season, which runs from November to April. However, the greatest risk of cyclones occurring is in December, January and February.

More About the Best Time to Visit Fiji

That’s it for our guide to the best time to visit Fiji but by no means the end of our advice! Check out the following guides for more tips concerning the best time to visit Fiji and when to travel:

For the best durations of time to visit Fiji, take a look at our compilation of itineraries: The Best Fiji Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Fiji Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Fiji Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Fiji Itineraries for a Weekend.

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.

Contact Robin via our contact page