The Family Travel Guide to Kadavu

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How to Get to Kadavu

Located about 100 km (62 mi) south of Viti Levu, Kadavu is accessed by sea or by air. For families eager to start their island adventure, flying is your best option.

Scheduled Flights to Kadavu

Domestic flights to Kadavu operate twice a week from Nadi International Airport (NAN). The flight from Nadi takes approximately 50 minutes. All flights arrive at Kadavu Airport (KDV) in Vunisea. Resorts will transfer you and your family to and from flights via boat (be sure to make arrangements before arrival). Find out more about the specifics of flying to Kadavu in our Kadavu Transport Guide.

Chartered Flights to Kadavu

Why not make your family trip extra special with a private charter flight to Kadavu? Charter flights can be arranged to fly at your desired time, typically departing from Nadi. For more on chartered flights, see our guide, Where to Hire a Plane or Seaplane in Fiji.

Ferry to Kadavu

For a more budget-friendly but time-consuming journey to Kadavu, ferries from Viti Levu depart from Narain Wharf, Walu Bay in Suva. Ferries typically depart once a week and journey overnight. With a 7-hour trip, sharing the passage with livestock and cargo, this option can be an exciting adventure for families looking for a unique travel experience. Find out more about the details of ferry travel to the island in How to Take the Ferry to Kadavu.

How to Get Around Kadavu

Kadavu has two dirt roads winding across Central Kadavu and West Kadavu. Road transport is very limited, with just a few minivans and trucks shuttling people across the island from Vunisea. Most transport occurs on the water. All resorts offer boat transfers between the resort and Vunisea. Depending on the tide, this may require you to wade out in shallow water, so be prepared for a little adventure!

For an exciting way to explore with the kids, why not try kayaking? Tamarillo Active Travel offers fantastic kayaking options around Kadavu. You can choose between fun day trips or multi-day resort-hopping adventures. It’s a brilliant way for families (recommended for older kids) to experience the island’s stunning coastline and crystal-clear waters up close. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for some family bonding and creating unforgettable memories!

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Kadavu Family Water Activities

Some of the most remarkable adventures on the island of Kadavu are in the warm tropical waters surrounding the island. The island is fringed by the world’s fourth-longest barrier reef, while Central Kadavu and East Kadavu, where most resorts are, consist of sandy cove beaches and mangrove forests. Here are some of the best ways to explore with kids.

Snorkel at the Great Astrolabe Reef

With the famous Great Astrolabe Reef fringing some 65 km (40 mi) along Kadavu and Ono Island, the snorkelling here is simply breathtaking. While scuba diving in Kadavu is the most-raved about activity, snorkelling can be just as amazing while being the most accessible option for kids who know how to swim. Most resort stays include free use of snorkel gear, where good snorkelling is available just off the beach or a short paddle away by kayak, especially at Matava, Oneta and Kokomo Island. However, it’s always worth taking a boat trip (which usually only takes about 10 minutes) out to the best snorkelling spots. For instance, Matava offers 3-hour trips to a range of calm coral gardens and adventurous sites with reef sharks, barracuda, surgeonfish and more. Between June and October are the best times to snorkel with manta rays!

Kayaking Around Kadavu

Glide across the clear waters watching the marine life beneath you and your loved ones in a kayak in Kadavu. What’s more, kayaks are free for guests to use at most resorts. A great resort for kayaking includes Matava Eco Adventure Resort for paddling to the beach of a tiny island just in front of the resort. Oneta Resort has a fun mangrove forest to explore at high tide. Finally, kayaking day trips and multi-day trips with Tamarillo Active Travel are ideal for older kids and teens – find out more about kayaking tours in our 20 Things to Do on Kadavu.

Towable Watersports

The resort with the most complete offering for kids is the luxury Kokomo Private Island offers complimentary towable watersports. The fun adventures on the sea include towable watersports like banana boats and biscuit rides. Kids also love the resort’s sea trampoline and seeing the underwater world with their glass-bottom boat.

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Kadavu Family Land Activities

With a rich culture and amazing landscape, Kadavu has many great reasons to stay on land for at least a couple of days during your trip. While we list some of the best land activities to do with kids below, another popular land activity on Kadavu is watching rare tropical birds, like the Kadavu fantail, velvet fruit dove, Kadavu honeyeater and Kadavu musk parrot. While not always the best option for kids, it could be a good reason for mum and dad to make use of the babysitting services of your resort (see the section below).

Waterfall Walks on Kadavu

With volcanic islands topped with lush rainforests, Kadavu has no lack of picturesque waterfalls to discover. Some resorts have at least one waterfall a short walk away, whether it’s the Papageno Resort‘s 3.5 km (2 mi) walk to Malawai Falls or the short guided hike to a waterfall from the now-closed Waisalima Beach Resort. Other resorts offer boat trips to some of Kadavu’s most impressive waterfalls, such as Oneta Resort‘s and Tiliva Resort‘s boat trips through mangrove forests to a 9 m (30 ft) waterfall tumbling off a volcanic ridge. Oh yes, and Matava Eco Adventure Resort also has an exciting 45-minute walk to a nearby waterfall suitable for older kids. The waterfall walks on Kadavu are suitable for all ages but require moderate fitness.

Fijian Arts and Crafts

With approximately 75 coastal villages, Kadavu’s culture is extremely accessible. One of the best ways to get kids immersed in the Fijian way of life is with hands-on experiences like arts and crafts sessions. Learn how to weave a Fijian mat or basket or crack open a coconut at Oneta Resort, make your own jewellery or learn how to tie a sulu (sarong) in many ways at Kokomo Private Island, or learn traditional tapa making on one of the many village visits available from the Papageno Resort.

Island Sports on Kadavu

While by no means the main reason to go to Kadavu, the island sports available in some of the resorts are always a welcome addition to a family holiday. Playing basketball or tennis at the courts on Kokomo Island is a great way for the family to bond over some healthy competition, but it’s best to wait until the cooler hours as the sun goes down. Papageno Resort also has a good selection of sports equipment, including equipment for volleyball, badminton, rugby, soccer, table tennis and more. Finally, some resorts have table tennis tables.

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Resort Activities for Kids

Despite the remoteness of Kadavu, the resorts still offer high quality when it comes to family holidays. Babysitting services are the norm, making a great excuse for parents to enjoy the highlights of the islands, like scuba diving the Great Astrolabe Reef, hiking the 10 km (6 mi) trail between One Mile Beach and Papageno Resort, or indulging in a spa treatment. There is a kids’ and a teens’ club on Kokomo Private Island – a rare find on the outer islands of Fiji.

Kids’ Clubs on Kadavu

Kadavu only has one formal kids’ club at the luxury Kokomo Private Island resort. The complimentary kids’ club here has an activities schedule during the school holidays and bespoke activities for children at other times of the year. Activities at the kids’ club could include anything from Fijian crafts to island sports to baking. For those aged 8-14 years, a teens’ club is also available and provides some more adventurous activities suitable for older kids while ensuring that teens are with others their own age.

Babysitting and Nanny Services on Kadavu

For the rest of the family resorts on Kadavu, they offer babysitting or nanny services. Leave the little ones in the capable hands of adoring Fijian nannies at resorts such as Oneta Resort, Matava Eco Adventure Resort and  Kokomo Island.

More Things to Do on Kadavu with Kids

The rest of your time on Kadavu can be enjoyed with various family-friendly activities. For a cultural experience, join a traditional meke dance performance, where your little ones can learn about Fijian culture through music and movement. Find out more about this activity and other family-friendly adventures in our 10 Best Things to Do on Kadavu with Kids guide and more not necessarily kid-related but activities that are just as amazing activities in the 20 Best Things to Do in Kadavu.

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Dining on Kadavu

Due to the remoteness of Kadavu and the lack of infrastructure, most accommodations make eating an effortless experience for guests. Meals are included with most types of accommodation, whether you’re staying in a homestay or a resort. For those staying in Vunisea, it’s possible to pick up fruit and vegetables from the local market to prepare in the kitchen facilities of the town’s self-catering accommodations.

Resort Meals

Meals are included in the accommodation rates of all of the resorts on Kadavu, all sourcing food from local communities, local fishermen and their own gardens. At resorts such as Matava, meals are served at certain times of the day in a “feast” style with long tables for guests to mingle with each other. The luxury resort of Kokomo Private Island is one of the few resorts with an actual “restaurant”. In fact, it has three restaurants to choose from, with pizzas and smoothies served throughout the day at the Kokocabana to Asian-style food served at Walker D’Plank.

Restaurants on Kadavu

Vunisea is the only place in Kadavu where you’ll be able to buy takeaway food. A consistent option is Vou Coffee Hub (Biana Bayview, Vunisea Waterfront). Enjoy fast food items like chicken, fries, and pizza, as well as coffee. It is open from 7 am to 7:30 pm, closed on Sundays​​​​.

Homestay Meals

Homestays are a popular and affordable accommodation option available on Kadavu, either booked through Airbnb or with locals. Meals during homestays are experienced the true Fijian way – sitting on the floor with the family and possibly eating with your hands! Don’t be surprised if you are expected to eat first while your host fans the food, this is also a common custom saved for guests in Fiji. Check out more advice in Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village.