The Ultimate Guide to Cycling & Mountain Biking in Fiji

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Guided Cycle Tours or Do it Yourself?

You have two options for cycling in Fiji: take a guided tour or do it yourself.

Of course, renting a bike and hitting the road is the far cheaper option at only around NZ$30-$40 a day for a pushbike (or free if it’s included in your accommodation) or NZ$55-$80 a day for an e-bike. You can ride completely at your own pace and independently should you not be feeling too social to be part of a tour group.

And with the “Self-Guided Bike Trails” listed at the end of this article, we’ll point you in the direction of some neat routes.

On the other hand, guided cycle tours are well worth considering on Viti Levu – the only island with guided cycle tours – mainly because local guides can help you navigate the best of the Sabeto Foothills and Nausori Highlands and point out things on the side of the trail that you would easily miss if you were cycling on your own.

More on the cycle tours of Fiji can be found in the section below.

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Cycle Tours of Fiji

There are a couple of fantastic cycle tour operators on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, conveniently located in Nadi, where most travellers arrive in Fiji, offering an alternative way to see the island. After a tour with these guys, needless to say, you’ll see Fiji in a whole new light.

iBike Fiji

Embark on an exhilarating 4-hour adventure with iBike Fiji, exploring Fiji’s stunning foothills by e-bike. This guided tour takes you through breathtaking trails, connecting you with local communities and immersing you in the island’s vibrant history.

Starting at the iBike Fiji Hub between Fantasy Island and Wailoaloa, you’ll receive a safety briefing before setting off through the Sabeto Foothills. The figure-8 route along gravel roads includes multiple stops to soak in the scenery, learn about sugar cane cultivation, and hear fascinating local legends.

Enjoy refreshing fruit and coconut drinks during a welcome rest stop. With insights into Fijian culture, majestic mountain views, and the chance to explore Nadi’s lesser-visited region at a natural pace, this tour offers travellers (16 and above) an alternative Fiji experience.

Total tour time ranges from 3 hrs 30 mins to 4 hours.

Bicycle Fiji

From the Bicycle Fiji store at Wailoaloa, choose from a range of half-day and full-day tours around Nadi:

• Mud Pool and Village Tour – On this full-day tour, enjoy a two-hour mud pool experience and stroll through the beautiful Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Refuel with a traditional Fijian lunch, and the day culminates with a visit to a local village.
• Mountain Tour – Embark on a thrilling five-hour mountain bike adventure with Bicycle Fiji. You’ll pedal through scenic routes, including the challenging S-bend, and enjoy a refreshing lunch stop. This tour focuses purely on cycling, offering an exhilarating way to explore Fiji’s stunning landscapes.
• City & Farm Tour – Explore the vibrant Nadi market and visit a stunning Hindu temple on this engaging half-day tour. You’ll also experience life on a local farm and savour a traditional Fijian lunch, giving you a true taste of Fijian culture and cuisine.
• Farm & Sunset Tour – Discover the bounty of a local Fijian farm, sampling an array of fresh fruits and vegetables on this half-day tour. As the day winds down, you’ll enjoy a scenic ride along the beach, taking in the breathtaking sunset views that Fiji is famous for.

Naveria Heights Lodge (Savusavu, Vanua Levu)

One of the very few accommodations offering their own mountain biking tours in Fiji, Naveria Heights Lodge offers easy rides to full-day excursions on Vanua Levu. The lodge in Savusavu has four guided tours available.

Depending on the length of the bike tour you choose, snacks, fruit and lunch are included in the tour.

• Town & Snorkel – A short, easy ride from Savusavu to Split Rock, where you can enjoy snorkelling at this top snorkelling spot in Fiji.
• Spicy Coconut Breeze – A slow-paced 3-hour ride from Savusavu, this tour takes you down various dirt roads through coconut groves and alongside a picturesque river. You’ll also visit an organic vanilla and honey farm.
• Sandy Trails & Waterfall – A more challenging off-road ride, this excursion takes you uphill up onto a mountain ride with epic views and a fun downhill section. The ride continues further to a waterfall and swimming spot. You’ll return to Savusavu along the beach.
• Demons Revenge – Definitely one for the serious mountain biker, the Demons Revenge tour starts in the flats of Fijian villages before an hour uphill slog to the top of a hill with stunning vistas. There will be an opportunity for a swim and a picnic along the way.

For more options for mountain biking, including unique rail biking, check out the 5 Best Bike Tours in Fiji.

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Where to Hire a Bike in Fiji

Prefer to ride the roads of Nadi yourself, or perhaps you’re visiting the islands of Malolo Lailai or Taveuni and want to explore by bike? Bike hire is available from a mix of rental companies and accommodations.

Bicycle Rental in Fiji

• Bicycle Fiji, Nadi, Viti Levu – Wailoaloa, open daily from 8 am to 7 pm.
• Bula Bikes, Mamanuca Islands – Plantation Island Resort, Malolo Lailai, open daily.

Find out more about these bicycle rental companies in our guide, Cycle Fiji: Where to Rent Bikes & E-Bikes.

Fiji Resorts with Bicycle Rental

• Kaila Na Ua Resort, Coral Coast – Free American-style pushbikes
• Golden Point Resort, Suncoast – Free mountain bikes
• The Terraces, Denarau – Mountain bike rental
• Koro Sun Resort, Savusavu – Free mountain bikes and cruisers and guided tours
• Raiwasa Grand Villa, Taveuni – Free mountain bikes
• Taveuni Palms Resort, Taveuni – Free mountain bikes.

Check out these places to stay in the 50 Best Resorts in Fiji: The Ultimate List.

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Bringing Your Own Bike to Fiji

Unless you are staying in Nadi, Denarau, selected resorts on Vanua Levu and the Mamanuca Islands where bike hire is readily available, you might want to bring your own bike to Fiji for full flexibility. And besides, nothing feels quite the same as your own bike.

Check Your Chosen Airline’s Regulations

Before considering bringing your own bike, you need to check the regulations for transporting bikes with the airline you plan on using. Most airlines require bikes to be packed in a bike box or bike bag. This means you must dismantle your bike to fit; there is no way around it.

Check for any additional charges for checking in a bike, as some airlines charge around FJ$300 to check in bikes.

Finally, there may be a weight or size limit to your bike packaging, so be sure to check that information as well. Usually, it’s around 2 m (6.5 ft) long and 23 kg (51 lbs) limit.

Packing Your Bike

As mentioned above, soft bike bags or cardboard bike boxes are the easiest packing options, as you can fold up the bike bag to travel with once in Fiji. Bike bags or boxes are usually available at bike stores, and bike boxes are sometimes sold at airports.

You don’t need to deflate the tyres but you do need to do the following:

• Remove the handlebars or turn them sideways
• Remove the pedals or turn them in
• Make sure the pressure of any nitrogen gas mountain bike struts is no more than 200k Pa (kilopascal) or 29 PSI (pounds per square inch)
• Make sure that any cartridges for inflating tyres are less than 50 ml (1.6 oz) and contain a non-flammable gas.

Remember to seal the box and label it with your name and phone number. It’s a good idea to place accessories in a bag within the bike box/bag.

Fiji Link, the domestic airline operated by Fiji Airways, allows the transportation of bicycles on their domestic flights, but there are some specific rules and fees to be aware of.

Bicycles are considered oversized or special handling baggage on Fiji Link flights. According to Fiji Airways’ policy, Fiji Link charges around FJ$115 per item for bulky items like bicycles.

Learn more about the ins and outs of flying to Fiji in our guide, Getting Here: How to Get to Fiji?, as well as domestic flights in Domestic Flights in Fiji: Your Guide to Interisland Flights.

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Self-Guided Bike Trails

There are no marked bike trails in Fiji, but those with a map and a sense of adventure can experience the joys of exploring Fiji on its quieter roads.

Mountain Biking on Viti Levu

By far the easiest mountain biking trails to get to in Fiji, the dirt trails on the Sabeto Foothills start just 5 km (3 mi) north of Nadi International Airport.

The dirt roads here lead to a wealth of attractions like the Garden of the Sleeping Giant (Wailoko Road), the Sebato Mud Pools (Wailoko Road) and the Sleeping Giant Zipline (Holika Road). Here you’ll get a real taste of Fiji with the roads winding to Fijian villages and lush tropical forests.

Another option in the Nadi area and a real adventure is the Nausori Highlands. Either drive yourself or go with a local mountain biking tour along the Nadi Back Road and continue onto Mulomulo Road to walking tracks and 4×4 tracks that are suitable for mountain biking. You’ll get excellent views of the Sebato Valley, Nadi and the offshore islands.

Starting from Wailoaloa, the base of Bicycle Fiji with bike rentals available, the following routes make for some exciting trips:

• Wailoaloa to Denarau Island – 8.5 km (5.3 mi) – 30 mins without stops
• Wailoaloa to Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple (Nadi Town) – 5.6 km (3.5 mi) – approximately 25 mins without stops
• Wailoaloa to Nausori Highlands – 30 km (18.6 mi) – approximately 2 hrs 15 mins without stops
• Wailoaloa to Garden of the Sleeping Giant – 14 km (8.7 mi) – approximately 1 hr without stops
• Wailoaloa to Orchid Falls – 19 km (11.8 mi) – approximately 1 hr 25 mins without stops

Mountain Biking in Taveuni

Fiji’s third-largest island, Taveuni is often described as the “Garden Island” thanks to its lush forest interior. This also makes for enjoyable shaded biking in some of Fiji’s most stunning landscapes.

We recommend navigating the dirt roads of the Bouma National Heritage Park, where you’ll be surrounded by lush tropical forest and find short walks to various waterfalls along the way (not all walking tracks are suitable for bikes).

The Bouma National Heritage Park can be accessed via road (follow the main coastal road past Vidawa until you see the signpost for the park), by resort shuttle or by taxi. Note that there is a small fee to enter the park.

Starting from Matei, where a couple of resorts here have mountain bike rentals, the following routes make for some exciting trips:

• Matei to Bouma Falls – 19 km (12 mi) – 1 hr 30 mins without stops
• Matei to Lavena (via Bouma Falls) – 25 km (16 mi) – 2 hrs without stops.

Mountain Biking in the Mamanuca Islands

Thanks to readily available bike hire at the Plantation Island Resort on Malolo Lailai Island, getting around this island in the Mamanuca Islands is easy. The island is flat and cruisey, so you can ride on a mix of pathways and beaches (don’t worry; all rental bikes are beach cruisers made for riding on the sand).

Cycle from resort to resort, experience the local restaurants, see all the stunning beaches and go on your own little adventure in the Mamanuca Islands.

• Plantation Island Resort to Musket Cove – 2 km (1.2 mi) – 10 mins without stops!