Fiji & the South Pacific Basics

Flying times to Fiji:

• From Los Angeles – Approx. 10 hours
• From Singapore – Approx. 13 hours
• From Dubai – Approx. 20 hours
• From Madrid – Approx. 21 hours
• From London – Approx. 22 hours

Visa Info:

Nadi and Suva are the main international airports in Fiji. No visa is required for stays of up to four months for citizens of most countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the U.S., UK and Ireland and EU countries. You must have a current passport with at least three months validity beyond your departure date and a return or onward airline ticket or proof of onward travel to enter Fiji.

As entry requirements may change from time to time it is strongly advised that you check with the department of foreign affairs or your local consulate or embassy for the current requirements.

More information can be found by visiting: http://www.immigration.gov.fj/.

Currency:

The local currency is the Fiji dollar ($); it’s fairly stable relative to Australian and New Zealand dollars.

The dollar is broken down into 100 cents. Bank notes come in denominations of $50, $20, $10, $5 and $2. There are coins to the value of $1, $0.50, $0.20, $0.10, $0.05, $0.02 and $0.01.

It’s good to have a few options for accessing money – take a credit card, a debit card, some travellers cheques and a small amount of foreign currency. The best currencies to carry are Australian, New Zealand or US dollars, which can be exchanged at all banks.

All major credit cards are accepted, but some places may charge a 5% surcharge.

Value-Added Tax (VAT):

Fiji has a tax system that incorporates a 12.5% Value-Added Tax (VAT) in to its goods and services.

Climate:

Late April to early November is the best time to travel to Fiji, when there is warm tropical beach weather.

Due to the tropical atmosphere there is a wet season which goes from late November to early April. The average temperature in summer is 31 degrees celsius (88 degrees faharenheit). In winter the average temperature is around 29 degrees celsius (84 degrees faharenheit). The winters are generally dry while the summers are hot and wet. From May to November there are the cool south – east trade winds which travels across the islands.

Time Zones:

The standard time zone of Fiji is UTC/GMT +12 hours.

Clothing:

Informality and comfort prevail. So, bring casual tropical clothing. T-shirts and shorts are fine for daytime. Night time attire is your choice. For a barefoot starlight dinner at most resorts, a jacket and tie are not necessary.

Bring sturdy walking sand shoes (sneakers or running shoes) for rain forest walking. A pair of plastic sandals or reef walkers would also be useful. Pack bathing suits, hat and sunscreen lotion and one warm sweatshirt or jacket.

Language:

In Fiji the three main langauges spoken are Fijian, Hindu and English. The Fijian alphabet is very similiar to the English one. ‘Bula’ is hello and a general greeting in Fiji. English is spoken very well throughout Fiji and is commonly used.