Fiji Visitors Information
Fiji is a place to step back in time - not into a time of no mod cons because they're all there, but a time of no pressure… a place that hands you the time to relax, re-assess and appreciate the things that really matter in life - health, family, a partner, nature and a sense of perspective. In two words - 'Fiji Time'. Enjoy!
Banking
Normal banking hours are from 9:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Thursday and to 4:00pm on Friday. All banks are closed on public holidays.
ANZ operates a 24 hour service at Nadi International Airport's Arrival Concourse. Bank of Hawaii offers Automated Teller (ATM) services in Suva, Nadi, Lautoka. ANZ offers ATM services in Suva, Nausori, Nadi, Nadi Airport, Lautoka, and Labasa, while National Bank and Westpac offer EFTPOS services in Suva, Nausori, Sigatoka, Nadi, and Lautoka.
The central bank and bank of issue is the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and The National Bank is a government owned commercial bank.
| Bank | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited | Victoria Parade, Suva | Ph: (679) 302144 |
| Bank of Baroda | Marks Street, Suva | Ph: (679) 311400 |
| National Bank of Fiji | Victoria Parade, Suva | Ph: (679) 311999 |
| Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd | Thomson Street, Suva | Ph: (679) 300666 |
| Habib Bank Ltd | Suva | Ph: (679) 304011 |
| Bank of Hawaii | Victoria Parade, Suva | Ph: (679) 312144 |
Climate and Weather
In a word, Tropical, with the best months being March through to November. Maximum temperatures rarely move out of the 31°C to 26°C range all year round. As you can see, winter is a term, not a season. A cooling trade wind blows from the east south-east for most of the year. It usually drops to a whisper in the evening and picks up again by mid-morning.
Rainfall is highly variable and strongly influenced by topography, with the prevailing south-east trade winds bringing moisture onshore and causing heavy showers in the mountain regions. The wet season is from November to April and results from the southerly movements of the South Pacific Convergence Zone. The wet season is characterised by heavy, brief local showers and contributes most of Fiji's annual rainfall. Annual rainfall on the main islands is between 2000mm and 3000mm on the coast and low lying areas, and up to 6000mm in the mountains. The smaller islands receive various amounts according to their location and size, ranging from 1500mm to 3500mm.
Cyclones are mostly confined to the period November to April, with greatest frequency in January and February. On average, some ten to fifteen cyclones per decade affect some part of Fiji, and two to four do severe damage. The dominant north-west to south-east tracks gives some increased risk of damage in the outlying north-west island groups.
| Nadi | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av Max °C | 31.6 | 31.5 | 31.1 | 30.6 | 29.8 | 29.2 | 28.5 | 28.7 | 29.4 | 30.2 | 30.9 | 31.4 |
| Av Min °C | 22.7 | 23.0 | 22.6 | 21.7 | 20.1 | 19.3 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.3 | 20.4 | 21.5 | 22.1 |
| Rainfall mm | 299 | 302 | 324 | 163 | 78 | 62 | 46 | 58 | 77 | 103 | 138 | 159 |
| Rain Days >0.1mm | 18 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| Suva | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av Max °C | 30.6 | 31.0 | 30.6 | 29.7 | 28.3 | 27.6 | 26.5 | 26.6 | 27.0 | 27.8 | 28.8 | 29.8 |
| Av Min °C | 23.6 | 23.8 | 23.5 | 23.1 | 21.9 | 21.4 | 20.4 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 21.7 | 22.5 | 23.2 |
| Rainfall mm | 315 | 288 | 371 | 390 | 267 | 164 | 142 | 159 | 184 | 234 | 264 | 263 |
| Rain Days >0.1mm | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 27 | 19 | 19 | 21 |
Please note: Some islands in the Mamanuca group may experience seaweed deposits on their beaches from time to time. The seaweed volume deposited on the beaches varies and is completely dependent on the weather conditions at the time (winds, currents and tides). The resorts make every effort to have any debris cleared as soon as possible.
Communications
Most
hotels have direct dialing facilities. For inbound calls, the international
IDD country code for Fiji is 679 and there are no area codes. Outbound
international calls from Fiji use a dial out code of 05 followed by
the country code and telephone number for the number being dialled.
Vodafone Fiji Ltd, a subsidiary of Telecom Fiji Ltd, operates a GSM digital mobile communications service.
Visitors from many countries, and subscribing to various networks, can use their own GSM handsets in Fiji. Mobile customers are advised to check with their network operators for their roaming status before travelling, as roaming capability must be 'turned on' in your home country. Some areas do not have a reception but recently, during the making of the Tom Hanks' movie, Castaway, Steven Spielberg paid to have receivers put in the Mamanucas so the reception now for mobiles is quite extensive.
Credit Cards
International cards are welcomed by most hotels, restaurants, shops, car rental companies and tour operators.American Express, Diners Club, Visa, JCB International and Mastercard have representatives in Suva. American Express and Visa can replace lost credit cards and travellers cheques.
Culture, Religion & Language
Fiji is a country rich in traditional culture and uses a native language that defines happiness. Their religious and cultural ceremonies are unlike any other that you may have experienced. Click here to find out more.
Currency
The Fijian dollar has standard decimal denominations between 1¢ and $50. Anything below $2 is a coin and $2 and above is a note. There is no limit to the amount of money to be brought in and visitors are allowed to take out currency up to the amount imported. To check the current exchange rate, use our currency converter located at the top right of this page.
Customs
Fiji has two international airports - Nadi, the principle gateway and Nausori, near Suva. Fiji Customs operates a Duel Channel System - the Red and Green Channels - for clearance of air travellers.
- Red Channel: If you have any prohibited or restricted goods, or dutiable goods exceeding your duty/VAT free allowance.
- Green Channel: If you do not have any prohibited, restricted or commercial goods, or dutiable goods exceeding your duty/VAT concessions.
Note: Your baggage may be examined by Customs whether you take the Red or Green Channels.
Dress
Casual for both night and day. Pack t-shirts, shorts, light cotton dresses and swimwear. Jeans will be too hot and uncomfortable. For cooler evenings or for out on the water, a jacket is a good idea. Sunscreens and hats are a must and joggers or sandals are good protection for walking and swimming around coral. If you do happen to cut yourself on coral, lemon or lime juice will relieve the pain - as will hydrogen peroxide.
"Sulus" (known also throughout the Pacific as pareau, lavalava or sarong) are a must for both men and women. The wrap-around sulu is Fiji's most distinctive and versatile form of dress. For women there at least ten different ways it can be used, even for evening wear. Ask your resort staff for hints on tying and wearing your sulu. Visitors are asked to be careful not to offend local sensibilities. Wearing bikinis and ultra-brief swimming costumes is fine at a resort but not when visiting villages or shopping in town. This is where a sulu comes in handy.
Driving and Car Rental
For information about driving and hiring a vehicle in Fiji please click here.
Electricity
The current in Fiji is 240 volts AC 50Hz with three-pin power points - the same as in Australia and New Zealand. Leading hotels and resorts offer universal outlets for 240v or 110v appliances, or 110V adapters. Many island resorts generate their own electricity, and sometimes when the generators kick in and out, the bedside digital clocks will reset back to 12:00. If you think you'll need a reliable timepiece to make connections etc, it may be wise to pack a travel alarm clock.
Geography
Fiji is
a land of blue-green lagoons, lush rainforests, pine forests, mountains
and a 1000 miles of white, sandy beaches. There are 330 pieces of land big enough to be called islands scattered
across 200,000 square miles of ocean, and several thousand others considered
too small for human habitation. Of the
330 islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu make up 85% of the total land
mass, and only just over 100 of the islands are actually inhabited. Click here for a Fiji Islands map.
The larger islands are mainly of volcanic origin with high rugged terrain. The smaller islands are coral, limestone, or sand cays, with small pockets of tropical vegetation. Many islands have surrounding coral reefs and lagoons.
For more information on Fiji regions refer to our accommodation page.
Population
Fiji's population of around 800,000 people is made up of indigenous Fijians (50%), Indians (47%) with Europeans, Chinese and South Pacific Islanders making up the remaining 3%.
Quarantine
The following items must be declared:
- Food of any kind.
- Plants or parts of plants - live or dead, including seeds, bulbs, nuts and wooden articles.
- Earth, rock, soil or mineral samples.
- Animals or parts of animals - live or dead including coral, shells and goods made from protected wildlife.
- Equipment used with horses or other animals.
- Biological specimens or tissues - human or animal.
Tipping
Tipping is not encouraged anywhere in Fiji. Tip with a smile and 'vinaka', which is Fijian for 'thank you'. Though tipping is not local custom, you may see examples of what looks like tipping. Fijians ritually exchange gifts of food, clothing, kerosene, and even money during important social occasions but it's more an act of sharing.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend comprehensive travel insurance for health and property. As they say, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Choose a policy also that suits your needs. For example, you may wish to cover a pre-existing health condition or you may want extra cover if you're planning on trying new sports like scuba diving or bungee jumping. Travel insurance is fairly inexpensive and guarantees a worry-free holiday.
Visit our Travel Insurance site for more details.
Weddings
Legal requirements, all must be original documents -
- Original Birth Certificate
- If a second marriage a Decree Nisi/Absolute
- Death Certificate of deceased former spouse if applicable
- Passports
- Couples under 21 years of age are required to produce a witnessed consent document signed by a parent.
- Confirmatory Letter: Single/Marital Status Letter
The citizens of the following countries do not require a marital Status letter: New Zealand, Australia, UK, USA and Canada. Citizens from all other countries need one. The Registrar Generals office of your country of residence provides the confirmatory letter and this is to confirm their current marital status –i.e. single/divorced/widowed. The above is to be presented at the registry office in Nadi, Lautoka or Suva to apply for the licence. Registration formalities take about 15 minutes. The licence is valid for 21 days.
A photocopy of the required documents must be received by the Registry Office a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the marriage date. This may be done by fax or post.
The original documents must be presented when you visit the Registry Office in person. The Registry Office is open Monday to Friday.
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