SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Stroll through a flourishing orchid garden and a Fijian village for an enlightening look at traditional local life. The Burgess family established South Sea Orchids in the 1970s and it has since grown into a 9-acre oasis of rare and showy orchids. As you walk the garden paths, you will see vertically growing vandas and mokaras, horizontally growing dendrobiums and fragrant cattleyas, often called corsage orchids for their fragrance. You don’t have to be a horticulturist to appreciate their beauty and elegance. The experience at Sabeto Village will be quite different as it will be an immersion into traditional Fijian culture. The highlight may well be watching a ceremony involving kava, the national drink of Fiji. This mildly intoxicating, mouth-numbing beverage is made from pulverized pepper root and is typically consumed in a group setting as a way of building relationships. A folkloric performance will add more texture to your understanding of Fijian culture.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through a colorful orchid garden established more than 50 years ago.
• Experience traditional Fijian culture in the village of Sabeto.
• Watch a ritualistic kava ceremony and an entertaining folkloric show.
• Spend a bit of free time shopping for locally made products in Nadi.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Observe a variety of indigenous Fijian wildlife by following the paths that wind through the forested Kula Eco Park. As you stroll the wooden boardwalks and through enclosures that replicate natural habitats, you will see an abundance of tropical parrots, water birds, reptiles and marine creatures. The flora is also native to Fiji, which gives the park a look and feel that is completely natural. You may spot brightly colored lorikeets, tropical butterflies, hawksbill sea turtles and Fiji flying foxes, the only mammal indigenous to the island. The park is also renowned for its critically endangered iguana breeding program and the world’s first captive birth of a Kadavu musk parrot. Seeing this crimson-red, green-winged, blue-naped bird up close is quite the experience. Following your nature walk through the park, you will spend free time shopping in the town of Nadi. Merchandise ranges from exquisite jewelry to wood handicrafts. This tour ends at the airport.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See indigenous Fijian wildlife at an eco-park that blankets three valleys.
• Observe birds, land animals and marine life in settings much like their natural habitats.
• Shop for traditional Fijian clothing and other merchandise in the town of Nadi.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Immerse yourself in Fijian culture and beauty during this tour. Experience a time-honored ritual, capped off with a visit to an exquisite orchid garden.

Enjoy a drive through fields of sugarcane en route to the chiefly village of Viseisei, where the first Fijian people landed and established themselves. Upon arrival, walk through the village and see the impressive Methodist Church. Enjoy a presentation of Fijian song and dance and also take part in Fiji's famous Yaqona (Kava) ceremony. Kava is a tranquilizing, non-alcoholic drink which numbs the tongue and lips and comes from the dried roots of the pepper plant; it is performed on significant occasions.

Visit the famous orchid Garden of the Sleeping Giant which is set within the backdrop of a magnificent mountain (the Sleeping Giant). Established by American actor Raymond Burr, the garden contains more than 2000 orchids of 30 to 40 different varieties. You’ll learn a little history of how this place was transformed into what it is today.

A scenic drive takes you back to Lautoka with a stop in Nadi town for shopping or exploring on your own.

Release your inner adventurer by ziplining over western Fiji’s volcanic terrain and rappelling down a sheer cliff into a limestone cave. Once you are harnessed into the zipline, you will soar over the wild mountainous landscape, racing from one zipline platform to the next. The course includes 16 ziplines of various lengths, each one presenting a uniquely exhilarating opportunity. You will fly downhill over three different ecosystems, beginning with a forest of old-growth vesi trees, a rare setting as the majority of these trees have been logged for their valuable wood. Much of the time, you will enjoy panoramic views of the ocean, until finally reaching a collection of caves near the tiny village of Tau. There, you will rappel or abseil down a near-vertical rock face into a huge, open-pit cavern that features all sorts of unusual geological formations. It is thought that the indigenous Fijians lived in the caves about 4,000 years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Soar over a mountainous forest on 16 ziplines of various lengths. • Marvel at the ever-changing scenery and panoramic views of the ocean beyond. • Rappel or abseil down a steep rock cliff into a limestone cave when ancient Fijians lived.

Spend hours relaxing at the luxurious Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa on Denarau Island, a tropical setting that couldn’t be more beautiful. You will be free to while away the hours as you see fit, and there is plenty of options at the beachfront resort. The property features seven outdoor swimming pools and a sparkling ocean just steps away. You can also just lie on the beach, bask in the sun, relax in the shade of a coconut palm and gaze out over at the gorgeous Mamanuca Islands. If you want to be pampered in style, take advantage of the special rate offered on spa services such as massages, aromatherapy scrubs and mineral-stone therapies. To enhance the experience, some of the services are offered outdoors in the poolside spa pavilion. Lunch is also included, as well as a cooking demonstration of the traditional dish Kokoda, which is a Fijian-style fish ceviche. This tour ends at the airport.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Enjoy the bountiful amenities at the luxurious Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa. • Spend hours doing whatever you please at the beachfront resort. • Take advantage of the special rate on spa services. • Watch a cooking demonstration and dine on traditional Fijian cuisine.

Spend hours relaxing at the luxurious Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa on Denarau Island, a tropical setting that couldn’t be more beautiful. You will be free to while away the hours as you see fit, and there is plenty of options at the beachfront resort. The property features seven outdoor swimming pools and a sparkling ocean just steps away. You can also just lie on the beach, bask in the sun, relax in the shade of a coconut palm and gaze out over at the gorgeous Mamanuca Islands. If you want to be pampered in style, take advantage of the special rate offered on spa services such as massages, aromatherapy scrubs and mineral-stone therapies. To enhance the experience, some of the services are offered outdoors in the poolside spa pavilion. Lunch is also included, as well as a cooking demonstration of the traditional dish Kokoda, which is a Fijian-style fish ceviche.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Enjoy the bountiful amenities at the luxurious Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa. • Spend hours doing whatever you please at the beachfront resort. • Take advantage of the special rate on spa services. • Watch a cooking demonstration and dine on traditional Fijian cuisine.

Take in the views of Lautoka as you travel to a nearby village in the countryside for a glimpse into traditional Fijian life.

After departing from the pier, you will soon enter downtown Lautoka, Fiji’s second largest city. According to legend, the city’s name derives from two Fijian words that mean “spear hit,” which a warring chieftain supposedly said while spearing an enemy chieftain.

The city’s economy has long depended on sugar, and during your drive through the industrial areas of Lautoka, you’ll see the Sugar Mill, one of the country’s largest employer. Once the largest mill in the southern hemisphere, the mill is still the largest in Fiji and makes quite the impression. Similarly, beer has long fueled the economy. Several breweries are located within the city limits, and along your drive.

Then, it’s on to Sabeto Village, where you will gain an understanding of the local culture. Upon arrival, a warrior will escort you to the village hall where you will enjoy a welcome ceremony and folkloric dancing. The most common traditional Fijian dance is the “meke,” during which men and women perform together telling stories of daily life.

You will also have time to shop in the village for handicrafts ranging from carved wooden kava bowls to traditional war clubs. Woven goods such as tablemats and purses made from reeds are also popular. After visiting the village, you will rejoin your coach and return to the pier, stopping in the city for a shopping opportunity.

Indulge in a therapeutic mud bath and hot pools at an open-air pond in the countryside, followed by a traditional Fijian massage.

Enjoy a scenic drive south into the lush Sabeto River Valley. The Sleeping Giant Mountains flank the valley and present a dramatic backdrop for your journey to the Sabeto Mud Pool, an open-air geothermal bath.

Upon arriving, you will be treated to a traditional Fijian welcome ceremony and then prepare for your immersion into the mud pond. The best way to get the full benefits of this natural spa is to slather the mineral-rich mud all over your body, wait for it to dry, and then wash it off in the warm water of a nearby pool or in the cool showers. As it’s removed, the mud gently exfoliates your skin, leaving it silky smooth and glowing.

Afterwards, you can delve even deeper into the spa’s therapeutic benefits by indulging in an approximately 15-minute deep-tissue Fijian massage (included). Traditionally, only the feet are used to massage the body, and it’s a wonderful way to release tension and increase circulation and flexibility. Water and fruits are available for your enjoyment.

Enjoy the scenic beauty of the island, shop in seaside Nadi and watch a traditional coconut-husking demonstration while savoring a selection of tropical fruits. Settle in for a leisurely drive south, following the natural contour of the shoreline. The views along the way will be magnificent; with some photo to capture the natural beauty.

In time, you will drive through Nadi, a town established in 1947 as a small government station. While it has grown somewhat, Nadi remains a compact yet bustling setting on a beautiful bay. From the comfort of your bus, you may hear the latest Fijian or Hindi music playing on the radio and a variety of languages being spoken, as Nadi is wonderfully multi-cultural. The diversity extends into the types of cuisine and merchandise sold in the stores. A brief stop will be made here for souvenir shopping.

Continuing on, you will make your way to Vuda Marina, a hub for yachters throughout the islands, for a snack of seasonal fruits and a brief coconut-husking demonstration.

Enjoy the scenic beauty of the island, shop in seaside Nadi and watch a traditional coconut-husking demonstration while savoring a selection of tropical fruits. Settle in for a leisurely drive south, following the natural contour of the shoreline. The views along the way will be magnificent; with some photo to capture the natural beauty. In time, you will drive through Nadi, a town established in 1947 as a small government station. While it has grown somewhat, Nadi remains a compact yet bustling setting on a beautiful bay. From the comfort of your bus, you may hear the latest Fijian or Hindi music playing on the radio and a variety of languages being spoken, as Nadi is wonderfully multi-cultural. The diversity extends into the types of cuisine and merchandise sold in the stores. A brief stop will be made here for souvenir shopping. Continuing on, you will make your way to Vuda Marina, a hub for yachters throughout the islands, for a snack of seasonal fruits and a brief coconut-husking demonstration before heading to the airport.