If you’re looking for more than a sun-and-sand holiday, the top tourist attractions in Fiji won’t disappoint. The island country teems with beautiful scenery besides beaches. Local culture provides a more interesting backdrop to towns, cities, and villages than lush greenery ever does. Even the waters surrounding the island have something else to offer: colorful reefs filled with aquatic life. You see, Fiji transcends the typical summer destination.
Fiji lies on the South Pacific Ocean to form part of the Melanesia group of islands. Its closest neighbors are Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, the Samoa Islands, Tonga, Kermadac, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. Here are its best attractions.
1. Mariamma Temple
Fire-walking is probably the most memorable event you can witness during your trip to Fiji and it happens right here at the Mariamma Temple during the South Indian Fire Walking Festival. It is synonymous to Hindu fire walking performed by southern Indians on a full moon in July or August, with the whole festival lasting for 10 days.
2. Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
The park encompasses a 2.5 square mile rain forest teeming with wildlife. Situated at a higher altitude, it is quick to provide an escape from the hustles and bustles of Suva. Colo-i-Suva Forest Park has a 6.5-km trail that will take you past thick vegetation, wonderful views, and natural swimming holes. You can spot 14 different types of tropical birds in the area including Fiji warblers, Fiji goshawks, barking pigeons, golden doves, and scarlet robins. Colo-i-Suva is one of the top tourist attractions in Fiji thanks to its array of endemic flora and fauna.
3. Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple (pictured above)
The Hindu temple is the place to visit if you seek spiritual tranquility. It is located far from the commercial hypes of Nadi and instead has these dramatic peaks in the background. Highlights include the different manifestations of the Hindi god Shiva and the wood carvings of numerous Hindu deities brought in from India.
4. Fiji Museum
No other place in Fiji best summarizes the history of the island. Fiji Museum is undeniably one of the top tourist attractions in Fiji. Exhibits are dedicated to the archaeological, cultural, and political history of Fiji. The increasing influence of European and South Pacific cultures on the island are also documented in the museum.
5. Nananu-i-Ra
The island is a tiny getaway located north of Viti Levu. Grasslands dominate most of the island but it is fringed by idyllic bays, white-sand beaches, and pristine waters. Nananu-i-Ra lacks the ethnic culture of the mainland but it offers diving and windsurfing activities.