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Visit Fiji: Planning the Perfect Girls Trip on Denarau Island
Written by Felicia Arhontissas
Round up the girls and visit Fiji for a break on Denarau Island – a tropical oasis perfect for a blissful group escape.
If you’re planning to visit Fiji, you can’t go past a group trip on Denarau Island. With glitzy resorts, exclusive adults-only enclaves, unbeatable restaurants, happy-hour cocktails and island parties, this tropical powerhouse of fun is the perfect place for your next girls’ trip.
Gather up your best girlfriends, slap on your biggest bula smiles and trade cityscapes for a tropical island backdrop and gentle sea breeze. Read on to discover why Denarau Island is the perfect destination for your next girls’ trip.
Read more: What It’s Like to Travel to Fiji in 2022: Everything You Need to Know
Discover Fiji
Where to stay
The secret to the perfect girls’ trip is to nail down unbeatable accommodation (bonus points for exclusive adults-only areas). The five-star Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort is looking better than ever following a recent refurbishment, and features a long list of restaurants and bars, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, and multiple pools — including that all-important adults-only pool.
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa is a five-star beachfront oasis with a superb spa, a massive seven swimming pools to choose from – including an infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean – and an exclusive adults-only area, boasting a dedicated restaurant and two beachfront pools.
Dinner dates and cocktail hour
As the sun starts to set, restaurants and bars fling open their doors and shout “bula bula!” in greeting to those looking to be wined and dined. Along Port Denarau Marina, you’ll find unmissable dining spots to add to your list. At Lulu Bar Restaurant & Cafe, order a mojito during happy hour alongside some fresh fish tacos. Splash out at Cardo’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar with fresh-from-the-sea lobster mornay and local Kokoda (raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut cream). For the best Indian and Fijian cuisine on the island, make a reservation at Indigo, where the wine is free flowing and the goat curry is a must-try dish.
If you’d like to venture somewhere different, pop into Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island, where Chantara Thai Restaurant is ready to send your tastebuds into a frenzy with mouthwatering massaman and fragrant green curries, and crispy papaya salad. If you’d prefer a slow, shared feast with your group, drop in at Byblos Lebanese (also part of Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island): graze on baba ganoush, pile freshly whipped hummus onto warm pita bread and sink your teeth into succulent meat dishes.
Sundowners and dancing the night away
Fuelled by happy hour mojitos and glammed to the max, follow the rhythmic beats and toe-tapping tracks towards Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa’s Republik Night Club. Here, you can dance your heart out on the dancefloor while the DJ plays live sets in the booth and order lavish cocktails well into the night. If you’re after a more low-key evening with the girls, steal a sun-soaked seat in the alfresco dining area of the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa’s Nuku Restaurant & Bar. You’ll be perfectly positioned to watch the sunset bounce off the ocean – best appreciated with a mango daiquiri in hand, of course.
Things to do
Denarau is renowned for its signature cluster of high-end resorts, all of which boast multiple swimming pools and poolside bars, perfect for whiling away a whole afternoon. Head to the adults-only section, secure a sun lounger and order light bites and refreshing cocktails without needing to move– pure bliss.
If your group of girls is keen to venture out of the resort, why not book in a spa day? Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa’s award-winning spa offers immersive body rituals including a mineral stone therapy massage, Fijian massages and detox treatments, all guaranteed to leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
For something extra special, head down to the marina, where sailboats and catamarans await to whisk you to neighbouring islands for exciting day trips. Board a South Sea Cruises boat and take the 45-minute trip to Malamala Beach Club, the world’s first beach club located on its very own island. Laze on white-sand beachfront, go snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, order cocktails by the infinity pool and listen to mellow music all day long. Ramp up the luxe factor with a day trip to VOMO Island, a 50-minute boat ride from Denarau. The all-day Sunday Session here is the cherry on top of the ultimate girls’ trip: snack on tasty treats from the Chef’s special grazing menu, dance to live music, sip on fruity welcome drinks and all-day happy hour specials, and lounge in poolside cabanas like island royalty.
