Bula!

The Fiji islands are known as a relaxation sensation. You’ve seen the #travelgoals of blue seas, white sand, hammocks under the palm trees, and so on. These are mostly accurate, and if you’re planning on exploring Fiji islands, that’s probably going to be the main attraction. However, Fiji is home to some adrenaline-pumping activities that seem to fly under the radar!

When I was travelling Fiji, it was on the back end of a South Pacific adventure. I had had my fill of tropical paradise in Hawaii and Samoa and was searching for thrills. So without further ado… 

The thrill-seekers guide to Fiji

Quad Biking

Oh yes, there’s heaps of fun to be had quad biking when exploring Fiji islands. Taking the dirt road into deep Fiji will make you feel a million miles away from the beaches and reefs.

When I was exploring the Fiji islands, I booked a quad biking adventure with Go Dirty Tours Fiji.  We began our tour getting fitted with safety equipment and a 5-minute safety briefing, before nipping to the local market for local produce and kava tasting. Once we stocked up, we were headed on four wheels deep into the Sleeping Giant Mountain Range. The roads are 75% Fijian dirt roads and were pretty dusty to ride on. The quad bikes handled the rickety roads easily, and children and locals waved as we zoomed on by.

Also, be sure to bring a change of clothes with you. Those roads are dusty as hell, and if it’s not dry, they’re muddy as hell. Either way, you’ll be getting down and dirty while quad biking through the jungle.

Zip Lining

After quad biking, unleash your inner flying squirrel and head into the deep Fijian jungle for some zip-lining. Eco-friendly Sleeping Giant Zipline literally sweeps you off your feet with zip lines ranging from 80m to 160m over the dense jungle.

Having never ziplined myself, I was a little nervous beforehand. However, once I was all strapped in and briefed there was no stopping me up there. I whizzed around the course three times and it definitely got my adrenaline pumping! You feel totally safe in the hands of the Sleeping Giant team, and they even taught Phil and I some tricks.

Afterwards, we got to wind down in a nearby waterfall. Don’t be fooled by the smiles though, it was baltic cold!

Chasing Waterfalls

Speaking of waterfalls, Fiji has a handful of awesome ones dotted around the islands. A must-do for thrill-seekers when exploring Fiji islands, is the Waitavala Natural Rock Waterslide (Waiyevo, Taveuni Island). This natural rock formation can be used to slide down (as the name suggests) into the fresh water below. Slide down on your bum or, if you’re feeling adventurous, standing up like the local kids.

With anything like this, though, take care. Watch and learn from the locals on how to actually slide down, you’ll save yourself a lot of cuts and bruises (and maybe a concussion). If sliding isn’t your thing there are a handful of other waterfalls dotted around Taveuni Island which requires a solid trek to. Bouma National Heritage Park is a great place to start, with hardly any tourists so you can thrill-seek in peace.

Snorkelling/Diving

Of course, I couldn’t write a Fiji guide without including some sort of water excursion. Sometimes dubbed “The Soft Coral Capital of the World”, or even “The Best Shark Diving Location in the World”. The water in Fiji is pretty much unmatched when it comes to crystal-clear-blueness, and there’s much to see underneath the waves.

Fiji’s Yasawa Islands are prime for saltwater adventuring. You don’t even have to swim out far to see the colourful reefs and the variety of coral-dwelling fish. Blue starfish, sea-urchins, clownfish (Nemo!), and even Jellyfish. The Yasawas are also home to local Manta rays! If you’re lucky, they’ll make a few appearances around the reef around the aptly named Mantaray Island.

Surfing

Picture this: waxing up your board on a white-sand beach, laden with palm trees and fallen coconuts, before jumping in the crystal clear water. What better way to hang loose than in the world-class waves of Fiji!

If you’ve surfed before, you’ll have heard of the renowned breaks in Fiji like the iconic “Cloudbreak”. Most of Fiji’s waves break on the reef, so it can be dangerous to those who aren’t versed in the art carving. Don’t fret beginners, there’s room for you too! Islands like Viti Levu offer many surfing spots that aren’t as dangerous, but sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Natadola beach (or most of the Coral Coast) has a shore break and an inside reef that’s great for longboarding. It’s pretty much a beginner surfers paradise and guaranteed to offer up some thrills.

So what are you waiting for? Get yourself exploring Fiji Islands for some adrenaline-pumping activities! 

 

 

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