(Main image credit: Andrew Lewthwaite)

What do you think of when you think of a desert island? Perfect holiday paradise, sure. Lying on a white sandy beach, absolutely. Being brought cold drinks by the pool and doing next to nothing with your partner, yes please. But what happens when you have kids? Kids don’t belong on a desert island, do they? Long the preserve of honeymoon couples and retirees spending their pensions (lucky them), desert islands are a far cry from the family-friendly destinations on our go-to lists. Or are they? Enter Fiji.

Clio Wood on why Fiji makes the ideal long haul holiday for families…

It might be a long way from the UK (not just one, but two long-haul flights in a row), but, oh my, is it worth it once you get there.  There’s enough divine desert island-ness to fulfil the adults’ needs (let’s face it, not always at the top of the checklist for family holiday planning), but there are also activities a-plenty to keep the kids happy and Fijians simply love kids.  Plus there are Instagram-worthy views at every turn.  Your friends will swoon. 

I didn’t have to try very hard to convince my ten-year-old daughter to accompany me on our recent trip to Fiji, so here are our favourite suggestions for a family jaunt to paradise.

Break up the long journey by flying through one of Fiji Airways’ hubs in the USA (Dallas is newly-launched if you fancy a cowboy hat souvenir) but we went via LA, to experience the palm trees of Hollywood and take in a studio tour.  If you want to fulfil some Disney dreams, check out a theme park or two in a multi-day stopover to ease the jetlag too.

Arrive in Nadi on Viti Levu island, where the capital, Suva, is also located and immediately transition to Fiji Time.  This means you’ll likely wait a little longer for your order or service request, but the smiles and warmth you get when it comes make it worth it.

Learn more about the fascinating history of Fiji, whose 50% ethnically Indian population comes courtesy of the British who were invited to colonise Fiji in 1872 (after many years of Western pressure and religious conversion activity in the region) on the understanding that Fiji would be  protected against incursions by Tonga.  Visit the Fiji Museum in Suva to satisfy any history buffs.

Spend time in a Fijian village and immerse yourself in the mind-boggling politics of traditional tribal village life which still impacts relationships between staff in modern hotel settings.  My daughter was blown away learning about sons-in-law not being able to speak to their parents-in-law and having to leave a room when they arrive or sit at the other end of the table to eat.  It made our family mealtimes seem peacefully simple.

Hang out with fire-walking warriors, try (and fail) to blow a conch shell, weave hats from grasses and leaves and listen to cannibalism tales from Fiji’s past with grass-skirted locals who revel in oral tradition that will interest the most sullen of (pre-)teens. Nanuku Resort was particularly adept at facilitating this cultural exchange. 

Snorkel or paddle close to the beach for young ones or snorkel or dive out at reefs just a mile from the shore for bigger ones.  The depth and range of colours of both fish and coral makes a rainbow look drab.  My daughter’s favourite was a pale fish that flashed neon when it turned, like a special effect from a film.

Relax on the beach whilst your kids treasure hunt for coral, shells, crabs, small coconuts and mangrove propagules (baby mangroves) which they can help to replant too.  With a generation of kids so engaged in climate change, they’ll love knowing that mangroves store four times as much carbon as rainforests, so re-planting them will make a big difference.

Forest bathe in a kayak with trips up Fiji’s abundance of rivers (the islands are incredibly green) where you can enjoy the peace and your kids can enjoy boating – go at the speed of their commands (“Faster, mummy!”) and you’ll get a great core and arm workout too.

Make the most of the kids’ clubs that are a feature of nearly every hotel in Fiji.  At Nanuku Resort each child even has their own nanny whom they can call on at any time, so they can hang out whilst you’re relaxing in the spa or enjoying a sunset drink, but the kids’ club at Malolo Island Resort got the highest seal of approval from my daughter.

Channel Moana (the most-streamed film of all time) vibes on a Drua experience.  Standing at the steering oar of this traditional wooden vessel was perhaps our biggest pinch me moment. Surrounded by deep blue ocean, on a boat built to a design hundreds of years old, the only one of its kind still on the water, viewing the lush islands in the distance, we felt incredibly lucky to experience a paradise perfect for grown-ups and children alike.

For more information and inspiration on Fiji, visit Tourism Fiji

Information and booking Drua Experience here.

Where to stay 

First Landing Resort

• The Room – grab a two bedroom villa with private pool for the ultimate welcome to Fiji, great for kids to have their own room, plus you get a kitchen to cook for yourself too, so you’re not always tied to the resort restaurant.
• Facilities – located on the beach that is said to be the place where the first Fijians landed, First Landing is an intimate and rustic resort, expect affordable and down to earth service with a smile in a stunning location.  There’s a kids club, boats and kayaks to use, a resort boat to take out on fishing trips and a small spa as well as a dedicated desk to organise day trips when the kids get cabin fever.
• The Food – bag a villa, rather than a room (bure), and you’ll have your own cooking facilities complete with full-size fridge, perfect for catering to fussy kids.  The restaurant is fine for this price point and offers a range of western and local dishes with friendly service.

expedia.co.uk / firstlandingresort.com

Malolo Island Resort

• The Room – we stayed in a one bedroom bure (bungalow) with a living area, separate bedroom and second seating area which converts to beds for the kids. It was rustic and stylish, we loved it.  Dry your swimmers on the veranda like fellow guests who’ve made themselves at home on this island an hour’s ferry ride from Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu.
• Facilities – as one of Fiji’s only Fijian-owned resorts with an authentic and family vibe it’s clear that staff love being part of the family.  The kids club activities were excellent and the kids pool is set in the heart of the resort.  Extensive watersports available and a deliciously relaxing spa experience using Pure Fiji (locally-made) products.  You’ll also get the full island experience arriving by boat.
• The Food – with three separate restaurants, Malolo Island Resort punches above its weight for its size.  Beach cafe vibes, buffet restaurant and a fine dining experience are all catered for with a great and extensive kids menu that my daughter loved.  There’s also an on-site ice cream parlour – bliss!

expedia.co.uk/Malolo-Island-Hotels

Nanuku Resort

● The Room – The moment we stepped into our Nanuku Suite, we were in heaven. Nanuku Resort is one of Fiji’s premier hotels and they’ve thought of everything, even a popcorn maker in the room’s kitchen area! We had our own pool (complete with welcome message written in stones on the bottom) and gate to the beach, huge living room, two outdoor showers, a huge bathroom with freestanding bath, and of course a separate bedroom area separated with doors from the living room where my daughter slept. Get to the rest of the resort with your own villa bikes.
● Facilities – small, luxury and perfectly-formed, Nanuku offers daily activities, a beautiful lawned pool area, kids club and even a nanny for each child included. Nanuku Resort also places a big emphasis on cultural experiences and has a whole area and team dedicated to local arts and crafts workshops, a museum-like room where you can learn about Fijian artifacts and history, and an outdoor cooking platform where I took a very special traditional cooking lesson. There’s also a small spa and gym.
● The Food – all of our meals were just delicious, with excellent ingredients and talented chefs making our taste buds sing. The kids menu was also yummy and included a wide range of vegetables rather than your average beige children’s offering.

nanukuresort.com

More places to stay in Fiji

● Novotel Suva Lami Bay – clean and ideally located for Fiji’s capital, Suva, look out the window of your ocean view room and you’ll feel like you’re floating on the water.

hotels.com / guestreservations.com/novotel-suva-lami-bay

● Outrigger Fiji – larger, freshly renovated resort with a plethora of activities if you’re the sort of family who can’t sit still, visit the stunning Bebe Spa on the hill.

outrigger.com/fiji/fiji-beach-resort

How to get there

Fiji Airways flights from London to Fiji: booking with anzcro.co.uk / 01872266899