An EPIC Family Surfing and Traveling Adventure in Fiji – 2023 update

G’Day! Josh Appleby here and I would like to share with you my experience of surfing Cloudbreak, activities to do in Fiji, family friendly resorts and the best places to go in Fiji with a young family.

I recently visited Fiji with my wife, my 3 year old, and 18 month old for a two-week family surfing and travel adventure. Fiji is a perfect stopover for families traveling across the Pacific to the USA, as it is much more affordable than Hawaii and offers amazing surf, epic free diving spots, and beautiful Pacific Island scenery. This was our first family trip to Fiji and I was so impressed I had to share some of the highlights, including our experiences with Fijian nannies and family-friendly resorts.

Fiji is definitely high on my list of family friendly destinations. Kelly Slayter has said that the Fijian people are possibly the nicest in the world and that the left hand reef break on Tavarua called ‘Restaurants’ is his favourite wave in the world and who am I to argue with the G.O.A.T! Fiji is a tropical paradise in the South Pacific, renowned for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and world-class waves. With over 300 islands, Fiji offers a wide range of surf spots, from beginner-friendly breaks to challenging reef breaks that will put your skills to the test.

Choosing the right airline

We fly into Nadi airport on Fiji Airways because they tend to have the cheapest trans-Pacific fares and their flight crew are extremely understanding and helpful. Even when your 18 month old is bringing down the house on a 10 hour flight and running up and down the aisles pulling things off the seat-back trays of strangers.

They also have a reasonable surfboard policy and you can pack a multi-board coffin up to 30kg/66lb for just a small fee, depending on which way you are going. This means I stuff the bag with kids swim vests, towels, and soft toys to ensure the boards arrive unscathed. Children under 2 don’t need a ticket but can check a 10kg/22lb bag and those above 2 get a 30kg/66lb bag as well. Of course car seats are free and a stroller or pram.

After some extensive research by my wife (credit where credit is due), we ended up for the first time in our lives at a resort. Before kids, we turned our nose up at the all-inclusive lifestyle. We are an adventurous surfing/freediving couple who love veering off the beaten path! But with 2 toddler koalas, we were questioning our sanity to even contemplate this trip, let alone expect to indulge in our pre-child pastimes.

Enjoying a Fijian Nanny Service

Now let’s talk about a magical creature that all parents dream about, the Fijian Nanny. Before this trip we had never left our kids with anyone except grandma. We had heard from friends that Fijian nannies were good but we didn’t know how good until this trip.

Not only do the kids love them because of their fun-loving nature, they are only 6 FJD/hr!  Mum and Dad can enjoy themselves for half a day without breaking the bank. They take the children swimming, feed them in the restaurant, clean them up, change their clothes and take them for long walks.

If you have a little grom who loves surfing, check the kid’s book
Bazza Braves the Waves
This book will:
• Teach resilience.
• Encourage emotional growth.
• Introduce authentic surfing culture.
• Enhance language with engaging rhymes.
• Inspire a growth mindset.
• Engage with vibrant illustrations.
• Share the beauty of Australia.

Explore Bazza Books

Best Family Friendly Resorts Fiji

We stayed a few days at DoubleTree Resort By Hilton Hotel Fiji on Sonaisali Island.  This place was very reasonably priced and had great food and drinks which were even more reasonable. The pool here was amazing and it will keep your kids busy literally all day! There isn’t much on offer in the snorkelling or freediving department but you can easily catch a ride with Fiji Surf Co. to surf Cloudbreak for about 120 FJD.  There is a lovely playground and extensive gardens where little ones enjoy playing and of course, there are heaps of magical nannies ready to make your dreams come true.

Our next stop was well and truly the best place to visit in fiji with family. Plantation Island Resort Malolo Lailai Fiji is a paradise for both kids and parents.  It is a short 50 minute ferry ride from Port Denarau aboard the Mololocat so very feasible with a toddler, if you bring snacks! Just as the novelty of the boat starts to wear off, you’re there. While a little more expensive than the DoubleTree, it makes doing what you love so so easy. 

They have a kids club for 4 years and up which is totally free for guests. Basically, its like a childcare centre but with wild Fiji style activities like opening coconuts (kids are to coconuts as squirrels are to acorns), tie-dying t-shirts and then laying them all over the roof of the building to dry, racing crabs, and lots of dancing.

Guests can also enjoy the following at no additional cost:

• 4 swimming pools
• water slide
• inflatable water park
• kayaks
• Hobie Catamarans so you can teach your kids to sail (taking my 3 year old sailing provided inspiration for a future Apple Bee book in the making)
• bikes with optional baby seats (additional fee)

Of course for families with kids under 4, they have a troop of nannies to help out and we were able to book the same one all week so our kids built a lovely relationship with her.

Every person at Plantation is there because they have kids, so its easy to make friends with other families and no one will judge you at dinner when your toddler cracks the shits, breaks a glass, and throws food all over the floor.  In fact, there is a witching hour crew made up of families with young kids who dine at 5:30pm which looks like parents trying to eat as quickly as possible while keeping an eye on their kids on the playground next to the the tables. You can usually push bedtime out just long enough to enjoy a beer at the playground after the kids help themselves to the dessert bar.

The Best Surf Spots in Fiji

Now for the greatest thing of all! Fiji has some of the best surf spots in the world, offering something for surfers of all levels. Here are some of the top spots to check out:

Cloudbreak

Cloudbreak is one of the most famous surf spots in the world. It has previously been a stop on the surfing world tour and is looking like it will be in 2024 again, EPIC!!! It’s a challenging left-hand reef break that can hold massive swell.

I found reading this wave pretty difficult and could benefit from a bit more time out here (conveniently 😂). The inside gets pretty shallow but that means some very memorable barrels! The image of Fijian islands framed by a hollow barrel will be burned into my memory forever.

Restaurants

Located on Tavarua Island, Restaurants is a shorter left-hand wave that gets super hollow. They say it is good for intermediate surfers, but I feel you would want to be a pretty competent intermediate for this wave. Restaurants has a pretty steep takeoff and shallow reef, so you should be quite compitent with your positioning, paddling and pop up. I feel it is more predictable and mechanical than Cloudbreak, so take off pick a line and get slotted.

Namotu Lefts

Located near Namotu Island, this is another left-hand reef break that offers longer, forgiving rides. I found it to get quite fast, with a section that was hard to make on the lower tide. But, otherwise it was a fatter wave with a mellower take off for intermediate surfers. Good for turns and open faced surfing.

Swimming Pools

Swimming Pools is located in the Namotu Island area and is a world-renowned surf spot. This break is known for its long, peeling waves that are perfect for both short and longboards. It’s a great spot for all levels of surfer, but that means it can get crowded during peak season. It is extremely fun and a nice break for natural footers looking to take a break from the critical lefts (Cloudbreak, Wilkes, Restaurants, etc.) and lay into some forehand faces and barrels.

Wilkes Passage

Located between Viti Levu and Beqa Island, Wilkes Passage is a challenging left-hand reef break that offers some of the longest rides in Fiji.

There are 1-2 surf trips daily to Cloudbreak, Restaurants or 5 other breaks just 15-20 minutes away, depending on conditions, for 90-110FJD.  They also run deep water snorkeling trips daily to a rotating list of reefs in the area for just 30FJD pp. These reefs are pristine with 20m drop-offs and great visibility which makes for amazing freediving.

When to Go Surfing in Fiji

The best time to go surfing in Fiji is between April and October, when the swells are the biggest and the winds are offshore. During this time, you can expect consistent waves and warm, sunny weather. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to go during the shoulder season (April/May or October/November), when the waves are smaller and the crowds are fewer. Having said this, I was there in January 2023 and conditions were excellent and the crowds were low, making it an extremely fun experience.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced surfer, Fiji has something to offer. Like anywhere you surf in the world, just remember to respect the locals, follow surf etiquette, and stay safe in the water.

I recommend booking both of these resorts through Booking.com and getting that free cancellation because its important to stay flexible with the kids.

As a family who loves adventure, we were delighted to discover that Fiji offers not only world-class surf spots and epic diving locations, but also an abundance of family-friendly activities and services such as affordable flights, amazing nannies, and fantastic resorts. Our trip to Fiji was truly unforgettable and we can’t wait to return to this Pacific paradise.

I hope this inspires those ocean lovers with kids to try Fiji and get some good old fashioned pre-kid fun while also showing the kiddies the time of their lives!

Drop a comment below and I will try to respond to all questions. Happy surfing!

*The above information is purely my opinion and I am not affiliated with any of the links above (apart from The Adventures Of Bazza Koala!).