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Natadola Beach Travel Guide
Viti Levu, Fiji
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Fiji's most popular tourism area is the Coral Coast which offers both small and large beach resorts and lots of sightseeing tours, cultural centres and historical sites to keep you busy. The Coral Coast comprises two distinct halves - the dry coast between Nadi and Korotogo with perpetual sunshine and the tropical rainforest coast between Korotogo and Pacific Harbour which is more rugged with rainforested hills, more cloud cover and higher rainfall (mostly in the afternoons).
Heading south from Nadi, the Queens Highway travels a mile or so inland through rural sugar cane farms with sweeping views of the sun baked hills of the Nadi Highlands. Just 10-minutes drive south of Nadi Town is Sonaisali Island Resort which is popular as a package holiday market with Australians and New Zealanders. The resort is located on a small mangrove island 2-minutes by boat and offers a mediorcre beach with brackish water but does have splendid ocean views, easy boat access to great snorkelling reefs, game fishing and island trips, a huge swimming pool and lots of organized activities and water sports. Sonaisali is very popular with families.
Ten minutes further south and hidden in a delightful hilly setting overlooking the ocean and offshore Mamanuca Islands is the abandoned Momi Bay Resort development. This 1,100 acre development was destined to become one of the finest resort developments in the South Pacific before its New Zealand investors went bankcrupt.
Beyond Momi Bay, the highway travels for 10km through Pine Forests. Beyond these plantations is the turn off for Natadola Beach, one of the best beaches in Fiji with fine white sand and body surfing. The beach remains public access but another large resort development is taking place. The only place to stay at present is the small Natadola Beach Resort which sits across the road from the beach and offers eleven Mediterranean style villas for adults only.
The Fijian Resort is about 20 minutes further down the road, sitting on a small island connected to the mainland by a 50-metre cement bridge. This is currently the largest resort in Fiji with over 400 rooms. The resort has two distinct halves, each with its own swimming pool and separated by a rocky point - one half is for couples and one half for families. This resort is most popular as a package holiday destination, particularly with Australians. Across the road from the Fijian Resort is the Kailevu Cultural Centre where you can see mock traditional houses, dances and see cultural displays. For the real thing, take a day tour to Nakabuta Pottery Village (see further down). Also close by is the gorgeous Cuvu Beach which is a good place for swimming and body surfing. There's also a restored sugar train ride along the coast to Natadola which is well worth doing if you are staying here. From the Fijian Resort, its a 15-minute drive to Sigatoka Town.
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Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Tahiti Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Guide
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