Your Stay at
Hideaway
A Guide to Exploring Sigatoka and the Coral Coast
Courtesy of Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa
Published by EM Publishing PO Box 136, Rosanna VIC 3081 Copyright © Nathalie Thomas 2014 Copyright © Photographs Susan Plank & Nathalie Thomas 2014 Thank you to the individuals and businesses for their photographic contributions to this book. Every effort has been made to acknowledge and contact the owners of copyright for permission to reproduce material that falls under the 1968 Copyright Act. Any copyright owners who have inadvertently been omitted from acknowledgements and credits should contact the publisher for rectification in subsequent editions. ISBN All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the author. Designed by Nathalie Thomas EM Publishing Cover and in-sleeve photography © Susan Plank
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Your Stay at
Hideaway A Guide to Exploring Sigatoka and the Coral Coast
Nathalie Thomas 3
The Coral Coast; the Fijian experience that you just can’t get from the outer islands.
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Bula! Welcome to Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa. At Hideaway, we want our guests to experience the perfect holiday, so we have produced this book to help you get the most out of your stay.
So, whether you want: A cultural, family-bonding, yet relaxing, holiday; OR
A fast-paced adventure through jungles and crystal-clear oceans, and a soft place to rest your head; OR
A chance to do nothing but relax, recharge and enjoy the cocktails while the kids play at the kids’ club.
Whatever your desires, this book will give you an insider’s view on the best Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa and the area has to offer. 5
Fiji HIdeaway There’s so much to do at Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa. All you have to do is decide what sort of holiday you want. Our wonderful Hideaway Spa Team are there to help you unravel from everyday life. Lose whatever worries you brought over with you with the help of our expert Beauty and Massage Therapists. You’re on holiday... Spoil yourself. Whether you want to ‘Hang Five’ or catch Big Fish out in the ocean surrounding us or relaxing with a well-earned massage or Beauty Spa treatment, we have it all available for you at Hideaway. 6
Resort & Spa We are proud to offer some of the best surfing and snorkelling on our back doorstep and encourage you to visit the Activities Bure, TRUSUP or Diveaway Fiji to accommodate your water needs. Be sure to visit Rosie’s Tour Desk to organise any or all of the wonderful cultural and exciting tours mentioned in this book. Don’t forget to head up to the Activities Bure for snorkel gear and fresh beach towels. We want to be your home away from home, so if there’s anything you need or want, please let one of our friendly Hideaway staff help you. 7
Coral Coast The Sigatoka Valley is known as the Salad Bowl of Fiji.
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Sigatoka Nestled at the mouth of the Sigatoka River on the Coral Coast is the beautiful township of Sigatoka. It is situated approximately 61kms from Nadi and 126kms from Suva, and is the principle town of the Nadroga-Navosa region of Viti Levu (the main island of Fiji).
Photo: Alamy
An ornate Hare Krishna temple dominates the small townshp of Sigatoka.
Sigatoka is also the gateway to the Coral Coast’s tourism belt. And we at Hideaway can offer you access some of the best forests, beaches and reefs that Fiji has to offer. 9
Sigatoka While you’re staying with us, why not go into town to do some shopping and meet the locals. Visit one of our helpful staff from the Hideaway Taxi Desk to organise a car to take you into town and back again. Sigatoka has no large shopping centres. There are a few larger department stores, several supermarkets, lots of small independent shops and then, of course, there’s the wonderful local market. The Sigatoka market is a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables. 10
Town At the market, you can find local produce, homemade honey and locallygrown kava. There are also two chemists in Sigatoka in case you have any medical requirements. There are also several banks in Sigatoka; ANZ and Westpac have branches as well as ATMs, and because the town is small everything is within walking distance. Sigatoka is a small friendly town and its shops are mostly run by small and friendly family businesses. 11
Sigatoka In town you can find everything you need. Souvenirs, carvings, Bula shirts and sulus are readily available from the small souvenir shops along the main street.
Jacks and Tappoo’s are where to go if you want large wooden sculptures and high-end pearl jewellery, but not all of their stuff is locally made. It also has a large range of generic souvenirs.
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Town However, one of my favourite places for quality handcrafted goods is Outback – located opposite the roundabout. They sell authentic village carvings, tribal masks, woven mats and masi cloth amongst other things. It’s co-op run, so the profits go to the craftsfolk, and all the goods are locally made. You can find true works of art and rarities if you go looking in the right places.
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Sigatoka Rugby T o w n Sigatoka is Rugby Town. Rugby Union is more than a sport here - it’s a religion; a beacon of hope; and a great source of pride. The local stadium - Lawaqa Park - is Fiji’s second largest, and the home of the international Fiji 7s competition. Be there each November to catch the action. Locals love to dress up to support their teams.
The Hideaway Hurricanes is one of the local resort-sponsored teams.
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Town
Hor s e Co untry
Sigatoka is known a Horse Country. There is a magical relationship between the people here and their horses. Horses were first brought to Fiji when the British set up their colonies on the land, and since then, they’ve have become an integral part of what makes Sigatoka run. They are used as both work and play animals and are an important part of village life. There are many opportunities to go horse riding along the Coral Coast. You can ride along a beach or up into the lower mountains to see waterfalls.
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Local Sigatoka Sand Dunes The Sigatoka Sand Dunes are in Fiji’s first National Park. They are located about a fiveminute drive west of Sigatoka town along the Queen’s Road. They are not your traditional form of fun, but they are an important recreational and educational feature for tourists and locals alike. As an added point of interest, they are also an important source of archaeological artefacts and information for universities and archaeological institutes. The sand dunes are currently being assessed by the United Nations for World Heritage Status. If you do venture the dunes, don’t forget your sunscreen, hat, footwear and plenty of water; they are sand dunes after all. 16
Images © National Trust of Fiji
Wonders Kul a Eco Park The Kula Eco Park a beautiful well-run indigenous wildlife park. It is set across three valleys and has 12 acres of paradise open to visitors. It houses hundreds of species of birds, fish, turtles and iguanas in huge walk-through enclosures, and kids and adults alike can hold and interact with birds and reptiles hands-on. And added bonus to the wildlife is the magnificent botanical gardens. It is easy to lose a day traipsing along the treetop walks or marvelling at the clear waters that run through the park.
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Local N at ado l a Be ach
Natadola Beach is listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the world, and it’s no wonder. With it’s beautiful crystal-clear waters and soft white sand, it’s simply one of the world’s most beautiful places; and it’s right here on the Coral Coast.
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Wonders Sigatoka Valley The Sigatoka Valley is the heartbeat of Fiji’s main island - Viti Levu. It is lovingly known as the Salad Bowl of Fiji. it supplies Fiji with much of its produce and many of its exports.
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Local
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Wonders Village Visits
Spend enough time in Fiji and the odds are you will be invited back to a village. Once there, try to contain your astonishment at how the locals live. Ramshackle bures and limited mod cons can be a shock to some, but it’s the way Fijians live. And once you see for yourself how happy, loving and communal the Fijians are, you’ll ask yourself why you have so many possessions and gadgets. There are several companies that offer Village Tours and they are easy to organise through Hideaway’s Tour Office. Visit Rosie to plan your Village Visit. The tour will usually take half a day and will include pick up and return mini bus or car; a kava ceremony; lunch; and opportunity to purchase carvings, jewellery and mats directly from the makers themselves. 21
Things Cannibal Caves Of all the things I’ve done on the Coral Coast, the cannibal caves is my absolute favourite. And getting there is half the fun. After a mini-bus ride through the valley you arrive at the Taihehe village where you’ll take part in a kava ceremony. Then you’ll go on a bilibili – a raft made of bamboo tied together with vines – across the Sigatoka River. Once on the other side, it’s an easy trek through the lush tropical jungle to get to the caves. Prepare to find yourself transported to another time as you explore the cannibal caves to an oral history that will make your skin crawl with delight.
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To Do W aterf al l s
Waterfalls are everywhere in Fiji. They start at the peaks of the volcanic mountains and work their way down into the ocean. There are plenty of tours available, or you can befriend a local who may be happy to take you – sometimes on horseback – to the local falls for a swim. I did both the Cannibal Cave and Waterfalls Tour with Adventures In Paradise. They have brilliant tour guides and provide return transport from Hideaway, a light lunch, water, soft drinks and beer, and an unforgettable falls experience.
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Things
Sigatoka River Safari Sigatoka River Safari is Fiji’s original jet boat and village safari, and is a multiple award winning tour. Cruise your way up the Sigatoka River to visit authentic Fijian Images and text Š SIgatoka River Safari villages. The tour is a half-day eco/cultural adventure that transports you deep into the heart of Fiji.
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To Do
Lawai Po tte ry Vil l ag e
Only a few kilometres inland from Sigatoka, is the Lawai pottery village.
This village is a delight to visit and an afternoon can pass by too quickly. You are greeted with a kava ceremony and then shown how the women of the village use ancient techniques to craft their clay by hand. The wares are then fired on an open fire and glazed it with a plant resin, which gives it a gloriously dark and shiny glaze. The villagers hold a small market in their hall where they have lots of original handcrafted goods on offer. These make a special and lasting memento of your trip to Fiji, and all profits goes to the village. 25
Things Diveaway FIJI The crystalclear warm blue waters of Fiji are perfect for underwater adventures. Whether you enjoy the adventure of exploring dark crevices with scuba diving, or prefer the gently meandering that is snorkelling, Hideaway has it all for you in our own backyard.
Image © Fiji Travel
Image © Susan Plank
Image © Diving Fiji
Beautiful live coral, majestic reef sharks and amazing fish are found in abundance in the waters surrounding Hideaway. 26
To Do S u rf ing
Thanks to a break that runs parallel to the beach, Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa is one of the few places in Fiji that has great surfing waves. BYO surfboard or grab one from Hideaway’s TRU-SUP. Whichever way you choose, there’s no reason not to hang ten.
Image © fijitravel.com
Image © wannasurf.com
Game F ish ing Many enjoy the challenge that biggame fishing can bring.
At Hideaway, we have charter boats waiting to take you out to catch that ‘big one’.
Image © fijiguide.com
Image © gamefishingfiji
Bring one home and the Hideaway Chefs will be happy to cook your catch for your dinner. 27
Things Zip Lining
Fiji Zipline - Enjoy the high-flying thrills of the South Pacific’s only zipline adventure, just minutes from Pacific Harbour!
Images and text © zipfiji.com
Experience the whoosh of adrenalin as you soar through the rainforest, enjoying stunning views and distinctive flora and fauna from a unique perspective.
J e t Sk iing
Jet skiing is a fabulous way to explore the waters of the Coral Coast. Fish are happy to surround you should you feel tempted to stop moving. But once you’re on your way again - It’s white water all the way! 28
Images © fijitravel.com
To Do H or s e R idin g
Horse riding can be found in most places around the coast. The locals are always happy to take you to share one of their natural treasures. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as riding a horse up to a waterfall, having a dip and then riding back to Hideaway for a cooling cocktail.
Ju ngle Tre ks Jungle Treks are a perfect way to explore the Fiji highlands. As long or as short as you want, these walks are sure to open your eyes to the natural beauties that abounds this island. And best of all, there are non of the dangerous creatures you can expect to come across in Australia. 29
Vinaka Vakalevu from your Fiji Hideaway Resort and Spa Family
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