Coral Coast

The Coral Coast runs for around eighty kilometres along the southern shore of Viti Levu, named for the fringing reef that lies close in for most of its length. Resorts are strung along the road, from large family properties to small beachfront places, with villages between them. The reef makes the swimming shallow and tidal rather than deep, which surprises people, but it also puts snorkelling within wading distance and keeps the water calm.

What you actually see

• The fringing reef - coral close inshore along most of the coast.
• The resort strip - properties of every size along the Queens Road.
• The villages - Fijian communities between the resorts, several taking visitors.
• The Sigatoka river mouth - the western end of the coast where the river reaches the sea.

When to go

May to October is the drier season. The reef flat means swimming depends on the tide, so the tide table matters more here than the season. Cyclone season runs November to April.

Honest expectations

The reef flat empties at low tide and swimming from many resorts is impossible then; this catches people out constantly. Reef health varies and has declined in places. The road runs close to the beach along much of the coast.

Nearby

Sigatoka and the sand dunes are west, and Pacific Harbour is east.