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Denarau Island

A reclaimed island by Nadi holding most of Fiji's large resorts and the marina every boat to the islands leaves from.

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WhereWestern
Nearest cityNadi
Best seasonMay to October
Time to allowTwo to three days
Getting thereAbout 8 km west of Nadi by causeway
EntryFree; resorts and marina charged

Denarau is a former mangrove island west of Nadi, reclaimed and developed from the 1970s into the country's main resort concentration: a golf course, a marina and a line of large international hotels along a beach of grey volcanic sand. Its real function is as a hub, because the catamarans to the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands leave from Port Denarau, and most visitors pass through whether or not they stay.

What you actually see

  • Port Denarau - the marina where the island ferries and day boats depart.
  • The resort strip - the country's densest concentration of large hotels.
  • The golf course - an eighteen-hole course through the estate.
  • The boardwalk - shops and restaurants around the marina.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and the peak. Ferries to the islands run year-round and are the main reason to be here. Cyclone season is November to April.

Honest expectations

The beach is grey volcanic sand with a mangrove-fringed shoreline, and it is not why anyone comes to Fiji; the good beaches are on the islands the boats go to. Denarau is a gated enclave with little Fijian character. Prices are the highest in the country.

Nearby

Nadi is east, and the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands are reached by boat from the marina.

What to pack for Denarau Island

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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