Climate

Overall, Fiji has a pleasant, warm climate all-year round with an average temperature of 25°C.  Temperatures can drop as low as 18°C in winter, and climb to the low 30s in summer. High UV index, so you should take care in the sun.

 

The so-called ‘dry’ season is from May to October (coinciding with the Southern Hemisphere winter) and ‘wet’ season is from November to April.  Some years, there seems to be little variation between the two!  Cyclones are more likely to occur during the wet season.

 

 

Health

Fiji is not malarial and does not have rabies. There are few snakes and no crocodiles!  Apart from driving immediately behind a bus, the air is unpolluted.  Although tap water is of a reasonable quality in Suva, it is still recommended that you boil, filter, or buy water.

 

Non-malarial mosquitoes are numerous, particularly in the summer. An outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever, which reoccurs every few years, occurred in early 2014. Poisonous insects, snakes and sealife are not common, though scratches and cuts, particularly those suffered while swimming or diving, need to be treated promptly as they can easily become infected.  Skin irritations such as prickly heat are common as well as scabies and boils.  Immediate and proper treatment is recommended.  Reasonable health care is available – see separate chapter on Medical Facilities.

 

 

Cost of Living

Fiji is relatively expensive.  Expect to pay a minimum of FJD 2500 a month for rent, going as high as FJD 10000.  Petrol is expensive, as is electricity.  Although local produce is good and inexpensive, you may find that much of your food bill is spent on more expensive imported items. 

 

 

Newspapers

• Fiji Times, 177 Victoria Parade, Ph: 330-4111

• Fiji Sun, Amra Street, Walu Bay, Ph: 330-7555

• Fiji Daily Post, Greig Street, Ph: 331-3342

 

Papers can be bought from street stands, many shops, or you can arrange for a home delivery.

International newspapers are not available for sale in Suva, so you may browse these online.

 

 

Magazines

Fiji Living, Mai Life, Turaga, Marama, and Fiji Islands Business can be bought from selected shops.

Time and Newsweek magazines are also available.

 

 

TV and Radio

Fiji One is the local free TV channel.  For more channels, you will need to subscribe to a cable network (see Utilities and Services for details).

 

There is a variety of local radio channels broadcast in English, Fijian and Hindi.  BBC is broadcast on 88.2 FM. 

 

 

Postal System

• Fiji Post:  Main post office: 10 Thomson Street

• Branches:  Suncourt Building, Nabua; Grantham Road, Raiwaqa; Waimanu Road, Samabula; Fenton Street, Lami

 

There is a home mail delivery service in central Suva, but not to all outer city areas (e.g. Tamavua).  If you wish to open a post office box, the main post office offers the best service, although post office boxes are also situated at Fiji Post branches.

 

The international mail service, both incoming and outgoing, is generally fast and reliable. Packages can be picked up and signed for on the second floor.  A notification is usually sent to your mailing address that you have 14 days to pick it up, otherwise charges are incurred.

 

Other servies:

• DHL Express Service (Grantham Plaza; Grantham Rd, Raiwaqa); Ph: 337 2766

• EMS Courier Post (Post Fiji outlets emscustser@postfiji.com.f)j; Ph: 334 0222

• Fedex (22 Edinburgh Dr, Suva), Ph: 331 5980

• UPS (Williams & Gosling Ltd., info@wgfiji.com.fj) Ph: 324 9431

• TNT (18 Disraeli Rd.) Ph: 330 8677

 

 

Official Holidays

Official holidays in Fiji are:

 

• New Year’s Day:  1 January

• Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday):  March/April (2015: 03, 04, 06 Apr)

• Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday: varies (2015: 05 Jan)

• National Sports Day (2015: 26 Jun)

• Queen’s Birthday:  June

• Fiji Day:  October

• Diwali/Deepavali:  October/November

• Christmas Day:  25 December

• Boxing Day:  26  December

 

The UN does NOT take holidays on National Youth Day, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday or Ratu Sukuna Day.  It does, however, observe the two Muslim holidays of Eid al Adha and Eid al Fitr (dates vary in accordance with the Muslim calendar).

 

 

Embassies in Fiji

The following countries have embassies or high commissions in Suva:

 

• Australia:  37 Princes Road, Tamavua, Ph: 338-2211

• China:  147 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Ph: 330-0215

• European Union:  Fiji Development Bank Building, Victoria Parade, Ph: 331-3633

• Federated States of Micronesia:  37 Loftus Street, Ph: 330-4566

• France: Dominion House, Thomson Street, Ph: 331-2233, 331-2513, 331-2324

• India:  LICI Building, Butt Street, Ph: 330-1125

• Indonesia:  91 Gordon Street, Ph: 331-6697

• Japan:  Dominion House, Thomson Street, 330-4633

• Kiribati:  36 McGregor Road, Ph: 330-2512

• Korea:  Victoria Parade, Ph: 330-0977

• Malaysia:  Butt Street, Ph: 331-2166

• Marshall Islands:  41 Borron Road, Ph: 338-7899

• Nauru:  Ratu Sukuna House, MacArthur Street, Ph: 331-3566, 331-2032

• New Zealand:  Reserve Bank Building, Pratt Street, Ph: 331-1422

• Papua New Guinea:  Gordon Street, Ph: 330-4244

• Tuvalu:  Tuvalu House, 16 Gorrie Street, Ph: 330-1355

• UK: Victoria House, 47 Gladstone Road, Ph: 322-9100

• USA:  Princes Road, Tamavua,  Ph: 331-4466

 

 

Fijian Language

English is widely spoken in Fiji, and most of the people you come in contact with will speak English. In addition, all signs are in English. However, as in all foreign countries, you will have a far better understanding of the people and their culture if you make some attempt to learn the language. If you are interested in learning Fijian or Hindi, the Alliance Francaise (14 McGregor Road, Ph: 331-3802) runs good courses in both languages. In the meantime, we offer some pronunciation tips, and list a few basic Fijian words below. Even if this is all you learn, using these phrases will be greatly appreciated!

 

Pronunciation

 

There are some subtleties in pronunciation if you choose to learn Fijian in more depth. However, the following rules are important to master if you don't want to sound like a tourist!

• 'd' is preceded by the letter 'n' in spoken Fijian (e.g. 'Nadi' is pronounced 'Nandi'; 'Namadi' is pronounced 'Namandi')

• 'b' is preceded by the letter 'm' in spoken Fijian (e.g. 'Nabua' is pronounced 'Nambua')

• 'c' is pronounced as a voiced 'th' as in 'this' (e.g. 'Laucala' is pronounced 'Lauthala'; 'Moce' is pronounced 'Mo-thay')

• 'q' is pronounced 'ng' as in 'angry' (e.g. 'Vatuwaqa' is pronounced 'Vatuwanga')

 

The absolute basic words and phrases

 

• Bula = Hello, Welcome, Good (adj.)

• Ni sa yadra = Good morning

• Vinaka = Thank you

• Vinaka vakalevu = Thank you very much

• Moce = Goodbye