My family and I just got back from six blissful days at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort.

I did not wash, clean, shop, cook or drive for six days which would have been enough to make this is a fabulous break.

But on top of that, we spent balmy 34C days chilling by the lagoon pool, afternoons swinging in the hammock on our Bure porch, and evenings enjoying the resort’s restaurants.

We booked a sharp deal through Travel Online. It turns out that late March/early April is low season because it’s rainy. This meant that the resort was only at 50% capacity. It was easy to get a waterfront sun lounger, the breakfast buffet wasn’t crowded and the vibe was lively, not loud.

And it barely rained. There would be the odd downpour but it cleared quickly and wasn’t overcast.

If you’re planning a trip to Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, here are a few tips to help you before and during your stay.

Before you go to Outrigger

1. The resort supplies beach towels so you don’t need to pack them.
2. The power points in Fiji are the same as in Australia so you don’t need to take converters.
3. Our Fiji Airways plane didn’t have seat back entertainment. Take a fully charged phone or iPad for your kids to watch downloaded shows and take a book or magazine for yourself.
4. You can take prams right up to the boarding gate and you have to collect them from the baggage carousel on the other end.

When you arrive at Outrigger

1. Book into the nanny (‘Meimei’) service as soon as you arrive as it books out quickly. Our deal included 4 x 8hrs/days of nanny service and you can book in 9am – 5pm, 1pm – 9pm, or do a split shift with 10am – 2pm/5pm – 9pm.
2. You can drink the tap water in the resort.
3. The resort general store sells nappies – including swimmer nappies – as well as basic supplies like Aspro, Savlon and sunscreen (I know because we bought all these things, as well as mixers for Duty Free booze).
4. The resort is kinda pricey. Not crazy expensive but expect to pay the upper level of Sydney prices for meals and drinks, and about double for anything you buy from the store.
5. Take snacks and get the buffet breakfast upgrade. Breakfast is epic. The waffles, real barista coffee (you have to pay extra but who cares), egg station and fresh tropical fruit were my highlights.
6. The rooms have tea and coffee-making facilities and a mini-bar so you can refrigerate things.
7. Outrigger Fiji is an AMAZING place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary (we did both). The staff sing to you, bring you cake and everyone congratulates you. You feel super special – we loved it.

Things to do at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

1. The beach is not great for swimming. It’s a very warm and shallow lagoon. If you want deeper water and better snorkelling, you need to hire a car or book a tour and visit some of the other beaches. There’s a car rental and Rosie Tours desk at the front of the resort. Hire cars are FJ$145 for a day.
2. We went on a tour with a local guide who took us to Sigatoka sand dunes (where the Fijian Rugby team trains!), to the ‘salad bowl’ valley where lots of Fiji’s fresh produce is grown, and to Sigatoka village fresh produce market where we saw lots of unusual fruit and veggies, freshwater mussels and the biggest avocados on earth. We paid FJ$150 for a half day.
3. Sigatoka village is about 10 minutes up the road and you can catch a bus out the front of the resort for FJ$1 per person (which is way cheaper than the FJ$32 round trip in a cab). Ask reception for the bus time table.
4. GO TO BEBE SPA. It has one of the best views I have ever seen. We had massages and then went up to the bar for a cocktail and tapas. It was heavenly.
5. The fire show (advertised through the daily activities program) is a bit lame. Save your FJ$20.
6. The resort offers a lot of free (or cheap) activities including a Sunday church visit, a village tour, art classes, pool aerobics, introduction to yoga (which is held on the spa deck) and a garden tour.
7. The Kula Wild Adventure Park is right next door to the resort (you can ask concierge to arrange a buggy to take you over). Entry is FJ$50 per adult (kids are free) and there is a splash pool, zip line, waterslide, animal exhibits with snakes, iguanas, birds and turtles and a beautiful rainforest walk dotted with educational displays focusing on Fijian culture and medicinal plants.

Dining out at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

1. The Magini (‘feast’) night in the buffet restaurant was brilliant. I loved the kokoda, the Fijian version of ceviche. The ticket price includes a Polynesian floor show.
2. Ivi restaurant has a set menu for AUD$72 which is the same price as the buffet. The food and service is a cut above so don’t shy away from it because it’s five star.
3. Sundowners does great pizzas that you can eat there or take away.

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Have you stayed at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort? What did you think? Do you have any tips to share?