Fiji is a country incredibly rich in culture with diverse offerings in relaxation, adventure, sightseeing, and exploration. With over 300 islands, there is something for everyone in Fiji. Viti Levu is Fiji's largest island and is home to the adventure capital of Fiji, the coastal community of Pacific Harbour. In Pacific Harbour, you'll find activities such as world renowned soft coral scuba diving, incredible river expeditions, shark encounters, jet ski adventures, zip-lining, an eclectic arts village, world class spa treatments, and much more. Pacific Harbour is also where the wonderful Uprising Beach Resort is located. Uprising offers a wide range of accommodations from stunning traditional thatched Beachfront Villas to more affordable dormitory style housing. With 2km of sandy beachfront, a full service restaurant and beach bar, waterfront massages, and plenty of opportunities for poolside lounging, there's almost no reason to leave the idyllic confines of the Uprising Beach Resort. However, the resort was only the jumping off point for an adventure filled trip in Fiji!
First up was the world famous Shark Dive with Beqa Adventure Divers. Beqa Lagoon is an incredibly unique spot in that it features some of the most amazing soft coral diving the world has to offer as well as Fiji's own Shark Reef Marine Reserve. The establishment of the Reserve allows for a shark diving experience like nowhere else in the world. We were able to witness eight different species of sharks including Tigers, Sicklefin Lemons, Sivertips, Grey Reefs, Whitetip Reefs, Blacktip Reefs, Tawny Nurses, but the main attractions were undoubtedly the enormous Bull Sharks. It was truly an unforgettable experience watching those hulking beasts of the sea feed mere feet from us.
Just when we thought that no experience would be able to live up to the shark dive of the previous day, Rivers Fiji was more than up to the challenge. The Upper Navua Whitewater Rafting trip is an incomparable glimpse into the history, culture, and natural flora and fauna of Fiji. With lush slot canyons and countless waterfalls around every corner, the scenery was jaw-dropping. Over the course of the full day, 17 mile trip down the river, our guide Moses regaled us with stories of his life on the island and his experiences guiding trips down the river for the last twenty years. At the end of the day, we hardly wanted the trip to end but our arms and shoulders were begging for a break after a day of navigating the rapids of the Navua River.
Before we knew it, our time in Fiji was over and we had to face the harsh reality of returning home. This trip was an amazing glimpse into what Fiji has to offer and I can't wait until I have the opportunity to return. Huge thanks to the Uprising Beach Resort for their hospitality and for arranging an action-packed stay at their beautiful resort.
