Say ‘Bula!’ to sun-drenched days at this castaway-chic island that has become a go-to for families. Castaway Island only has the one resort making moving around manageable for those with little legs. And the fact there’s no long-haul flight involved means families can hit the sand running. Castaway Island Resort is great for a break as it’s the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the reef with a snorkel or kayak. Family bures keep everyone under the one roof, while board games become rituals for bonding. The resort is so small the staff will welcome you like family with communal dinners each evening and immersive cultural activities like storytelling and sandcastle competitions. There’s a new inflatable ocean playground, which has become a firm family favourite.

There are only two opportunities for families to stay at Turtle Island, making a stay here an ultra-exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Map out the fastest route from your villa to the pool so you can take advantage of having the full run of the island. All up, there are only 14 villas confetti’d across the 200-hectare island, which has 12 private beaches. What also makes Turtle Island so family friendly is the fact each child under five is paired with a dedicated nanny. Families visiting Turtle Island with children over the age of five also have their very own ‘Bula Buddy’ dedicated to filling their days with bonfires, fishing, storytelling and crab hunts. Turtle Island is truly one of the best Fijian islands for families seeking unplugged, unforgettable connections.

It’s not exactly secluded. But manmade Denarau Island is certainly one of the best Fijian islands for families who want to be near the mainland. Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort and Sheraton Denarau Villas are island resorts just a short drive from Nadi International Airport. The Sheratons make an intergenerational escape ideal with the Side by Side Kids Club keeping kids aged four to 12 happy while parents can indulge in a massage or mani at the spa. You won’t have to wrangle your kids’ devices from them as there are compelling activities such as cooking classes, nature-based crafts and cultural shows with singing and dancing. Jet-ski safaris will also appeal to families with teens. Want to visit Fiji on a budget? There are spacious multi-bedroom villas with kitchens that make longer stays easy. Movie nights and nanny services also give parents a break and make for a stress-free escape. The Sofitel Fiji Resort is another great five-star option for families. It has the largest swimming pool in the South Pacific as well as a water play splash pad, flying fox and trampoline. Tip the kids into the kids’ club and escape to the adult-only Waitui Beach Club for date night on Denarau. All up, there are nine hotels and resorts for your stay and 40 restaurants to choose from. Radission Blu is also a family fave in Denarau for its kids’ club and rooms with a laundry and kitchenette.

Tavarua Island is the perfect getaway for families. Just ask Chris Hemsworth. Or your mate, big-wave Dave. Although Tavarua is known the world over for being a big-wave surf spot, Tavarua Island is also family friendly. Call it a surfer’s paradise. In addition to surfer-specific infrastructure (like boats, boards, foils and kayaks), the concierge team at Tavarua Island Resort can help everyone in the family find the perfect wave. There are a lot of benefits non-surfers can tap into on Tavarua, too. Such as the tennis court, pickle ball court, skate ramp, games room and fitness centre. Enjoy island hopping or lounge by the pool and hot tub. You’ll be able to sit and dine at The Restaurant which has views of the famous break ‘Restaurants’. There are also opportunities to dive, snorkel, kayak and SUP. Families with toddlers can request a pack ‘n’ play and the help of a nanny ahead of time. Tavarua Villa is the island’s most prestigious accommodation and features a king-sized master bedroom and extra bedroom with single beds. There’s also the option to stay in the two-bedroom sunrise bure, or the beach bure, all with ocean views.

No chance of family vacay fomo if you’re staying at VOMO. Multi-gen families looking for five-star accommodation on a Fijian Island will find it in (bucket and) spades on Vomo Island. Forget about stepping outside your comfort zone. The island is home to private Residences and a dedicated Kids Village. While little ones are cared for by ‘Baby Butlers’, older tweens and teens can get their wiggles out on Teen Island which has a zipline, climbing wall and adventure program. families can participate in turtle conservation activities during their holiday as part of the Loloma Hour, which launched in 2025. Family-friendly dining = tick. Snorkelling safaris = you betcha. Adventure program = welcome to the funhouse. Stay in a brand-new two-bedroom family villa or one of the three-bedroom Residences. There are babysitters and nannies on the island, too, so you can say hello to the adults-only pool and restaurant. The ocean play area is all about making great family mems. Did we mention that this family-friendly resort is all-inclusive? The restaurant makes Vomo Island one of the best Fijian islands for foodies, too.

Yanuca Island is part of Fiji’s Coral Coast near Viti Levu. It’s just a 45-minute drive from Nadi International Airport to the island, which is connected by a causeway to the mainland. Feeling excited about your overseas Fijian family holiday at Shangri-La Yanuca Island? You should be. Both parents and children are fans of the Little Chief’s Kids’ Club at the Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji, which will help you have the fly-and-flop Fijian island holiday of your dreams. There are three pools at the resort as well as aqua activities such as paddleboarding and snorkelling in the calm waters of the lagoon. Families with adventurous teens can sign up for parasailing, flyboarding and wakeboarding or a Jet Ski Safari to a deserted island. Take advantage of the full nanny service and set off for a sunset sail as the sun detaches itself from the day. The resort also has a range of cuisines to suit the fussiest eaters from Indian to Italian as well as the thrill of a beach grill. There are dedicated family accommodation options on offer including interconnecting rooms (two Ocean Deluxe and two Ocean Grand Deluxe Connecting Rooms) as well as Lagoon Bures. There’s also an inflatable water park, daily fish feeding and movies on the sand. The cultural component at Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji is also a draw with the Marau Village Shows scheduled for three times a week.

Malolo Island helps to facilitate the ultimate keep-everyone-in-the-family-happy escape. And what makes Malolo Island Resort one of the most family-friendly places to stay in Fiji is not down to just one thing; there’s a multitude of reasons it’s a mainstay. For starters, the resort delivers a laid-back escape thanks to its roster of daily activities and family bures. The kids’ club is aimed at little ones who enjoy everything from treasure hunts to storytelling. And tweens and teens are also catered for. Choose a day washed in sunlight to enjoy water-based activities like kayaking, snorkelling and surfing. Or set off in the early light of dawn on a hike into the island’s lush interior. Parents looking for a break can book a babysitter and head to the adults-only restaurant. When neuroscientist Dr Lila Landowski travelled to Fiji she wanted to understand why Fijians are said to be some of the happiest people in the world. What she discovered is that happiness is contagious, which you’ll find evidence of at Plantation Island Resort, a popular playground for families on Malolo Island. Kiddie-friendly options abound at the resort, which is easily accessible from the main island of Viti Levu. There is an outdoor water park as well as three children’s playgrounds, a creche for tiny tots under the age of five and the Coconut Kids Club for kids aged four to 12. Plantation Island Resort also has Fiji’s first Jungle Water Park which includes the iconic Tarzan Swing. All-you-can-eat buffets and spacious bures seal the deal as well as kids’ menus featuring family faves: mini-Hawaiian pizzas and fish and chips. Six Senses Fiji is set on Malolo island but with a more elevated offering, ideal for families who value connection as much as comfort. The wellness sanctuary welcomes families with Residences that include complimentary nanny services. The Grow with Six Senses program also encourages children to become eco warriors with activities like coconut bowling, sustainable gardening and mini mixology. A spa designed for children plus yoga, beach Olympics and cultural activities makes Six Senses Fiji one of the most immersive family-friendly escapes in Fiji. The free daily ice creams are also a draw, as are the revitalised kids’ club and playground. Families who surf will enjoy the proximity to Cloudbreak and the resort offers surf lessons for various skill levels.

This dreamy private island takes the stress out of family travel by complementing comfort with fun. Dolphin Island is the perfect place to hunker down away from the hamster-wheel existence of your corporate life back in the big smoke. The resort is a barefoot beach-chic retreat that sleeps up to eight guests, making it ideal for those with older kids who don’t need a nanny or kids’ club. Yep. You’ll have the entire island to yourselves, which is great when the kids have a meltdown. A stay on Dolphin Island comes with a private chef, concierge and driver. Snorkel straight off the sugar-white sands of the beach. Go fishing and ask the chef to prepare your catch. You’ll also have access to a driver so you can take the kids to a local village. The luxury hideaway is what Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks’ Cast Away character) could only conjure in his dreams.

Fiji is one of the South Pacific’s most family-friendly destinations thanks to the fact it’s just a short hop across the ditch from Australia. In fact, a direct flight with Fiji Airways from Sydney to Nadi, Fiji, takes only four hours, while flights from Cairns take just over four. Fiji Airways also offers direct services to Fiji from Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra. fijiairways.com