Where I’ve been:
- Nadi & Kuata Island 2022/23 (over NYE )
- Nadi & Treasure Island 2023
Christmas and NYE in Fiji 2022
I didn’t really want to head back home for Christmas this year, especially since I had my heart set on visiting New Zealand in January. So I figured — why not do something totally different and spend Christmas and New Year’s on a tropical island? That’s how I ended up choosing Fiji as my holiday destination.
I booked everything in advance, back in October, but figuring out the accommodation was a bit tricky. I wasn’t sure which island to go to or how long to spend on the mainland, so I decided to keep things simple. I booked a few nights on the mainland and chose a budget-friendly island stay — basically the cheapest option with shared tents and an all-inclusive package, which turned out to be a great little adventure in itself.
DAY 1 – 24.12.22
( Night at: Smugglers Cove Beach Resort )
( sunset at the beach of the Hotel )
My journey to Fiji started with a flight from Darwin to Sydney, scheduled for 12:35 a.m., but like many travel adventures — it didn’t quite go to plan. The flight was delayed, and we didn’t take off until 1:24 a.m., landing in Sydney around 7:30 a.m. I originally had a connecting flight, but since the delay meant I’d probably miss it, the airline rearranged things for me. I arrived in Terminal 2 and had to take a shuttle bus to Terminal 1, where I found a couch, laid down, and caught up on some sleep while waiting for my next flight. My flight to Nadi wasn’t until 11:45 a.m., so I grabbed some breakfast and tried to relax. Onboard, I watched an Australian film called How to Please a Woman, which helped pass the time. By 5:45 p.m., we landed in Nadi, where I waited for the shuttle that took me to my hostel — thankfully just a short ride away. After checking in and dropping my bags, I headed straight to the beach bar to catch the sunset. It was such a peaceful moment after a long day of travel. I enjoyed a Christmas dinner of Ika Vakalolo (a traditional Fijian fish dish with vegetables) and a delicious fried banana dessert. Exhausted but happy, I headed to bed early, ready for the days ahead.
DAY 3 – 25.12.22
( Night at: Smugglers Cove Beach Resort )
( Christmas Fijian show on the beach )
After months of nonstop work and travel, I finally gave myself permission to sleep in — and I really took advantage of it, waking up around 1 p.m. I was still recovering from the long journey, so I kept things super relaxed. First stop: a quick trip to the supermarket, then a stroll down to the beach to snap a few pictures under the tropical skies. Back at the hostel, I spent the afternoon chilling in bed, browsing Viator for some day tours to book for the next few days. As the evening rolled in, I started chatting with a couple of girls in my dorm, and we decided to go watch the Christmas Fijian show together at the hostel’s restaurant. The show kicked off around 7 p.m., right as dinner was being served. It ended up being such a fun night — I met an amazing group of solo travelers: a Danish girl, a French guy, a Portuguese backpacker, a Mexican traveler, and two South African guys. Everyone was traveling on their own, which made it easy to connect. The vibe was open, warm, and international — we were all just soaking up the moment. The Fijian performance was full of energy and tradition, and even though I didn’t really feel the “Christmas spirit” in the usual sense, it was a special kind of holiday — warm, laid-back, and surrounded by new people from all over the world. Before heading to bed, I gave my family in Italy a call — with the 11-hour time difference, they were just sitting down for Christmas lunch. It made me a little nostalgic, of course, but also deeply grateful to be experiencing something so different. No work, no rush — just being present.
DAY 4 – 26.12.22
( Night at: Smugglers Cove Beach Resort )
( Sunset at the beach of the hotel )
I’m still stuck in night shift mode, so I ended up sleeping in again until 1 p.m. — clearly still catching up on rest. Once I finally got up and moving, I headed down to the beach to take a few photos and soak in the tropical vibes. While I was out, I bumped into the same group of awesome people from the night before — they were planning to go hang out by the pool, so I joined them. We grabbed lunch together and spent the whole afternoon chilling in the sun, just relaxing and sharing stories from our travels. As the day turned into evening, we decided to check out Rooftop 47 at the Ramada for a drink. The view was stunning, with warm Fijian air and a good buzz from the sunset. It was the perfect low-key way to end a day of lounging and laughter. I called it a night early — I was still feeling a bit wiped from all the recent travel, so I headed back to the hostel and went straight to sleep.
DAY 5 – 27.12.22
( Night at: Smugglers Cove Beach Resort )
( Cloud 9, Fiji Islands )
Woke up bright and early at 7:15 am, got ready quickly for the 8 am pick-up from the hostel. I was joined by a Portuguese girl, a French girl, and the two South African guys I’ve been hanging out with — all of us heading to Port Denarau, where the ferries depart. We’d booked our trip to Cloud 9 through Viator, so everything was perfectly organized. All we had to do was hop on the boat at 9 am and cruise over to the dreamy floating bar in the middle of the ocean. Once we got there, it was just sun, tunes, and turquoise water for the rest of the day. We had a $60 voucher included for food and drinks, so I treated myself to a good lunch and a few chilled cocktails. We lounged, swam, and just enjoyed the vibe until around 3 pm, when it was time to head back to Port Denarau. After getting back, we returned to the hostel and just chilled out, talking and relaxing with everyone. The whole day had that perfect island rhythm, and by the evening I was totally wiped, so I just headed to bed early — happy and sun-kissed.
DAY 6 – 28.12.22
( Night at: Smugglers Cove Beach Resort )
( In front of Monu island, Fiji )
Pick-up was at 8 am with a taxi to Port Denarau, and once I got there, I checked in for the island-hopping tour. While waiting, I bumped into my Mexican roommate and we hung out until departure. Soon after, D., another roommate, joined us too — we were officially a crew for the day. The tour got a bit delayed, classic island timing, but it was totally worth the wait. First stop: Mana Sand Island — this place was incredible, a true tropical dream. I jumped into the water for a bit of snorkeling, which was super refreshing and colorful. Second stop: Monu Island — unfortunately, the weather wasn’t the best, so instead of docking there, the boat stopped near another island and we did a snorkeling session straight from the boat. Still beautiful and fun, just different vibes. Third stop: Monuriki Island — a highlight for sure. This is the island where Cast Away was filmed. We had a traditional Lovo Fijian lunch, and one of the local guides gave us a little tour of the island, including a cool demo on how to open a coconut. Took a bunch of pictures and soaked in the survivor-style scenery. By 4 pm, we were back on the boat and heading to Port Denarau. From there, I shared a taxi back to the hostel with the Mexican girl, and honestly, I was so exhausted I just went straight to bed. Another unforgettable Fijian day in the books.
DAY 7 – 29.12.22
( Night at: Barefoot Kuata )
( Barefoot Kuata island, Fiji )
Woke up at 6:30 am and did the check-out at the hostel, then waited outside for the Big Bus that picks up passengers heading to Port Denarau. Once I got there, I sorted out my boat ticket and started the journey to Barefoot Kuata. The ride was a bit long, and I arrived around midday — but what an arrival. As we approached the island, a small boat came out to get us, and onshore, women were singing while one of the guys danced up on a rock — it felt totally surreal, like something out of a movie. After check-in, I dropped my things in the tent and immediately met my roommate — a British girl who speaks Italian — along with an Aussie who’s teaching English. We all went for lunch together, and there I bumped into an Italian guy I had met back at the hostel in Nadi. We all clicked pretty quickly and spent the afternoon hanging out. At 3 pm, there was a coconut demonstration that we watched together, followed by a chill beach session. It’s been kind of amazing how every day here I’ve been surrounded by people from all over — constantly meeting someone new, sharing stories and laughs. In the evening, we hiked up to the Summit Mount for sunset views over the islands — the kind of view that makes you stop and just breathe it in. We ended the night with dinner together, full table, full heart.
DAY 8 – 30.12.22
( Night at: Barefoot Kuata )
( All together with the staff while the performed a firewell dance my last day in the island )
Woke up at 7:30 am after a bit of a rough night — the storm had rolled in hard with heavy rain and strong winds, so sleep didn’t come easy. Still, I got up and headed to breakfast, hoping the day would brighten up a bit. The morning was slow, just chilling around the resort. They were offering snorkeling and scuba diving, but honestly, I wasn’t really feeling it — I just wanted to relax, enjoy the surroundings, and take a few pictures. The weather didn’t improve much, cloudy and grey most of the time, but it was still peaceful in its own way. Had lunch with the usual group, and then spent the afternoon relaxing in the tent, chatting with the girls — simple, cozy moments. The evening followed the same rhythm: dinner together, some more conversation under the shelter of the common area, and then off to sleep, hoping for better weather the next day.
DAY 9 – 31.12.22
( Night at: Smugglers Cove Beach Resort )
( Fireworks of NYE at Smugglers, Nadi )
Woke up at 8 am — my last day on the island. I had breakfast and spent the whole morning just chilling and trying to get a few things sorted for the next day. It was raining non-stop, so there wasn’t much else to do but take it slow. We had lunch all together, and afterwards the staff put on a lovely farewell show for everyone — it was such a sweet and heartfelt way to say goodbye. The boat was supposed to arrive at 4 pm, but in true island time, it was running super late and didn’t show up until 7 pm. I spent those hours trying to stay patient and relaxed, checking for updates every now and then. The ride back on the boat went by quickly, and I was with my roommate, so we caught the bus together once we reached Port Denarau. I returned to the same hostel I stayed at before, while she went to a different one. After checking in and getting ready (make-up and all), I met up with D., and we headed to her hostel where we tried kava for the first time — such a cool local experience. Afterwards, we went back to my hostel, grabbed a quick sandwich, and then made our way to the beach to watch the New Year’s fireworks at midnight. We ended up staying to dance by the water until about 2 am before finally calling it a night. A perfect blend of goodbye and celebration.
DAY 10 – 01.01.23
( On the plan with Fiji airways to Auckland )
Woke up at 7:30 am and packed up all my stuff, getting ready to leave Fiji. The shuttle from the hostel was scheduled for 8 am and, surprisingly, it was right on time — I was the only passenger, which made it feel like a private ride to the airport. Once I arrived, I dropped off my backpack at the counter, picked up my ticket, and made it through security without any issues. I had breakfast at Hungry Jack’s while waiting for my 11 am flight to Auckland with Fiji Airways. A smooth and quiet start to the next chapter of the trip.
Fiji, Vanuatu and NC 2023
After ten weeks of work in Darwin, I felt it was time for a vacation. At first, I was planning to go to Bali solo, but then I decided I wanted to travel with Carmel instead. We started looking at options together — if not Bali, I was really keen on visiting Vanuatu, but the flights from Darwin weren’t ideal. So we ended up going to Fiji for a couple of days, and then headed to New Caledonia, staying on an island I had actually wanted to visit the last time I was there. It all came together pretty spontaneously, but I was excited for a mix of relaxation and exploring somewhere new.
DAY 1 – Monday 9.10.23
( Night at: Grand West Villas, Nadi )
( Layover in Brisbane, Australia )
Our journey started with a 1:10 a.m. flight to Brisbane with Jetstar, landing at 5:15 a.m. After a bit of a layover, we boarded our next flight at 11:35 a.m. to Nadi, Fiji, and landed around 5:10 p.m. local time. From the airport, we grabbed a taxi to our villa, settled in, and later went out for dinner at Smugglers Cove — a laid-back spot right by the beach. After a long day of travel, we just relaxed for a bit and then headed back to the accommodation to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
DAY 2 – Tuesday 10.10.23
( Night at: Nakelo Tresure Island )
( Nakelo Tresure Island, Fiji )
We woke up at 6:30 a.m. and walked to Smugglers Cove, arriving around 7:15 a.m. to catch the transfer bus to Port Denarau. From there, we boarded the 9:00 a.m. South Sea Cruises boat headed to Treasure Island. As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed with a Fijian Day celebration, followed by tea time — a lovely introduction to island life. Later, we took a nap under the sun (or should I say “in the moonlight of midday laziness”), then wandered off for a peaceful walk around the island. We ended the day watching the sunset by the pool, and had dinner while local performers sang and danced for us — such a warm and joyful atmosphere that made the whole experience feel special.
DAY 3 – Wednesday 11.10.23
( Night at: Nakelo Tresure Island )
( Sandbar in front of Nakelo Tresure Island, Fiji )
We woke up around 8:30 a.m. and decided to rent a kayak for a little adventure. We paddled out to a private sandbar, where we spent the morning relaxing, enjoying the views, and just soaking in the peaceful vibe of the ocean. After heading back to the island, we had lunch and took it easy for the rest of the afternoon — just chilling and unwinding. As evening rolled in, we returned to our favorite spot by the pool, watched another beautiful sunset, and ended the day with a laid-back dinner right there.
DAY 4 – Thursday 12.10.23
( Night at: Coco Beach Resort, Port Vila )
( Nakelo Tresure Island, Fiji )
We woke up at 5 a.m. to catch the sunrise — a peaceful and quiet moment before getting ready to leave the island. After breakfast, we boarded the South Sea Cruises boat back to Nadi at 9:45 a.m. Once we arrived, we took a taxi to the airport to continue our journey. Our flight left Nadi at 2:30 p.m., and we landed in Port Vila, Vanuatu around 4:05 p.m. After clearing the airport, we caught a shuttle to our accommodation. The weather wasn’t great when we arrived, but we still managed to enjoy a bit of the atmosphere before having dinner at the property and calling it an early night.
DAY 5 – Friday 13.10.23
( Night at: Coco Beach Resort, Port Vila )
( Coco Beach Club, Vanuatu )
We woke up to find that the weather and water conditions weren’t great, so we ended up just chilling for most of the day, taking it slow and doing pretty much nothing — which honestly wasn’t too bad. In the evening, we headed down to the beach to catch the fire show at The Beach Bar, which was a fun way to wrap up an otherwise quiet day. After the show, we made our way back to the accommodation and called it a night.
DAY 6 – Saturday 14.10.23
( Night at: Coco Beach Resort, Port Vila )
( Eden on the river, Vanuatu )
We woke up early, had breakfast, and got picked up near our accommodation for a day tour of the island that we had booked online through GetYourGuide ( https://www.getyourguide.com/port-vila-l32388/port-vila-island-tour-bbq-lunch-and-swimming-with-turtles-t300160/?ranking_uuid=bf79dc97-9a58-411b-925a-f35c97904f1c. ).
The tour was enjoyable — a little short for the price, but it gave us a nice overview of the island. After the tour, we headed into town to check out the local markets, which were vibrant and full of life. On the way back, we hopped on a shared minibus to return to the accommodation. In the evening, we had dinner by the beach at the accommodation’s restaurant — a lovely and relaxing way to end the day — and then called it a night.
DAY 7 – Sunday 15.10.23
( Night at: Tranquility Eco Dive Resort, Moso Island )
( Moso Island, Vanuatu )
We were picked up from our hotel at 7:45 a.m. and headed north toward Havannah Port, where we caught a ferry over to Tranquility Island Eco Resort. The journey itself was already scenic, but once we arrived, the real magic began. The island was absolutely stunning — a wild, untouched paradise that’s home only to the resort. It felt like we had stepped into another world. Our little bungalow was beautiful, simple yet charming, and surrounded by nature. We had lunch at the resort, then spent the afternoon relaxing, exploring the island, and snapping photos. As the sun set, we joined the other guests for a cozy group dinner, sharing travel stories and soaking in the peaceful island vibes.
DAY 8 – Monday 16.10.23
( Night at: Auberge du Mocambo, Noumea )
( Moso Island, Vanuatu )
We woke up early, had breakfast, and packed our lunch to-go for a little adventure. We decided to go on a hike across the island to visit another beach — and it turned out to be absolutely incredible. We were completely alone, not a single soul in sight, just us and the ocean. It honestly felt like our own private paradise. After soaking it all in, we made our way back to the accommodation and boarded the boat around 4 p.m., heading back to Port Havannah, where our shuttle was waiting to take us to the airport. Our flight with Aircalin departed at 9:55 p.m., and we landed in Noumea around 11:00 p.m. From there, we went straight to the accommodation and crashed into bed, exhausted but so content from the experience.
DAY 9 – Tuesday 17.10.22
( Night at: Double Tree Hilton Hotel, Ilot Maitre )
( Double Tree Hilton at Ilot Maitre, Noumea )
We woke up early and had breakfast at Lemon Bay Café, then I grabbed a taxi to Port Moselle, heading to pier K0 for the 9:00 a.m. boat transfer to Ilot Maître. Once we arrived on the island, we went to check in, but since it was still too early, we decided to go for lunch first. Afterward, we headed to the room to relax — the weather wasn’t great, so it was the perfect excuse to take it slow. In the evening, we ordered room service, enjoyed a hot bath, and had a cozy night watching TV. Not a bad way to unwind, even with the gloomy skies.
DAY 10 – Wednesday 18.10.22
( Our room at Double Tree Hilton at Ilot Maitre, Noumea )
We woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel on the island. Since the weather had started to clear up, we took the chance to snap a few last photos and soak in the views one more time. By 2:00 p.m., it was time to leave Ilot Maître and head back to the main island, where we caught a bus straight to the airport. Our first flight with Qantas departed at 5:05 p.m., landing in Brisbane at 6:40 p.m. We had a short layover in Brisbane, just enough time to grab some dinner and stretch our legs, before boarding our second Qantas flight to Darwin at 8:45 p.m., arriving just after midnight at 12:35 a.m. Tired but happy, we made our way home to finally rest.
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