Bula! This post is Part Two of Travelling to Fiji with a Baby, highlighting our experience at Paradise Cove Resort and why it's the perfect place for a family holiday.
If you missed Part One, head to this post
here to read all about our flight to Fiji from Wellington and staying at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort, with travel tips, and our Baby Essentials Packing List.
If you didn't know, these resorts (along with Octopus Resort) are sister resorts in the Yasawa Islands and owned by the same people. That means there are similarities between them (such as a daily activities board) and you get the same high-quality experience all throughout - with outstanding staff and memorable food.
I would say Blue Lagoon and Octopus Resort sit more around the 3-4 star mark and offer accommodation types for a range of holiday-makers, from backpackers, and families, all the way through to honeymooners. Paradise Cove is a 5-star resort, and just that little bit more luxurious. It's a bit more expensive to stay at but if you can afford to splurge, it's definitely worth it!
Our Fiji Holiday Itinerary Part Two
After one night on the mainland at Fiji Gateway Hotel and four magical nights at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort, it was time to catch the Yasawa Flyer Ferry and head to our next destination, Paradise Cove Resort.
The Yasawa Flyer reaches the top of the Yasawa Islands just before lunchtime and then heads back to the mainland, stopping at multiple islands for drop-offs and pick-ups along the way.
It's very easy to book your own transfer between islands online, or the resort can do it for you. Since we had a baby, we paid a little bit extra for the Captain's Lounge, which is a comfortable smaller cabin upstairs, and it includes drinks and snacks.
Days Six - Nine - Paradise Cove Resort (3 nights)
It only took about an hour on the ferry to reach Paradise Cove from Blue Lagoon, (it may take longer depending on how many resort drop-offs and picks ups they have that day). This was my third visit here and it's honestly my favourite place in the world!
As soon as we reached the champagne sandy shores we were greeted with a lovely song and a big BULA and I felt like I was home again. It truly is such a special place and the staff are so welcoming and incredible.
We were shown to our room which was a spacious Beachfront Villa. They also have two-bedroom villas which are perfect for families with older kids. We were so impressed with the cot set up - there was a lovely flower and Nemo soft toy inside, and there was even a baby bath in the outdoor tropical bathroom.
The room also had a large lounge area with cushioned seats, a TV (not that we used it once), free Wifi, a small kitchenette with a minibar, and a wardrobe area with plush robes, slippers, and a safe. It was a gorgeous room that we could've happily stayed in forever! Outside the front door was a deck area with seating, and a few steps away on the beach are the rooms' reserved loungers, and even a hammock - pure paradise!
Top Resort Highlights
Incredible water and Snorkelling
This resort is the definition of tropical paradise. The sparkling turquoise water is a dream to swim in, the water is crystal clear and lovely and warm. The beach is perfect for relaxing on and the soft sand is great for little ones to play in!
It also has amazing snorkelling, with large beds of coral reefs and colourful fish right in front of the resort. Snorkel gear is provided at the Dive Shop. There's also a giant inflatable slide which is super fun for older kids (and kids at heart).
Delicious food and drinks
The food here is the best I've ever had at any resort I've been to. You pay for a daily meal plan with all meals included, and it is well worth it. The chefs are amazing and every single meal we had was high quality, fresh and delicious. The dinners are especially incredible - five courses to be exact!
Since we were last there, a new additional restaurant called Donu has opened which I can't wait to try next time!
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They have high chairs and a kid's menu available - we didn't have to pay extra for her. Our little one especially loved the fish and dahl.
Drinks are extra and you can get fresh coconuts, fizzy drinks, and smoothies, as well as your beers, cocktails and more. There's a daily happy hour with drink specials.
Daily activities
There's a daily activities board which differs each day. Some activities include hikes, snorkelling trips, village visits, champagne tubing, daily kava mat, coconut bowling, Friday Meke and more.
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As this was my third time here and I hadn't been to the local village before I decided to join this time. It was a beautiful boat ride there and back, and it was a wonderful experience to see the local way of life and learn about it. We also got to visit a primary school and say hi to the lovely children. We got to visit their church, see their housing and enjoy a market put on by the ladies at the end (be sure to bring cash with you to purchase handmade crafts and souvenirs).
Amazing staff
The staff are an absolute credit to the resort. Every single person is so friendly and ensured we had the most memorable stay. As a bonus Fijians absolutely love babies, the restaurant staff, in particular, loved to hold her and entertain her while we enjoyed a drink at the bar.
Kids Club / Babysitting Services
There is a daily supervised Kids Club which is free, and for younger babies, you can hire a dedicated babysitter/nanny for a very affordable price. We did this for a couple of hours a day (usually after her morning nap) so we could enjoy some of the resort activities like snorkelling and getting a couples massage.
Three Pools
At the front of the resort is a large pool fringed with sun loungers and day beds, perfect for relaxing with a view of the beach. In a separate area called The Cove, there are two smaller pools with lots of space to enjoy. (This area used to be adults only but it no longer is). Our little one enjoyed swimming in both the pool and the beautiful beach.
Dive Shop / Scuba
The Dive Shop has wonderful PADI instructors ready to fulfil your diving dreams. There are many incredible dive sites nearby suited from beginners to advanced. You can even get your PADI qualification right there. You can also find all of the water activity gear at the Dive Shop, like snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding (all free to use). We happened to be there during Manta season and went on an excursion to swim with them - so incredible! (Didn't get any good pics though).
Nauka Spa
I've had massages in many different countries all over the world, and I have to say that my Lomilomi massage at Nauka Spa was the BEST massage I've ever had in my life. I very highly recommend booking yourself in for a relaxing treatment - and do it at least the day before as they book up fast!
Those are just some of the many reasons why Paradise Cove Resort is an incredible place for a holiday, whether with a baby, kids, friends or loved one, it's a truly special place in tropical paradise, and one that will leave a lasting impression on you and keep you wanting to return over and over again.
Here are a few more photos from our holiday:
Why it's the Best Island Resort with a Baby
As I probably mentioned in Part One, yes you could just fly into Nadi and go to one of the many resorts close by, like on Denarau Island, and you'd have a lovely time. But in my opinion, you could be anywhere in the world. To experience the real Fiji and real tropical paradise that is truly special, you have to go out into the islands.
Being made up of 333 islands - there is so much choice on where to go. I did SO much research before my first trip to Fiji, and I know I can't compare every resort because I haven't been to them all - I've been to less than ten. But I truly stumbled upon a real gem when I came across Paradise Cove Resort, which has resulted in me returning over and over again.
This was my first visit with a baby, and I very highly recommend it because of the incredible staff who are so helpful and friendly, the affordable babysitting services, the resort has great facilities and activities, it's clean, modern and just delightful, the food is some of the best I've ever had, it's just an all-round amazing resort, fringed with beautiful swaying palm trees, blue-tiful water and soft sand. It really is a dream. The fact that travel cots, baby baths and high chairs are all provided makes it all so easy.
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Day Ten - Gateway Hotel (1 night)
Thankfully we got to spend most of our last full day at Paradise as our helicopter transfer back to the mainland was in the late afternoon. After a late checkout, we got sung a lovely goodbye song just for us.
We chose to get a helicopter transfer back as a quick flight (less than 20 minutes) is much more preferable than three hours on a ferry with a baby. Island Hoppers has free shuttles directly to your accommodation so we went straight back to the Gateway Hotel (across the road from Nadi Airport) and checked in for our final night in Fiji.
Day Eleven - Flying home
It was a very early start the next morning as our flight was at 7.35 am. We had to be at the airport by 6 am so I think it was around a 5 am wake-up call. Thank goodness for coffee! Not much to report, except prepare everything the night before to make it easier. Our little one did great again on the flight home and made us want to travel with her again!
If you’ve been dreaming of a well-deserved island holiday, I couldn’t recommend Paradise Cove Resort (or Blue Lagoon Beach Resort) any higher. They can also take care of your transfer bookings to make getting there from the mainland a breeze. As mentioned, they also have a third sister resort called Octopus Resort which is also a fantastic option. I've been there before and would definitely go back, we just didn't have time to do all three on this trip. I do think the beach there isn't quite as good for swimming in with little ones though.
I know I've been promising the Paradise Cove video for so long, and I will get around to doing it very soon. At least I finally got this blog post done (over a year later)!
Since our Fiji trip, we took our mini traveller to Bali for a holiday when she was 16 months old, so there will be a Bali with a toddler post also coming soon.
For those still reading this far - little miss is now two years old and I'm almost due with our second! We are planning to visit our beloved Fiji resorts again next year, probably around April/May like this trip in 2022. We can't wait to return and know it will be an amazing family holiday.
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(Yes please do feel free to message me on Instagram with any questions about these resorts - I get lots of messages about them and it's a pleasure to help).
Happy Travels,
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