Something is brewing in Fiji. And no, it’s not just another bowl of kava. It’s a full-bodied, sun-drenched, reef-wrapped renaissance.
As 2025 dawns, the Pacific darling unveiled a flurry of surprises for travellers—each dipped in coconut oil, wrapped in a bula shirt, and blessed by the island gods themselves. Fiji is flexing its friendly muscle, from coral-saving happy hours to villas so luxurious they make Bondi penthouses look modest.
Let’s unpack the tropical treasure chest.
A Nationwide Happy Hour with a Conscience
In Australia, happy hour means two-for-one beers and a slightly blurry tram ride home. In Fiji? It now means saving the planet.
Introducing Loloma Hour—billed as the world’s first nationwide happy hour dedicated to the environment. Launched in April 2025 and infused with the Fijian spirit of loloma (think: generosity marinated in love), it’s a beautifully bonkers initiative.
Instead of grabbing another cocktail, guests are encouraged to plant coral, tag manta rays, clean beaches, or stroll coastal paths picking up litter and stories. It’s giving back to the land that gives so much, all with a smile and perhaps a biodegradable glove.
Participating resorts have embraced it with gusto. Some have even created themed cocktails to mark the hour—proof that sustainability and celebration need not be strangers.
Neuroscience Proves Fiji Is Good for Your Brain
If you’ve ever wondered why you return from Fiji feeling about ten years younger and suspiciously relaxed, science now has your back.
Neuroscientist Dr Lila Landowski took a break from lab coats and data charts to investigate what makes Fijians so annoyingly happy. Her verdict? Happiness in Fiji isn’t just a vibe—it’s infectious.
Through emotional resonance, travellers start mirroring the joy around them. Surrounded by genuine smiles, lush nature, and people who see time as more suggestion than structure, your nervous system unwinds. In short, Fiji is therapy with snorkels.
The Resorts: Bigger, Better, and Way More Beautiful
Beachcomber Island Resort Gets a $10 Million Swagger Upgrade
Beachcomber, long the stomping ground of backpackers and beachcombers (no surprise there), has grown up. Quietly undergoing a $10 million revamp, its 38 rooms are now shimmering with four-star finishes. A new infinity pool with a swim-up bar is en route, perfect for those who prefer cocktails with a side of ocean horizon.
Even the turtle rehabilitation centre is getting a facelift—because if you’re a turtle in Fiji, you deserve glamour too.
Blue Lagoon Beach Resort Serves Omakase, Fijian Style
Meanwhile, in the Yasawa Islands, Blue Lagoon Beach Resort has gone full gourmet with the debut of Donu—its second tapas-meets-omakase restaurant. Imagine Japanese finesse tangled with Fijian flair. Think kokoda with a wasabi kick.
Not to be outdone, they’ve unveiled seven new luxury yurts—yes, yurts—with lagoon views and a laid-back vibe that says, “I camp, but only in cashmere.”
Plantation Island’s Transformation: From Nostalgic to Next-Level
Always a favourite with Aussie families, Plantation Island Resort is upping its game with new restaurants, a Mediterranean kitchen, an entirely reimagined Copra buffet, and a lagoon pool fit for both toddlers and Instagrammers.
Wellness warriors, rejoice—Senibua Spa is also arriving with six decadent treatment rooms. And six new Beachfront Bures and three Garden Bures are being added for those needing room to stretch. Expect outdoor showers, lagoon views, and that feeling you only get when someone else does the dishes.
Likuliku Lagoon: Refreshed, Replunged, Reopened
After months under wraps, the iconic Likuliku Lagoon Resort reopens May 1, packing a serious punch.
New to the lineup: Saluwaki, an intimate dining concept featuring Asian-inspired tapas (yes, again—it’s a trend), and Na Vanua Conservation Hub, a passion project that’s equal parts reef nursery, iguana-watching HQ, and sustainability school.
Eleven beachfront bures now come with private plunge pools, and a synthetic thatching project has put the “eco” into the resort’s already-iconic overwater look.
Oarsman’s Bay Lodge Adds Barefoot Luxury
Up in the serene north, Oarsman’s Bay Lodge has quietly opened nine brand-new bures that let you fall out of bed and into the sea. Designed for adults only (read: peace), they feature outdoor showers, oversized beds, and the kind of breezy intimacy you can only get on a whisper-thin strip of sand.
Nanuku: $12 Million, 10 Years, and a Turtle That Dances
Celebrating its 10th birthday in style, Nanuku Resort has polished every surface and perked up every corner with a $12 million refurb.
From an adults-only dining venue whimsically called The Dancing Vonu (yes, that’s “Dancing Turtle”) to family game zones featuring chess, ping-pong, and pool, the resort has been elegant and cheeky, just like its guests.
VOMO’s New Family Villas: More Room for Shenanigans
Responding to the age-old family travel dilemma—where do we put the kids without losing the view?—VOMO has launched new two-bedroom villas.
Each comes with its pool, garden, and daybeds. Perfect for parents who want to lounge luxuriously while keeping one eye on cannonball competitions.
Outrigger’s New Rooms (and a Floating Playground)
Following last year’s renovation blitz, Outrigger Fiji now boasts Plantation Bures with Private Pools and Courtyard Rooms ideal for families. Plus, they’ve added a floating playground to their main pool—a delightful nod to the fact that holiday joy should be buoyant in every sense.
New Ways to Splash, Slide and Sail
South Sea Cats: Transfers, Snorkels, and Slides
From the clever clogs at South Sea Cruises comes South Sea Cats—two brand-new, high-speed catamarans offering resort transfers and half-day snorkelling jaunts.
They’re not just fast—they’re fun. Each boat has a giant inflatable slide, paddleboards, and jumping decks. Transfers now include evening routes for guests landing in Nadi and itching to get to the islands before the mainland knows they’ve arrived.
Kuata Island Day Cruises: Pick Your Adventure
Finally, there’s Kuata Island Day Cruises, which now boasts a swanky new day centre with swimming pools, a cultural centre, and showers so good you might cry.
Three packages await: Snorkelling with Sharks, a Marine Conservation Experience, or the heart-warming Fiji Island Cultural Experience. Each one gently reminds us that sometimes paradise needs a bit of purpose.
In Conclusion: A New Chapter, Same Heart
Fiji hasn’t reinvented itself in 2025. It’s just polished its halo, poured another shell of welcome drink, and given the world a few more reasons to stop scrolling and start living.
From luxury bures to reef-saving escapades, the message is clear: this isn’t just a destination—it’s a mood.
So, whether you’re chasing a tan, a turtle, or your inner calm, Fiji awaits—winking beneath its palm trees, cocktail in hand, whispering: Sota tale.
(That’s Fijian for see you again. And trust me, you will.)
For more information and updates, visit www.fiji.travel.
By Sandra Jones
