Samantha Magick

By Rajan Sami Photos by Chris Sharma/Gallery Fiji, Wendy King There was a ‘prodigal son returns’ quality to the one night only tasting menu that Fijian-Australian celebrity chef Louis Tikaram presented at Nanuku Resort in Pacific Harbour in late June. The Brisbane-based chef briefly regaled diners — many of whom, like myself, had made the […]

Before she left Fiji recently, Sarah Gwonyoma ran a mecca for Fiji book lovers, the Suva Book Swap, from her garage. Fiji Traveller spoke to Sarah about her life in Fiji before her departure. Sarah Gwonyoma, a writer and online book influencer by profession, moved to Fiji from the United Kingdom after meeting a “beautiful […]

By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti Suva’s Nasese bus has the reputation of being not just a scenic trip as it skirts Suva’s foreshore, but also a good place to sit back and enjoy the preferred tunes of your driver turned DJ. While the view might be—we hope temporarily—marred by long-running roadwork on Queen Elizabeth Drive, the chilled […]

Words and images: Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti The trip to Moce in Fiji’s Lau group, I must admit, was scary but thrilling for me. It was the first time I’ve travelled by boat by myself, and I didn’t know anyone else aboard. At the back of my mind as I boarded the Lomaiviti Princess IV, was how […]

Fiji writer, Mary Rokonadravu has won the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific) for her story, The Nightwatch. Rokonadravu described the win as affirming.  “Stories are bridges to connect us with each other, especially when we disagree or are different – stories allow us to walk in each other’s complexities and gain understanding of the […]

The first European Film Festival to be held in Suva is on this weekend, with films from Finland to France, Slovakia to Spain and more. The European Film Festival is an annual and global event. This year, the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific brings the European Film Festival to the Pacific for […]

Oceania Centre Sculpture exhibition 11th May – 27th May 2022 at the Gallery of Oceanian Arts located at the upper Laucala campus University of the South Pacific Suva The Accident A new play, written and directed by Larry Thomas. 24-28 May, 8pm Australia Pacific Performance Space, USP Laucala campus Tickets available at the Oceania Centre, […]

By Rajan Sami “I’ve always been obsessed with chai,” says Nikhat Khan, the twenty-six-year-old environmental scientist behind Chaiwala, the specialty tea brand she founded under lockdown in Suva in 2021. “I think chai is very comforting,” she says of the often sweet milky, spiced tea that’s cooked in stovetop kettles in Indo-Fijian households. Working from […]

Talanoa Tuesday: Foodpreneurs Tuesday May 10, 7pm Mana Coffee, Suva Girmit Festival Until May 14 (official program starts 7pm daily) Syria Park, Nausori Fiji Tourism Expo May 12-13 (official opening May 11) Sheraton Fiji Resort and Spa Dirty Disco Saturday May 14, 7pm-late Kanu Gastropub, Suva ROC Market Sunday May 15 from 9am Suva Fiji […]

By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti It’s been three years since we last travelled down to the western part of Fiji, so the Easter long weekend was a great opportunity for my little tribe to explore Nadi. After a small detour (thank you Google Maps for getting us our hotel) and some time exploring town we were famished. […]

A new market is operating in Taveuni, the Taveuni Dateline Handicraft Market. Established by Susanne Neli and her family, with support from the Taveuni Tourism Association (TTA), it is located at the International Dateline in Waiyevo. The new market will initially be open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with plans to extend business hours in time. The […]

Beauty, heart, strength and sustainability By Sera Tikotikodua-Sefeti The Fiji Fashion Week launch on Saturday night saw Fiji’s creative community and its supporters enjoy a fun-filled evening that showcased this year’s exciting lineup of designers. Fiji Fashion Week Managing Director, Ellen Whippy-Knight, told guests that this year’s event will be headlined by “Australia’s global-renowned designer […]

A poetry reading with Peter Sipeli Friday April 22 from 6pm The Copra Shed, Savusavu Royal Suva Yacht Club Sail Past April 23 from 10am Royal Suva Yacht Club A tribute to Lata Mangeshkar 24 April 6pm onwards at the Jai Narayan College Hall, Suva. ROC Market April 24, 9-3pm Suva Arbour Week 2022 23-30 […]

9-year-old Jack Oakley is set to become the first Fiji national to appear on the international stage of motorcycle racing.

Global Recycling Day March 18 at the Vodafone Arena Carpark, Suva Red Wave Retrospective art exhibition Gallery of Oceania Arts, Laucala Campus, USP, Suva. Until March 25 (extended for one week) Royal Suva Yacht Club – live with Four Quarters March 18 Holi March 19 Come-n-Try program by World Archery Fiji March 19, St Joseph’s […]

The first VegFest dinner of 2022 prepared by Niu Grillz was a sold out event. Dish of the night for us; the generous chunk of pumpkin topped with creamy palusami. The Niu Grillz team soldiered on in difficult conditions (a blackout, dramatic thunderstorm) but managed to get the meals out in the end. Next time […]

Fiji Fashion Week 2022 (FJFW22) promises to be a year of fashion with a purpose, as it celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Three years ago Vatili Tora was drummer n the Suva Travelodge band, He has just been appointed manager of the Savusavu TraveLodge on Vanua Levu island in a big reshuffle of TraveLodge personnel in Fiji. “Mr Tora is a fine example of how someone can get to the top with hard work and an aptitude […]

By Debbie Singh The Maria Daulato kei Jisu Na Gone Sau mai Nasareci (Immaculate Maria and Jesus the Child King of Nazareth) is a masterpiece in mosaic depicting Mother Mary and the child Jesus. The magnificent mural is the first of its kind in Fiji and the Pacific, and was created by Fijian artist George […]

By Rowena Singh “Fiji is a strong part of my existence,” says ghazal and Bollywood singer Kavita Kalyan. Kalyan is Australian born, but with strong family ties that take her back to Fiji, and her extended family in Suva regularly. “Despite living in Australia, I have always identified as being Fijian. Furthermore,  my parents’ heavy […]

By Jason Jett “…You don’t know where you’re going, and where this adventure will lead you.” “There is no racism in hash,” said David Jamieson, owner of Yacht Help Fiji, while welcoming into the fold this new hasher in Nadi, Fiji last March. “In hash, everyone is equal.” An African-American writer stranded by the pandemic […]

Colin Philp was a founder and co-Chair of The Duavata Collective, which champions the interconnection between experiences within local communities, the environment & culture.​ Here, members of the Collective pay tribute to Colin. Colin meant so much to so many different people and as the many reflections and stories of his life and legacy pour […]

By Lata Yaqona One of the many beauties of Fiji’s first island beach club is that you can do as little or as much as you want with no pressure at all. It is a short 25-minute boat ride from the Denarau Marina to Malamala Beach Club where  the laid back vibe of the island […]

Explorer James Cook reached the Lau Island group in 1774. Exactly 247 years later, Fiji-based blogger Ben Wheeler took a Captain Cook Cruises ship to said island group. This is the record of his voyage. Preparation Call me Benjamin. Some weeks ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in […]