From July to September, IMPULSIVE crosses the Coral Sea to Fiji. Most charters there split their time between two island groups off the west coast of Viti Levu: the Mamanucas and the Yasawas. They are close together, but they feel quite different.
At a glance
- IMPULSIVE is in Fiji from July to September, boarding at Port Denarau.
- The Mamanucas are closer and sheltered, with sandbars, reef snorkelling and Cloudbreak.
- The Yasawas are wilder, with volcanic peaks, manta rays at Naviti and the Sawa-i-Lau caves.
- On a week-long charter, most guests see both.
The Mamanuca Islands
The Mamanucas are the closer group, a short run from Port Denarau where you board. The water is clear and sheltered, there are sandbars that appear at low tide, and plenty of reef to snorkel straight off the swim platform. Monuriki, the island used in the film Cast Away, is here.
So is Cloudbreak, one of the best-known reef breaks in the world. If anyone in the group surfs, the tender can take them out for a session while everyone else stays on board.
The Yasawa Islands
Head north and the Yasawas are wilder, with volcanic peaks, long empty beaches and fewer boats. Highlights include the manta rays at Naviti, the Blue Lagoon, the limestone caves at Sawa-i-Lau that you swim into, Champagne Beach on Yasawa-i-Rara, and village visits. A village visit usually starts with a sevusevu, a traditional welcome where guests present kava to the chief. It is a genuine highlight and the crew will help you with the etiquette.
Which should you choose?
You do not have to. On a week-long charter, most guests spend a day or two in the Mamanucas, head north into the Yasawas for the middle of the week, and come back south before disembarking. On a shorter trip, the Mamanucas make more sense because they are closer to the marina.
They are close together, but they feel quite different.
When to go
July to September is Fiji’s dry season: days around 28°C, water around 25°C, lower humidity and close to 12 hours of daylight. The Mamanucas and Yasawas get the most sunshine in the country. It also lines up with the Australian school holidays in July, so those weeks book first.
Getting there
Fly into Nadi International Airport. There are direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, or a CJ4 private jet from Brisbane takes about three and a half hours for up to eight guests. Port Denarau, where you board, is about 20 minutes from the airport. Australian and New Zealand passport holders receive a visitor permit on arrival; other nationalities should check entry requirements before travelling.
See the Fiji charter page for a sample week, or ask about the 2027 season.
For a day-by-day route, see our sample seven-night Fiji itinerary.
