Endless Summer: Chasing the Sun to Fiji
Photography Supplied & Escape Video.

When Aotearoa summer draws to a close and salt-dusted sheets give way to flannelette, there’s an island just three hours away where balmy evenings linger all year round.
Internationally recognised as one of the happiest countries in the world, Fiji distils summer and amplifies it. Here, the days remain bright, the water blue, and the welcome warm. The famed "BULA", generous and genuine, greets you before you’ve even slipped your passport back into your bag.

With the season’s final fish and chips enjoyed, trade the familiar for Crab Shack in Sigatoka, where the catch is fresh, the ocean is within arm’s reach and the entire experience is unmistakably Fijian. And as home routines continue to fade, dip your toes into a different kind of indulgence at Fish Bar, Marriott Resort Momi Bay. Here, South Sea Salts drawn from local waters are paired with each course.
Come evening, the islands shift into a different rhythm. At Cellar & Barrel, the Sheraton’s intimate speakeasy-style bar, cocktails are crafted with tropical ease and a touch of island glamour. For those who chase sunlit afternoons set to music, Urban Sugar Beach Club offers oceanfront beats and chilled refreshments with a twist.

Saluwaki is the latest culinary experience at Likuliku Lagoon Resort, a thoughtful melting pot of Fijian cultural storytelling and Asian-inspired flavours. A sense of place expressed course by course and a more nuanced way of discovering the islands through taste.

Aside from its vibrant cuisine, opal-toned beaches and coral gardens thrumming with sea life, what sets Fiji apart is the sheer variety. Family-friendly adventure, serenity, culture, indulgence, and the unhurried pace of a place that reminds you how good life feels when summer extends just that little bit longer. The greatest part of that variety is the people themselves. Conversations wander unhurried, stories are shared with warmth and a sense of belonging sets over you faster than the sun.

Whether you’re chasing one last taste of the holidays, planning a romantic escape, or simply craving a change in tempo, Fiji keeps the season alive long after it fades at home.
Explore more of what Fiji has to offer at FIJI.TRAVEL/NZ
latest issue:
Issue 128
This winter issue of dish is about comfort and connection. Celebrating the best of New Zealand and Australian produce, it brings together recipes from some of our most-loved chefs, including Moroccan Chicken Soup, Mint-glazed Roasted Leg of Lamb, Slow Cooker Braised Red Wine and Mustard Beef and Miso White Chocolate Cheesecake. Find plenty to carry you through the colder months, from flaky sausage rolls and mushroom pie, to soul-soothing pasta, nostalgic baking, weekend market inspiration and dinner party menus. There’s also a spotlight on the Outstanding Food Producer Awards, recipes from Caroline Griffiths’ Midnight Spaghetti, and a deep dive into the difference between Kiwi syrah and Aussie shiraz.

