We had good weather reports and it was a beautiful day as we prepared to leave Vanuatu . The procedure for clearing customs and immigration was very straightforward and we went through the process with no delay. The staff at Port Vila Airport were, as always, helpful and efficient. Fees for landing and parking we're also very reasonable and avgas is available from BP.
The routing to Nadi is an airway directly to Nadi VOR. You soon lose VHF contact with the tower after departing from Port Vila and quickly learn the importance of having an HF radio in the south Pacific. I had never used HF before having our I Com installed in Australia . I had heard many tales of their unreliability and poor reception. However, my experience with this unit has been great. Very clear reception and easy to tune and operate. It has been much more useful and easy to use in the air than the satellite phone. Let's see what happens on the rest of the Pacific crossing; having both HF and sat phone however is quite reassuring.
Bye, Bye Vanuatu………
Our ride over to Nadi was nice and smooth at 9000 feet and the winds, which had been forecast to be directly into us, move to the north and were not a factor. Approaching Fiji we were given the ILS approach to the 10,000 foot runway 02. Our approach was typical for Fiji in the afternoon. Some storms in the area and relatively shallow layers of cumulus clouds below 4000'
You are required to get landing permission before flying to Nadi and we had done this, through the department of civil aviation, the day before. I had investigated using a ground handler but found the only company (private operator) doing ground handling at this Airport charges over 1000 U.S. dollars to meet you at the airplane and walk with you to the immigration desk. I then called the Airport Authority at Nadi to ensure that I could do self handling. The people at the Airport Authority were very helpful and told me there would be no problem in doing self handling on arrival.
When we landed and taxied to our assigned parking position a gentleman from the Airport Authority met us at the aircraft. He waited patiently as we unloaded the plane and then escorted us to the main terminal building and walked us through immigration and customs. He charged nothing for his service and explained it was part of his duty to help crews when they arrived in Nadi. He mentioned that the Airport operators were very unhappy with the handling company and it was giving Nadi Airport a very bad reputation in the aviation community. I agree with that……
So, if your flying to Nadi , Fiji be sure to request landing permission before you fly and
let the Airport Authority know that you will do self handling on arrival.
We had no idea where we're going to stay in Fiji . When all formalities were completed, we went to the tourist desk to look for accommodations. It was too late for us to catch any of the boats to the islands so we stayed the first night at the Radisson hotel. Then we booked four nights at a resort on Bounty Island , an island about 30 miles offshore.
Our hotel on Bounty Island……
Really slowing down……….
Once you arrive on Bounty Island there is not much to do and it seems all you do is eat, swim and lie in the sun. Most people come here only for a couple of days as it is quite difficult to stop doing everything. We spent three days on the island and then went back to the mainland; back to the Radisson hotel.
Our experience in Fiji was very nice. Not much to do other than enjoy the beautiful ocean and simple accommodations on the islands. Tourism is down in the islands as there political situation is uneasy; it is a shame as this is a lovely destination and the Fijian people need the tourists to come back…..so give it a try if you are in the area.
Port Vila to Nadi Fiji
Bye, Bye Vanuatu……… 
