Way out west

Cruising is a great way to see more of Fiji. You’ll never be far from a beautiful reef, lush rainforest, or white sandy beach for which Fiji is famed.

Part of what makes Fiji unique is its many groups of islands, each with its own culture, identity and attractions, and cruising is one of the best ways to get around them.

Only 20 minutes drive from Nadi International Airport, Port Denarau Marina is Fiji’s premier marina facility. As the hub of the integrated Denarau Island Resort, Port Denarau Marina is the gateway to exploring our idyllic sun-drenched tropical isles of Fiji’s West Coast.

Port Denarau Marina is a Port of Entry which allows us to clear vessels into the marina. Provisioning is easy – with a supermarket, pharmacy and bakery at the end of the dock and Nadi and Namaka only a short bus or taxi ride away.

Port Denarau Marina is walking distance to several international hotels, offering a vast array of recreational pursuits including an international 18-hole golf course – not to mention, being part of the largest retail/restaurant complex in the Nadi area.

Port Denarau is ideally positioned to provide a stopover for rest, recreation, and provisioning during your cruising of the Fijian Islands. 

The fast-developing marina complex is the centre of yachting activity in Fiji. Located on Denarau Island, it is accessed through a well-marked channel that is five-meters deep at zero tide. The marina is well protected from all weather while the basin contains 56 fully-serviced berths and 16 swing moorings, including 20 berths capable of taking superyachts of up to 85 metres in length.

This marina also has a restricted area that provides vessels on the dock with water, high-speed reticulated fuelling on dock, single and three phase 50hz electricity. The dock also offers free WiFi for those in its vicinity.

A publicly listed company, the complex has a comprehensive marine service and haul out facility, including a 50 tonne travelift, forklift services, hardstand area, short- and long-term boat storage, dry stack facilities and marine workshops.

The marina complex also other services that include: 

• Haul out and hardstand 
• Riggers 
• Refrigeration 
• Mechanics 
• Electronics 
• Marine Chandleries 
• Painting and antifouling 
• Sail and canvas maker 
• Stainless steel fabrication 
• LPG and dive bottle refill 
• Storage facilities 
• Laundry 
• Engineering and welding workshops 
• Hydraulics 
• Outboard/ jet ski pepairs 
• Aluminium fabricators and boat builders 
• Yacht Agents 
• Fibreglass repairs

IMEL also operates a floating dry dock business in Fiji with lifting capacity of 3500 MT. 

Provisioning and other supplies for superyachts are easily imported from New Zealand and Australia on a regular basis; however, it is worth noting that many Fiji suppliers, especially near Nadi, can meet such demands with very capable ship repair experts. 

Adjacent to the marina, you will find the well-appointed, 10,000-square-metre Port Denarau Commercial and Retail Centre, featuring 32 retail shops, 28 commercial premises including a well-stocked supermarket, bakery, bottle store, bank, money exchange, pharmacy, clothing, and souvenir shops as well as a wide range of bars and restaurants. There’s also a doctors clinic based on the island. 

Port Denarau Marina was the first marina in the South Pacific to be accredited Level 3 Clean Marina and Fish Friendly status by Marina Industries Association (MIA) and have incorporated Best Management Practices in their facility being the first and only marina to have blackwater pump out facility, solar panels, rubbish recycle program, an oil recycle facility and water filtration and treatment plants.

Port Denarau Marina employs 18 people in their marina operations with direct and indirect employment of over thousands in the marine related businesses. 

Port Denarau Marina has been recognised nationally and internationally and have added the following accolades to their list of achievements:

• MIA Hall of Fame 2019.
• Winner, ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award for “Specialized Tourism Services and Support to Industry” Awards 2018.
• MIA Level 3 Clean Marina & Fish Friendly Accreditation 2017 – 2023.
• Winner, MIA Best Community Support 2017/2018.
• Finalist, MIA Innovation by a Marina 2017/18.
• MIA International Marina of the Year Award 2017/2018.
• MIA (Marina Industries Association) International Marina of the Year 2015-2018.
• Finalist, ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards category ‘Specialised Tourism & Support to Industry’ 2016 and 2017.
• Winner ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards for Services and Support to Industry Award 2015.

There are so many reasons to cruise the idyllic waters of Fiji. It is one of the warmest, friendliest nations on earth and caters to cruisers looking for adventure, timeout experiences with locals and very remote cruising.

Spanning 18,376 square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean between the 333 islands, the islands range from being large and volcanic with high peaks and lush terrain to sand keys so small they peak out of the warm aqua water when the tide recedes, to rugged up thrust limestone cliffs.

There are five distinct cruising areas which provide remarkably diverse cruising locations to suit every traveller of the high seas. This is not always the case in some of the other South Pacific Island destinations where good anchorages can be sparse. In the outer islands, off the beaten tourist track, there are many deserted beaches, good anchorages and opportunities to experience the culture of Fiji. Fiji is certainly worth making the decision to pass through the Panama Canal and into the South Pacific for something unique in all the island groups. 

Superyachts can charter in Tahiti, New Zealand and Fiji. Many ship owners and captains may be tempted to commit to a longer cruise in this magical region, which, compared to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, is refreshingly unpopulated with unspoiled coastlines and often empty anchorages. 

Cruising in Fiji waters is remote and stunningly beautiful and will give you the opportunity to experience many once-in-a lifetime moments. However, its isolation and untouched beauty also means that it is one of the more navigationally exacting cruising areas in the South Pacific, owners may not wish to miss the stunning cruising in this country. 

Out of the South Pacific tropical cyclone belt, it is a great country to take time out before exploring more remote island groups beyond Fiji. 

denaraumarina.com