What it's really like staying at Fiji's leading family resort with a toddler

‘Bula’, my two-year-old toddler enthusiastically bellows at me with a grin as I collect him from daycare on a miserable rainy day. The Fijian greeting has become a regular quip used by my (admittedly, very lucky) toddler since we recently visited the stunning country. With the windscreen wipers now working overtime on our car, it appears that, just like me, he's wondering how soon is too soon before we can hightail it out of here and scoot back over to the paradise island just under four hours away.

Fiji is one of the most easily accessible places Aussies can visit for a bit of sun during the colder months so, just as Sydneysiders were carefully packing away their CoolCabanas and dusting off their Oodies, I jumped aboard a Fijian Airways flight to Nadi, my little family in tow, to discover if the country's reputation for being one of the most family-friendly spots to holiday in the world lived up to the hype. (Spoiler! It’s just as great as all of your mates have told you it is).

Where to stay in Fiji with a toddler

With a slew of awards under its belt, including winning Oceania's Leading Family Resort 2023 at the World Travel Awards, the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa was right at the top of my list when it came to where to holiday with a child.

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For the past few years, my parent friends have raved about their idyllic stay at the famed resort - sipping on cocktails poolside, taking in the tropical views and indulging in a much-deserved spa experience while their little ones lived it up at the kids club. It sounded like pure bliss to me. Best of all, the resort is situated on the mainland, just 55 minutes from Nadi International Airport - a huge tick for someone with a toddler who is well and truly over travelling by that stage.

The five-star resort overlooks the white sands of Natadola Beach, often hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in Fiji. We spent most of our mornings out on the sand, wading into the lagoon formed as the tide came in, collecting shells and drinking fresh coconuts sold by the locals on the shore. Not a bad way to spend a week away from the daily grind.

What to do in Fiji with a toddler

While I could happily spend two weeks cooped up in a cabana with a cocktail in hand, it’s hard to ignore the long list of activities at the hotel. From scuba diving to snorkelling, bee experiences, hermit crab hunting to jet-ski safaris, you’ll never be stuck for something to do.

For parents travelling with kids, you’ll likely spend most of your time either at the beach or at the family pool, which features a small splash area and is always scattered with pool toys passed from one family to another as they leave the resort. Then there’s the incredible Planet Trekkers Kids Club, where for FJ$30 per child they can enjoy three hours of playtime, a snack, fresh fruit and a bottle of water. Kids under the age of four can attend but you’ll need to book out a resort nanny for the duration of their stay.

While the kids are having a blast on the swings and slides, you can make use of the adults-only infinity pool which overlooks the stunning bay. If you’re after a bit of relaxation, the resort also has an award-winning spa and there’s also an 18-hole championship golf course if that’s your thing.

Best adults-only experiences

We took advantage of this kid-free time by getting involved in a cooking class, where we learned all the basics of the Fijian dish Kokoda. The chef even teaches you how to make your own coconut milk. Then we headed to the private infinity pool just for Club InterContinental guests. It’s definitely worth signing up to be an IHG member just for these perks alone.

For the perfect end to your adults-only day, book yourself in for a treatment at the world-class spa. After weeks spent planning an overseas trip with a toddler, two hours at the resort’s Spa International made it all worth it. It’s no surprise the spa was awarded Fiji’s Best Resort Spa in the World Spa Awards 2022. It features nine treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge for pre-and post-treatment, steam showers, a hydrotherapy Wai Zone and a room with a private plunge pool.

I tried the signature Natadola Bay Honey Retreat treatment, which uses honey that has been produced in-house to rejuvenate the skin. It’s nearly impossible to leave the spa stressed, even if you do have a hungry toddler waiting for you back at the pool.

The accommodation

Something I never thought about before welcoming my wonderful son into our family was what we would do once we hit lights out in the bedroom for his 7pm bedtime. You and your other half sitting in the dark doomscrolling while your little one sleeps isn’t exactly my idea of the perfect holiday evening.

Thankfully, we didn’t need to worry about that at the InterContinental Fiji, where our Club InterContinental one-bedroom suite had a separate lounge and dining area so we could chill out once our exhausted toddler hit the hay. There’s a range of privileges for Club guests, including private check-ins and check-outs, a la carte breakfast at the Lounge, daily high tea, and best of all, an adults-only sunset cocktails and canapés session.

While our Club suite - set high above the resort amongst the lush forest scape - was stunning, I couldn’t help but be slightly envious of the families in the beachfront suites who had direct access to what can only be described as one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever stepped foot on. They were also able to get first dibs on highly sought-after beach cabanas every morning. We’ll be booking one of those rooms next time we visit.

For families with older kids, there’s the option of staying in a pool view room, located right in the heart of the resort, where you can be close to the family swimming pool, making it easier to dash back to the room if needed during the day without having to wait for a buggy. The resort also has connecting rooms for bigger families wanting to stay close.

The food

Resorts can be hit and miss when it comes to the food, especially for picky eaters. Thankfully, there were four different restaurants to pick from at the InterContinental. I had envisioned my toddler surviving on a diet of chicken nuggets for the whole trip as I anxiously tried to get him to eat some of the veggies I usually have to blitz into his sauces.

I was delighted when one of the first things I saw on the kids' menu at Toba Bar and Grill was spaghetti bolognese with hide-and-seek veggies. Dinner was sorted for the duration of the holiday! There were also fresh fruit platters and crunchy veggies and hummus dip alongside the usual beef burgers and french fries to keep everyone happy.

We ate at Toba for lunch and dinner most days but we also tried out Sansana Restaurant, located on the sugar train track and overlooking the beach. Every day they offer up a different buffet theme, such as traditional Fijian, Italian and Indian. They also serve up a buffet or a la carte breakfast and lunch.

My son loved the nightly fire-lighting ceremony at Kama Lounge, which overlooks the stunning sunset at Natolda Bay. Best of all, they have a kid’s menu so your little one can enjoy their chicken nuggets while listening to some live music as the sun goes down.

The resort also has a swanky fine dining restaurant which is adults-only after 7:30pm. Remember to book this one as spots fill up fast every night. The service matched the top-notch food, which brings the best of Fijian ingredients to life. If you want to experience the best of Fijian cuisine, book in for the chef’s degustation menu or else pick some tasty dishes from the à la carte. We were recommended the lobster and it did not disappoint.

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Getting there

Fiji Airways is the only international airline servicing the capital at the moment - flying direct from Fiji to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra.

Tips for staying at the InterContinental Fiji with a toddler

• Take everything you think you’ll need and more. While I packed what I thought was enough baby wipes to last a month, somehow I still ended up in the resort shop coughing up a fortune for a tiny packet of wipes that barely lasted me through my toddler’s spaghetti dinner.

• Don’t forget your swim nappies - If your toddler is a water baby like mine, they’ll be in and out of the water for the majority of the day. Better yet, invest in a reusable swim nappy for your little one.

• Make use of the buggy service. While it may seem like sometimes it could be easier to just walk to the pool, it’s definitely worth your while waiting the few minutes it takes for the buggy to arrive. The resort is spread across 35 acres and the trek is a lot longer than it seems. Plus the buggy ride in itself is a thrilling activity for any toddler.

• Bring your own travel cot. The InterContinental does provide cots on request but we’ve always felt our son sleeps better in his own cot than the hotel ones. Plus, we only needed two check-in bags for the flights so used our third allocated baggage allowance for the cot. If you have room, pack their cot sheet and sleeping bags too so they’ll feel familiar in their new surroundings and you’ll all have a better night’s sleep.

• Take some time for yourself - The nannies at the InterContinental are incredible and allowed my husband and I to spend a few hours away from our room to have a rare date night. Bliss!

Yahoo Lifestyle was a guest of The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa and Fijij Airways.

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