Five natural wonders you must see in Fiji

There's nothing quite as rewarding as the feeling of a refreshing dip in a natural waterfall pool after a long walk through a humid forest. Pack your most bashed-around sneakers and tackle Fiji's favourite jungle walks. You'll find waterfalls galore, from relaxing trickles to bombastic splashers all meeting the crystal-clear rivers and pools of the rainforest ecosystem. Go for the views or nab a swim; you might catch a glimpse of some flittering freshwater prawns in the pool. The three Tavoro Waterfalls on Taveuni (known as the garden island thanks to its beautiful rainforests) can be experienced on a three-hour return hike through the rainforest. You can swim in (or under) each of them too! 

Fiji prides itself on being the soft coral capital of the world. And with over 4,000 square miles of reef to explore you're spoiled for choice when it comes to laying eyes on one of nature's greatest assets. Live the full Little Mermaid fantasy with a snorkel or dive around the world-famous warm waters where you can float around hundreds of species of coral from every colour of the rainbow. There are many spots to try but we recommend Rainbow Reef, a vibrant stretch of coral on the Somosomo Strait between Vanua Levu and Taveuni, and the Great Astrolabe Reef, which surrounds Kadavu Island and is one of the largest barrier feefs on the planet.

The famously racy Brooke Shields film The Blue Lagoon has been beckoning nature lovers to Fiji since the '80s. Take a boat or seaplane to the Yasawa Islands and of the string of 20 islands you should seek-out Sawa-i-Lau, the home of the saltwater caves and deep turquoise water the film made legendary. Role play your own "marooned on a tropical island" fantasy here, and the best part? You get to return to the mod cons of your resort with rugged-explorer memories that will last a lifetime.

You can wander over and through an ancient dunescape at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park on the main island of Viti Levu on Fiji's Coral Coast. The rolling peaks and troughs sprawl out for over 650 hectares, with some dunes reaching heights up to 60 metres. This National Heritage site is the location of one of Fiji's earliest settlements, and 2,600-year-old pottery has been found by archaeologists beneath the dunes. Explore the dunes with a one- or two-hour hiking course and be met with unbeatable views.

Make like the local kids and slip and slide down this natural slippery dip. The Waitavala Water Slide is a 50m-long expressway to joy. Take the exhilarating slide from the top and be deposited in the beautiful, rainforest-fringed pool below. Not sure what to do? There's bound to be a tiny guide nearby who'll show you how it's done as it's one of the area's favourite, family-friendly places to take a dip (and slip). The natural waterslide is part of the stunning landscapes of the garden island, Taveuni.