Do you reckon a solo trip to Fiji as a single person sounds a little…sad?
Strolling white sandy beaches dotted with happy families, gazing at sunsets alongside loved-up honeymooners, sipping a lonely Piña colada next to a group of giggling gals.
If you're wincing…yeah. I did too, contemplating four nights on my own in Fiji. But I turned out to be totally, almost embarrassingly, wrong.
Solo travel is trending - the number of people who Googled that phrase has more than doubled since 2018. But the question of where to 'go it alone' remains tricky - especially for Kiwis.
The popular solo travel destinations like Thailand, Japan and Bali are a decent 10+ hour flight away, and the European cities, even further.
But hang on, don't we live in the South Pacific, near a bunch of stunning tropical islands? Doesn't it take less time to fly from Auckland to Nadi than it does to drive to Taupō?
Well yes, we do. And yes, it does.
So why have we surrendered Fiji to the families, lovers and hen's parties?
Fijians are some of the friendliest people in the world. This alone could make it the *ideal* place to be on your own. But there's more.
So much room for activities
Group tours are key for the solo traveller, and Fiji delivers these in droves. I joined the shark snorkelling experience at Barefoot Kuata Island Resort and it was the perfect day trip.
The resort staff sang us on to the beach (you get that a lot in Fiji) and we were welcomed with a glass of fresh juice before getting fitted for snorkelling gear.
The group was a mix of backpackers, couples, solo travellers young and old and families - we even had a gorgeous six-month-old bubba, James, in tow.
Soon we were hooning out to Moia Reef on a fleet of speedboats, all cracking jokes as we bumped along and speculated about the size and ferocity of the marine life awaiting us.
The only safety briefing was "don't touch the sharks, but you can say 'bula' to them!" and we were in. We spent the better part of an hour swimming with the curious reef sharks and their smaller fish friends in the crystal clear water.
I had an initial surge of adrenaline locking eyes with a 1.8m Whitetip shark, but it was hard to be nervous when baby James was bouncing on the water's surface in a floaty ring, blissfully unbothered by the apex predators below.
Back on the island, we had as many goes at the buffet lunch as we liked, and I enjoyed a Fiji Bitter with a couple from Invercargill. Then everyone was encouraged to make use of the day beds, stand up paddles boards, canoes and bar for a few more hours before we headed back to Denarau.
A gal walks into a (floating) bar
We all know a bit of social lubrication goes a long way when easing the awkwardness of being on your own. Thankfully, that's what happy hours are for.
My first night at the idyllic Tropica Island Resort, I wasn't sure what to expect. There's just 24 bure huts, and it's adults only, making it very appealing to couples. When I was welcomed on to Malolo Island, (with another song), I was told "the moment you step on to the jetty, you're no longer a 'guest', you're part of our family".
But I did still wonder if I'd stand out like a weird second cousin.
'Tropica Hour' at the beachfront bar seemed like the perfect place to test this. Making my way across the lawn, I was greeted by whoops of joy and two ladies whirling tea towels around their heads.
"Miss Monika! Ohhh, she's looking good - a Mai Tai for you Miss Monika?" they yelled, remembering my poolside order from earlier in the day. I was going to be just fine.
Having taken in the sunset - and yes, filled 15 minutes on the phone to my mum - I plucked up the courage to ask a group around my age if I could pull up a chair. One couple from Australia and one from Europe - they didn't know each other, but had also used the Tropica Hour vibes to start up a conversation.
Soon the five of us had moved to the restaurant for dinner around one big table, comparing stories from our hometowns, shedding tears at the staff choir performance and taking group photos.
But maybe the best place for a solo traveller to make friends in Fiji is Cloud 9.
A 'floating paradise', the two story platform boasts a stocked bar, loungers, a DJ (more on him later) and a woodfire pizza oven, surrounded by nothing but turquoise water and the beautiful Ro Ro Reef. People see photos and think it's fake.
I stood awkwardly alone in my sarong, clutching my beach bag for approximately 2.5 seconds before a gorgeous Aussie gal asked me if I wanted her to take some photos for me.
I spent the next five hours with her and her mates drinking, dancing and jumping off the top of the pontoon. At one point, we became part of a United Nations-esque twerk circle with about 25 people from all over the world.
Also, Tristan from 'Married at First Sight AU' was DJing, which was both a funny surprise and a reminder that being single isn't as bad as marrying a stranger on reality TV.
Main character energy
It turns out that adventuring around stunning islands entirely under your own steam isn't sad at all - it's kind of like playing the lead role in a movie you dreamed up on a rainy day.
I did get a few people asking "where's your boyfriend?" and even one local who queried: "Why is it that you don't want marriage?" (wow) but for the most part, my solo trip seemed totally normal.
The only time I wished I had someone else around was after a hearing a strange reptilian call late at night so I could ask them "do you think that gecko is actually *in* the room with us or just nearby?" and "follow up question, do geckos bite?"
The rest of my time back at Tropica Resort, I read in the sun, got the best massage of my life, took part in a Kava ceremony in which I was made 'chief' and relaxed in my private pool (!) in the company of the tiny frogs that hung out in my garden at night.
There was not a lot of time to be lonely.
Monika travelled to Fiji as a guest of Tourism Fiji.
