South Sea Island, Fiji: The Ultimate Family Day Trip with Sun, Snorkels & Sandcastles 

Travel Review | Parenthood360   

Picture this: you’re boarding a cruise boat under a beaming Fijian sun, the breeze brushing your face, your kids bouncing with excitement, and your phone—mercifully—losing signal. Welcome to South Sea Island: a pocket-sized paradise that packs a punch, and the kind of travel daydream you didn’t realise your family needed.

This little coral cay is just 30 minutes from Port Denarau Marina but feels like it belongs on another planet. One where shoes are optional, sunscreen is mandatory, and the phrase “I’m bored” is mysteriously banned.

So, what’s the deal with South Sea Island—and is it worth squeezing into your Fiji itinerary with kids in tow? Here’s our full review of the experience, from boarding to buffet and beyond.

Boarding the Boat: Cue the Holiday Buzz

Our adventure began at Port Denarau, where South Sea Cruises departs daily. Everything was clearly signposted and well-organised—ideal when you’re wrangling tiny humans and 14 half-zipped bags.

We boarded with ease, found a shady top-deck spot, and exhaled as we cruised out into the open sea. The sun kissed our faces, the water sparkled like something out of a travel brochure, and we instantly felt that “this is going to be a good day” energy.

Island Arrival: Bula Vibes & Beachy Bliss

The moment we stepped off the boat, the magic began. A traditional Fijian welcome song greeted us as we were guided ashore, where soft coral sand crunched underfoot and turquoise waters beckoned.

Despite its small size, South Sea Island is incredibly well set up. Whether you’re travelling with toddlers or teens, couples or chaos, there’s a spot here for everyone.

We opted for bean bags under a shady palm overlooking the water. Others chose loungers around the pool—yes, the island has a pool—or set up under beach umbrellas near the open-air bar. The whole island feels like a chilled-out resort you can explore barefoot in 60 seconds. Spoiler: we did.

Activities Galore: Snorkel, Scuba or Just Float

This is where the island really shines. If you’ve got an active crew—or just want to finally justify packing all those rashies—there are heaps of included activities.

💘 Snorkelling: The water is shallow, safe, and brimming with marine life. We spotted a kaleidoscope of fish, coral clusters, and even what we think was a stingray (or possibly someone’s towel… we’ll never know). Gear is provided, and the staff are super helpful with kids.

🤹 Scuba Diving: South Sea Island offers intro dives and refresher sessions. It’s a fantastic way to test the waters (pun intended) if you’ve always wanted to try diving. For confident swimmers aged 8 and up, this is a major bucket-list tick.

🚤 Semi-Submersible Submarine: Think glass-bottom boat with a twist. We hopped on this short 15-minute journey and, while we sadly missed the turtle the couple next to us saw, we spent the remainder of the ride peering madly into the ocean, determined to spot something rare. No luck—but the hunt was part of the fun.

🏐 Other options: Kayaks, paddle boards, and beach volleyball are available too, but if you just want to float around or sip a drink in the shallows? That’s totally acceptable (and heavily encouraged).

Kid-Friendly Features: Yes, They Thought of That

What impressed us most was how family-conscious the setup is. There’s a small but functional kids club with a climbing wall, shaded sandpit, art corner and beach toys. It’s not a fancy resort kids’ zone—but it ticks the boxes. For a few golden hours, your little ones can play under supervision while you sneak off to snorkel, explore, or finally read that book.

There are also kid-size life jackets, shaded picnic areas, and lots of staff floating around to help make things easy. Even the food buffet was child-friendly, with sausages, fresh salads, and watermelon slices that disappeared faster than a toddler’s attention span.

Drinks are included too (yep, soft drinks, water, even beer and wine for the grown-ups), and there’s a beach bar pumping out fruity cocktails, imported beers and bar snacks (I just need you to be clear that the Tipsy Turtle (beach bar) offers premium beers and cocktails for purchase and is not included in the Day Trip rate) all day long. Hydration and holiday-mode: sorted.

What We Loved Most

• The Vibe: It’s casual, relaxed, and welcoming. No pressure to do it all, but heaps to do if you’re up for it.
• The Convenience: Everything is in walking distance—well, technically, crawling distance if your toddler goes rogue.
  
• The All-Inclusive Feel: No extra costs for lunch, drinks, or snorkelling. What you pay upfront is what you get.
  
• The Hidden Perks: Like the sea breeze during nap time or the impromptu Fijian music performances that make your soul smile.

Top Tips for Families Visiting South Sea Island

• Pack Reef Shoes: Coral sand can be rough on little feet.
• Bring Towels & Rashies: They provide gear, but sun safety is essential.
• Arrive Early: If you want a prime beanbag or shady lounger, early birds win.
• Don’t Overpack: You really don’t need much—swimwear, sunscreen, and a waterproof bag will do.
• Charge Your Phone (Then Ignore It): Great for photos, but even better when you leave it alone.

Would We Go Again? In a Heartbeat.

There’s something about South Sea Island that sticks with you—maybe it’s the way time slows down, or the way your kids actually play without screens, or how the Fijian hospitality wraps around you like a warm hug.

Whatever it is, it works. If you’re heading to Fiji and wondering whether a day trip is worth it with kids, the answer is an enthusiastic yes.

Whether you’re looking to reconnect as a family, finally relax, or just let your wild ones run barefoot with a mango in hand—South Sea Island delivers all the magic (and none of the stress).

This experience was hosted by South Sea Cruises for review purposes. All opinions are our own.