Chloe Noel De Kerbrech recently visited OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort on a mission to discover whether a family holiday can deliver non-stop fun for kids, independence for teens and a moment of sanity for parents.
Travelling with children is often sold as “quality family time”. In reality, it’s usually parenting in a hotter climate with fewer rules and more snacks. So when my husband and I took our two daughters (8 and 13) to OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort, our expectations were cautiously optimistic at best. Relaxation? Unlikely. Chaos? Almost guaranteed.
As it turns out, OUTRIGGER had other plans – most of them involving keeping our kids so busy we briefly remembered who we were before school lunches and screen-time negotiations.
Activities: Endless, energetic and slightly competitive
If boredom were an Olympic sport, our kids would normally medal. At OUTRIGGER, however, it didn’t stand a chance. The kids’ and teens’ clubs delivered a non-stop schedule of activities that had our girls disappearing happily each morning.
Highlights included crab and frog races – complete with real-time betting, which felt educational in a “learn how odds work” kind of way – plus a golf driving range, target shooting and paintball. Yes, we all joined in. Yes, we all got splattered. And yes, the children found it deeply satisfying to defeat their parents with alarming ease.
Pools: Something for everyone (including the tired parents)
The main pool is the social hub of the resort and cleverly designed to cater to all ages. There’s a slide for the adventurous, plenty of space to swim, and a bouncy jungle float that somehow occupied our kids for hours at a time.
But let’s be honest – the real hero is the adults-only pool and bar. Quiet. Calm. Child-free. It’s the kind of place where you briefly forget you ever argued about Wi-Fi passwords. Pure bliss, best enjoyed with a cocktail and zero responsibility.
Dining: From picky eaters to proper wine lists
Feeding kids on holiday can feel like a full-time job, but OUTRIGGER makes it refreshingly easy. The kids’ and teens’ menus were spot on – familiar favourites done well, with no judgement for ordering the same thing multiple nights in a row.
For the adults, dining stepped up several notches. Ivi Restaurant, specialising in seafood, delivered beautifully fresh dishes and an impressive wine list that made us feel like grown-ups again. It was relaxed yet refined – the perfect antidote to chicken nuggets.
Sunset sessions and casual bites
Baravi Bar became our daytime go-to for casual dining, snacks and refuelling between activities. Come evening, Sundowner Bar lived up to its name, serving spectacular sunsets alongside pizzas, meats and excellent steaks.
The Verdict
The VerdictOUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort somehow pulls off the impossible: a resort where kids are endlessly entertained, teens feel independent, and parents actually relax. We left sun-kissed, well-fed and slightly shocked at how calm we felt – already planning our return. And really, that’s the highest praise any family holiday can receive.
