With thatched roofs, open-air designs, and friendly staff, The Uprising Resort offers an authentic Fijian experience.

We planned to arrive at the resort before sunset. However, the flight into Nadi ran late (which Fijian Air calls “Fijian time”), stealing away daylight and making travel on the two-way road difficult to navigate. Another speed bump was Google Maps estimation was off by over an hour, so we arrived at the resort several hours after sunset.

The drive definitely tainted our expectations of the island. The road in Nadi was covered in litter, the air was so heavy from burning trash that it stung our eyes. Stray dogs, horses, and cows along with machete-wielding barefooted young men dotted the dark road. The scene and smell made us all want to turn around and go home. We are sure glad we didn’t!

Tired and a little nervous, we checked in with a bonus upgrade and got a bite to eat at the resort’s restaurant. We all slept soundly.

The sunrise greeted us with shades of corals, blues, and vibrant reds, and set the tone for the rest of our stay at Uprising. This isn’t the typical resort we’ve experienced in our travels so far. Unlike the luxury mega properties on the man-made Denarau Island, this smaller resort gives you an authentic Fijian experience you will never forget.

The Beach

The resort sits on 2.5 miles (4 Km) of white sandy beach and ends with a small rock jetty. The rock jetty creates a bit of a barrier to the public who may want to walk the beach, which adds another layer of privacy.

There were no waves to surf or snorkeling spots at this beach, but the water was calm enough to make use of the hotel’s kayaks. Kayaking was fun. Make sure to get the drain plug for your kayak, or you may end up swimming back to shore like me! Excursion to Beqa island, world-famous for their shark diving experience, can be book at the hotel and is local.

We enjoyed a few pick-up games of beach volleyball with other resort guests on the court, situated between the pool and ocean.

Next to the resort is a rugby field where locals come to watch the games. The Fijian National Boys Rugby team was also staying at Uprising while we were there. Each morning we were awakened to an acapella rendition of the Fijian national anthems sung by the team as they started their day from the tree-house dorms.

The Accommodations

Beach Bungalows “Bures”

We loved the resort’s beachfront bures. With their traditional thatched roofs, outdoor showers, large beachfront patios with deck chairs, and the beautiful ocean just yards away, it was surreal staying in these bungalows! During the day we enjoyed those amazing ocean views; At night we would fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean waves gently lapping up the shore.

The bures are surrounded by an abundance of foliage to help seclude us from neighbors. The interior of the beach bures are clean but don’t offer a lot of luxuries. There is a lot of space, comfortable beds, and sitting areas.

The beach bure the boys stayed in had a twin and “king” (two twins pushed together). We had the staff split the king so that all three boys had their own bed. These rooms do not have air conditioning, but the layout allowed for the cool ocean breeze to flow through, so it wasn’t missed. The rooms have a small fridge and sink, but the toilet is in a separate room off the porch on the way to the private outdoor shower.

The outdoor shower was a unique experience. Each bure and villa has its own outdoor (and very private) shower. Inside the shower area is decorated with tropical plants and river rock, a place to set dry clothes and towels, and a locking door.

Two Room Commodore Villas

When we arrived at the resort, there was an issue with one of the rooms we had booked, so they upgraded us to a two-room villa. We were a little apprehensive about it at first because we didn’t know how far it would be from the boy’s beach bure. However, between the walkie-talkies and the quietness of the resort, we felt comfortable with the accommodations.

The villas have a living room and a bedroom, which both fully open to the large patio. Unlike the bures, these villas have air conditioning, a television, an indoor toilet, a bathtub, and a shower. The room also came with a mini-fridge, iron, ironing board, and safe.

The Restaurant

The restaurant at the Uprising Resort was convenient, has an extensive menu, and serves delicious food.

The kitchen uses fresh, local ingredients and offers a menu with a variety of dishes. Many of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs they serve, grow from their own garden on the property. The restaurant has a bar and pool table, offers events from local musicians, and a weekly lovo feast with a fire show.

Breakfast Buffet

The breakfast buffet was complimentary with our reservation. The breakfast was delicious! The fresh fruit was ripe and juicy, baked goods were perfectly sweetened, and they offered a large variety of hot dishes, including an omelet station. Most importantly, the coffee was good.

Lunch

The lunch menu had a variety of sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, nachos, etc. The food didn’t disappoint.

Dinner

The dinner menu has a wide range of dishes including pizzas and pasta, burgers and salads, and Indian and Asian inspired meals.

Seafood Feast

Since the seafood platter is not on the menu, you need to special order it the day before. The chef will go out that morning to the local market, pick up freshly caught seafood, and craft an amazing seafood feast. We ordered two! The platter included lobster, crab, octopus, calamari, shrimp, scallops, fresh fish, ceviche, french fries, and salad.

The chef seemed excited to prepare the platter and came out to make sure we were enjoying our meal.

Lovo Feast

The lovo feast is the Fijian equivalent to the Hawaiian luau, including  underground cooking of meats and potatoes, performances, and a whole lot of fire dancing!

The lovo buffet included traditional Fijian items like kokoda, dalo, different salads, pork, fish, chicken, and desserts.

The Uprising Resort in Fiji has the right balance of amenities, friendly staff, cleanliness, and luxury. We are so happy we chose this resort. It is far enough away from the city to reflect the unspoiled beauty of the island, its people, and authentic Fijian experiences.

Tips:

• Book online and have good communication through emails.
• Decide if renting a car would be cheaper for your family compared to a shuttle. Because we have a family of 5, we decided to rent a car. However, it would be a lot easier to use a shuttle transfer.
• The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Don’t hesitate to make special requests or ask for help.
• Order the secret menu seafood platter in advance!
• The Arts Village outdoor mall down the road has a few restaurants, a coffee shop, and market.
• Check the resort calendar on the Uprising Resort website for special events during your stay.