The gateway to the west coast of Fiji isle comes in the form of bustling little Nadi, which struck gold when it was chosen by the New Zealanders as the prime spot for the country’s first airstrips way back in the 1930s. Of course sugar cane had always kept the economy ticking over, but when the jets came there was no going back. Today, this means that Nadi boasts some of the best touristic infrastructure in the nation, with internet cafes bursting from between its haphazard little streets, and transport hubs offering tours to the nearby Yasawas and Mamanucas Islands. And as any Nadi tour guide will tell you, this also makes it the prime place to stock up before an expedition out to Fiji’s more hidden treasures, from the earthy and energetic town of Lautoka just to the north to the luxurious hotels and powdery beaches of Denarau Island. In Nadi town itself there are plenty of markets and accommodation options, running the gamut from bamboo backpacker shacks to five-star resorts on the edge of the west coast sands.