What Do You Pack for a Week in Fiji?

Six pieces and a scarf, in one carry-on. Fiji sits between 26 and 31 degrees with humidity around 75%, so nothing dries overnight and nothing stays pressed. Pack for the humidity rather than the heat: plant fibres and fluid viscose, two dresses maximum, one shirt that works as a cover-up and a jacket, and flat sandals you can walk on sand in.

What the humidity actually does

At 75% humidity your sweat has nowhere to evaporate to, which is why 29 degrees in Nadi feels hotter than 35 in Sydney. Two things follow from that.

Anything heavy stays damp. A thick cotton tee you wear at breakfast will still be damp at lunch. Choose fabrics that hold little water and release it fast: linen, cotton voile, viscose.

Anything structured gives up. Waistbands stretch, collars soften, anything with interfacing goes limp by day three. Pull-on and tie waists hold their shape where zips and hooks do not.

The six pieces

One dress you can swim near. A linen mini shirt dress buttons the whole way down, so it goes over swimmers on the walk back from the water and stays on for lunch. Ours is cut in linen with a scalloped collar, which is the detail that stops it reading as a beach cover-up at the table.

One dress you cannot swim near. Crepe georgette, long, with a tie neckline. This is the dinner dress, and a week without one is a week of eating in a cover-up.

One oversized shirt. The hardest working piece in the bag. Open over swimmers, buttoned as a dress, knotted at the waist with the shorts, and over your shoulders on the plane home.

One pair of shorts or a short skirt. Linen blend, pull on. Nothing with a zip.

One pair of fluid trousers. Viscose satin, elasticated. Mosquitoes are worst at dusk and this is the piece that covers your legs without adding heat.

One top you would wear to dinner. A fringed slip top or a puff sleeve blouse. It turns the trousers into an outfit and takes up almost no room.

And the scarf

Not optional. In the hair it keeps the sun off your parting, which is where almost everybody burns. At the waist it belts a dress that has no belt. Over the shoulders in an over-air-conditioned restaurant it is the only layer you will want.

The packing list

Seven items, and every top works with every bottom. That is the test. If a piece only goes with one other thing, it does not earn its place.

What to leave at home

Denim, which takes two days to dry. Anything white and unlined, because sunscreen marks it permanently. Heels, because every surface is sand, timber or wet tile. A second handbag. More than one pair of sandals.

Sizing, 6 to 22

Everything here is cut from a 6 to a 22 in the same fabric. Pull-on and tie waists sit differently across the size run, so the measurement grid matters more than usual.

Explore the collection

Shop LAST WAVE · Sizes 6 to 22

Frequently asked

How many outfits do you need for a week in Fiji?

Six pieces gives you about twelve combinations, which is more than a week needs. Most resorts have same-day laundry, so pack for four days and wash once.

What should you not wear in Fiji?

In villages, cover your shoulders and knees, and take your hat off. On the resort it does not apply, but a shirt and a longer skirt in the bag means you can visit one without thinking about it.

Do you need long sleeves in Fiji?

For dusk, yes. Mosquitoes are most active between about 5pm and 7pm, and a loose long sleeve is more comfortable than repellent on bare arms.

Can you wear linen in high humidity?

Yes, and it is the best thing you can wear. Linen holds up to 20% of its own weight in moisture before it feels wet, and it releases it faster than cotton.

What size suitcase do you need for a week in Fiji?

A carry-on. Seven pieces, swimmers, underwear and one pair of sandals fits a 40 litre bag with room for what you bring back.