Having discovered a tropical island paradise that is just a step away from our wide brown land, Judy Ostergaard just can't wait to go back to Fiji for more.

I was tired and grumpy when I arrived at Nadi International Airport, having flown from Los Angeles on a flight that was supposed to have left at 11.30 pm but, as so often happens at LA airport, had been delayed. I grouched along in the customs queue completely unprepared for the big winning smiles and welcomes from the officials. And from there my spirits just rose higher.

In the airport at that early hour there was an island band playing. I love music and I could have lingered there forever listening to its distinctive, Caribbean-esque sounds. The transfer pick up was impeccable and as we zoomed through the mountainous countryside, the lush vegetation and the cool morning air soothed my tired eyes. I saw people heading off to work and schoolchildren in their fresh uniforms waiting for school buses.

Having never traveled to Fiji before, I had done very little preparation apart from finding out what the climate was like, so that I knew what to pack for our two-night stopover on the way back to Australia. This is my usual modus operandi as I don't like be filled with pre-conceived ideas about a new destination, preferring instead to find out all I can by talking to the locals and the people I come across as I stroll around or stop for a drink along the way.

There are 322 islands in the Fijian archipelago, though many of these are tiny atolls. The main airport, is on the opposite side of Viti Levu from the capital, Suva. The islands were first said to be populated about 3500 years ago with most agreeing that the population came from Melanesia and possibly Taiwan - although one local told me that the canoes and ancient pottery that has been found in archeological digs are similar to that of the ancient Nile valley, which backs up the theory that the oceans were once the highways of the world. The first Europeans came to Fiji in about 1822, it became a British colony in 1874 and independence was granted 96 years later in 1970.

With not a lot of time before we are to fly out again I decided to really take it easy on my first day, lazing at the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa in the sun with occasional dips in the pool, enjoying a leisurely lunch followed by a luxurious bit of pampering in the spa.

On my second day I go further afield and set out on an island cruise aboard the 83ft schooner Seaspray to explore the sandy beaches and beautiful lagoons of the Mamanuca group of islands. The day was sunny and the water calm. I didn't realise how many movies and TV shows had been filmed in Fiji. Celebrity Love Island was filmed on Bounty Island, Survivor Fiji on Mana Island, Blue Lagoon was filmed on Nanuya and Yasawa Islands and Mondriki Island was used for the filming of Castaway, to name just a few. Oh yes, Mel Brooks also has his own private island here too and it's a favourite destination for Pink.

During our cruise we had opportunities to swim and snorkel and were served up a gourmet lunch as well as morning and afternoon tea in case all the activity worked up an appetite. Then on the way home, the crew got out their guitars and mandolins and serenaded us with more beautiful island music. Oh, I loved this place and I'll be back as soon as I can.

How to get there
Air Pacific has several flights from capital cities to Nadi each week with connecting flights to the US, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand and many more Pacific destinations. Call 1800 230 150.

Handy addresses
Travel planning, www.creativeholidays.com
Accommodation, www.intercontinental.com
South Sea Cruises, www.ssc.com.fj