The Fiji islands are situated in the South Pacific, midway between Melanesia (Solomons, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea) and Polynesia (Tonga, Samoa, the Cooks and French Polynesia). They are south of the equator, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and west of the International Dateline. The territorial limits enclose an area of 1.3 million sq km (half a million sq mi), but only 1.5% of this is dry land. About 300 islands make up the nation.

Viti Levu at 10,390 sq km (4052 sq mi), and Vanua Levu at 5538 sq km (2160 sq mi) are the biggest islands. Suva, the country's capital is on the south-western coast of Viti Levu, and the island also has the country's highest peak - Mt Tomanivi (Mt Victoria) at 1323m (4339ft). Taveuni and Kadavu are also substantial islands, but the rest of the country is made up of small islands divided into the Lomaiviti, Lau, Moala, Yasawa, Mamanuca and Rotuma groups. Many of these islands are relatively untouched and there are many beautiful reefs, lagoons, harbours, as well as natural vegetation.

Since the 1960s, around 15% of the country's forests have been cleared and erosion is a problem. Management of the environment has been poor, and pollution and waste continue to sully the waterways and lands around the urban areas, particularly around Suva. In some areas, fish consumption is a health hazard.

Of the 3000-odd plant species identified on the Fiji islands, around one-third are endemic. Fijians developed uses for much of the native flora for food, medicine, dyes, implements and building materials. Around 3500 years ago the first settlers brought poultry, dogs and pigs, and this coincided with the extinction of at least three of the indigenous bird species - two megapodes and a giant fruit pigeon. Bats are the only remaining indigenous land mammals but introduced animal species have taken to the local habitats with relish. Happy and established interlopers include the Indian mongoose (introduced to control rats in the sugar-cane plantations), feral dogs, cats, pigs, goats and rats. The 20 species of land-dwelling reptiles include turtles and sea-snakes, but the migration of the crested iguana from South America is a bit of a mystery. There are about 100 bird species, 23 of which are native. Sea life is abundant and varied, and many species of coral, sponges, tropical reef fish, rays, sharks, dolphins and whales call the Fijian waters home (or call in on their way home).

Fiji enjoys a mild and stable climate most of the year, due to the large expanses of open water that surround its islands. The prevailing winds are easterly and south-easterly; the mountainous spines of the larger islands produce clouds and greater rainfall on their windward sides. The wet season extends from November to April, but rain falls throughout the year. Daytime temperatures average around 25°C (77°F), and humidity is generally high. Tropical cyclones can blow up between November and April, although they are rarely dangerous.

It's quite possible to travel around the Fiji islands relatively cheaply, however because the country is so heavily geared for tourism it's also easy to spend loads of money. If you stick to backpacker beds, eat cheaply (and include some self-catering), do some hitch-hiking and plan your inter-island travel well you'll get by on around US$30-40 a day or less. You can save money by coming to Fiji as a package tourist (especially if you have particular interests such as diving or kayaking), but organised tours are arranged around mid to upper-end accommodation-and-meal packages.

Although Fiji is now a republic, the notes and coins still bear the face of Queen Elizabeth on one side. Travellers' cheques can be exchanged at banks and exchange houses as well as most larger hotels and duty-free shops. The most useful currencies in Fiji are Australian, New Zealand and US dollars. Visa, American Express, Diners Club and MasterCard will be honoured in most restaurants, shops, middle and upper-end hotels, and tour and travel agents. Some resorts will levy a five percent charge if you pay by credit card.

You won't be expected to leave a tip when paying for goods or services, and, as in most South Pacific cultures, bargaining is not considered polite. The exception to this rule is with the Fiji-Indians, with whom you can be quite comfortable haggling the price of almost anything. They consider it bad luck to lose the first customer of the day, so if there's something you really want to buy arrive first thing in the morning and bargain hard. You'll find that a good supply of small notes will come in very handy at the markets and for small purchases. A favourite trick with taxi drivers is to have no change at all and you'll be expected to forfeit any change from the fare.

Its mild tropical climate means that Fiji can be enjoyed all year round and it is a popular escape from the winters in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Perhaps the best time to go, however, is in the dry season or 'Fiji winter', from May to October. This time of year has cooler temperatures, less rainfall and humidity, and less risk of tropical cyclones.