A Fijian resort has climbed into the upper reaches of one of travel's most closely watched reader-voted rankings. Shangri-La Yanuca Island has been named fifth among the Top Resorts in Australia and South Pacific in Condé Nast Traveler's 39th annual Readers' Choice Awards — the highest placement of any Fijian property in the category, and a jump from 11th place the previous year.
The award carries weight because it is driven purely by traveller votes rather than industry panels. The 2026 edition drew more than 798,867 survey responses, overwhelmingly from readers in the United States, who rated hotels, resorts and destinations worldwide. Results appear on the Condé Nast Traveler website and in its November issue.
Fiji punched above its weight in this year's regional standings, with four Fijian resorts landing inside the regional Top 10 — a strong signal for anyone weighing the South Pacific against Australia or New Zealand for a long-haul beach holiday. Shangri-La Yanuca Island led that Fijian contingent.
The timing is notable. The resort is marking 59 years of operation this month and turns 60 in 2027, making it one of the longest-standing resorts in the country. Resort manager Sunil Beerbul described the recognition as a reflection of the place the property has held in Fiji for generations, paired with a responsibility to keep evolving without losing its sense of character.
For travellers, the ranking is a useful shortlist signal: it points to a property that has satisfied American readers consistently enough to leap six places in a single year, sitting on its own island on Fiji's Coral Coast. If Fiji is on your list for 2027, the resort's 60th anniversary may bring celebratory packages worth watching for.
