Australians stranded in Fiji as Cyclone Vaianu sparks flight chaos and flooding fears

Australians holidaying in Fiji are hunkering down in darkened resorts, bracing for flight chaos and flash flooding as a powerful cyclone batters the island nation.

Travellers have been left stranded, with warnings of major disruptions and another storm forming nearby, creating a nervous wait for flights home.

One Australian tourist, Melanie Harris, told 9News the dream getaway she’d planned with her young son has turned into a frightening ordeal as Severe Tropical Cyclone Vaianu lashes parts of Fiji.

“The wind is loud, relentless, and completely unpredictable,” Ms Harris said.

“You can hear it constantly, even through the walls.

“It just puts you on edge.”

Ms Harris is staying at a resort about an hour south of the tourist hub of Nadi and said the cyclone’s power has been impossible to ignore.

She described hearing debris being hurled through the air while eating dinner and said repeated blackouts have made nights particularly unsettling.

“Everything suddenly goes dark and the wind is still howling outside ,” she told nine.com.au.

“It just didn’t feel safe.”

The stress has been heightened by trying to keep her son calm in the dangerous conditions.

“At one point, my son slipped on the wet tiles in the wild weather and smashed his head, which was absolutely terrifying,” Harris said.

“You’re already on edge, and then something like that happens.

“It just takes everything to another level. ”

Nearly all planned day trips and activities have been cancelled, leaving holiday-makers waiting for refunds as they shelter in place.

Ms Harris said resort staff have tried to help but appear stretched thin.

“They have almost been downplaying the cyclone and don’t have much information to give,” she said.

She is now planning to relocate to a more protected hotel while anxiously hoping her flight home to Australia can still depart on Sunday.

Travel disruptions have already begun. A flight from Sydney to Fiji was forced to divert to Nuku’alofa in Tonga due to the severe weather.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has urged travellers to stay alert, warning flights could be cancelled and essential services disrupted.

“Flights may be delayed or cancelled, and essential services may be disrupted,” DFAT said.

“Know your accommodation’s evacuation plan.

“If a cyclone is approaching your area, find your nearest shelter and follow the advice of local authorities.”

Travellers have been told to contact airlines and accommodation providers to understand how their plans could change.

Meanwhile, forecasters said the situation could become even more complex.

The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring a second system, Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila, currently tracking in the Solomon Sea near the Solomon Islands and potentially heading towards Papua New Guinea before moving closer to Australia’s far north.

Vaianu is forecast to track south towards New Zealand, where it could impact the North Island, including Auckland, later this week.