We're in our 60s with dodgy knees, but this Fiji railway adventure was flawless

On our fifth trip to Fiji recently, myself and our group of friends headed off the beaten track - literally.

We might all be in our sixties with a few ailments along the way, but nothing can stop our love for adventure.

I'd heard about a unique tour on the postcard-worthy Coral Coast, called Ecotrax, where they've repurposed abandoned railway tracks to take tourists on velocipedes (electrically assisted bikes) mounted on the rails.

Speaking with my group of friends and fellow travellers, we decided this would be on our to-do list.

This adventure suited our group of eight perfectly as between us we could account for hip replacements, dodgy knees and bad backs. It was also appealing to the fitness lovers among us who could push a little harder should they choose.

I love that you don't need to be an athlete to enjoy Ecotrax, making it a practical and fun travel option for varying fitness levels, young, old and families alike.

I always try to incorporate a new experience when I am on holidays and I had never had the chance to do anything like this on my previous trips to the Friendly Islands.

Staying at the Shangri-la Yanuca Island resort on the Coral Coast was a bonus, as the starting depot was only a short car trip to a neighbouring village.

Ecotrax runs two tours each day, morning and afternoon taking around three hours.

We chose to book the morning tour which gave us the afternoon to enjoy the facilities of the resort before coming together again for happy hour. It's a tough life this holidaying caper!

The experience is the brainchild of Howard and Mandy de Vries. Howard, a green inventor, was originally helping a local village learn how to repair old bicycles when he noticed the unused sugar cane tracks running through the beautiful landscape.

This sparked an idea to create a velocipede (pushbikes mounted on railway tracks) similar to those used in the early days by railway workers.

After a little negotiation with the Fiji Sugar Corporation, he gained permission to use the tracks. The local village rugby team helped to clear the tracks of jungle, and this unique experience became a reality.

The bikes themselves are solar-powered and electric-assisted, allowing you to do a little pedaling if you choose, or simply press the power button for a cruisy ride along the 23km round trip.

Our team leaders for the trip were Britney and Los, who liked to refer to us as "family". They were so enthusiastic you felt charged and ready to go before even sitting on a bike.

We were given a safety briefing, including two hand signals to pass along the line of bikes when stopping or slowing down-akin to a Mexican wave.

Once we were confident with our abilities, it was action stations and our convoy headed out.

Cycling along, we made our way through breathtaking coastal forests, mangroves, and local villages, crossing old wooden rail bridges along the way.

A stunning stop on a remote beach midway offered time for a swim or snorkel. This was followed by a light snack of fresh fruit and coconuts, all sourced from the very villages we had just passed through.

The "Bula spirit" is found along the whole journey. The effervescent, bubbly, and joyful energy that Fijians radiate is met at every turn.

"Bula!" was called out by everyone: from people walking alongside the tracks, to families outside the small homes we passed.

We even had a family of pigs run across the tracks.

Children offered high-fives and locals carrying out everyday duties all paused to give us a warm wave as we passed.

One of our guides, Lela, jokingly told me she had stopped including names in her greetings.

She had once called out "Bula, Vakar!" to an elderly gentleman, and a ride participant thought she was being disrespectful, not realising how yelling a traditional name out loud sounded similar to an Aussie F-word.

A true highlight was stopping on the return trip at a local village. The children were bouncing with excitement.

I had packed some gifts for the village, and it was an absolute joy seeing their reactions.

But these kids still have the same temperaments as kids around the globe. One little guy was given some pencils and immediately hit the deck throwing a wobbly until they were swapped for a small toy plane, and he was back up celebrating in no time.

It's a mistake to look at a tin-roof shack with basic amenities and see less than what we have at home.

What looks like a rustic, simple life on the outside is actually a life of abundance.

Fijians lead a lifestyle that prioritises laughing with neighbours, swimming in blue water, and eating food grown in their own backyards.

They don't look at what they lack; they relish what they have-a beautiful life focused on the present moment, family, and nature.

This experience was simply magic. Our group spanned all age groups, including one couple doing the tour for the fourth time.

One young family rode a specifically modified bike with car seats included, while another family had a rider seated comfortably on the rear of the bike, simply soaking in the scenery.

What started with the anticipation of a new experience ended with a very happy group of tourists, completely unable to wipe the smiles from their faces.

The writer travelled at her own expense.