 Viti Levu Travel Guide Main concentration of resorts in Fiji Centre for tours and activities Sigatoka Sandunes Historic Tavuni Hill Fort Scenic River Valley Road inland from Sigatoka. Some good wild beaches and manicured resort beaches Coral reef exposed at low tide - not good for swimming / snorkelling Nadi Airport The Jet Set Town - arrival point for tourists Lots of affordable accommodation and restaurants Day cruises to offshore islands Coral Coast Main concentration of family resorts in Fiji Sigatoka Sandunes and Historic Tavuni Hill Fort Some good beaches and backpacker resorts Pacific Harbour & Suva City River tours and rafting up Navua River Suva - colonial architecture, lively market, excellent nightlife Cultural Centres and quaint Fiji Museum Stunning rainforest with winding rivers and traditional villages No beaches North Viti Levu Scenic mountain ranges Remote traditional villages Coastline mostly mangrove forests; few decent beaches Sparse and basic accommodation Small offshore island of Nananu-i-Ra with good beaches The Coral Coast The Coral Coast on Fiji's largest island, Viti Levu, is the main destination for a Fiji vacation. Along the coast are a handful of large resorts (including Shangri-La and Outrigger) and many medium and small resorts. Between the resorts are large stretches of uninhabited rainforest with the occasional coastal fishing village. The coastline is a combination of bays, beaches, rocky outcrops and mangrove forests - from these, steep hills rise sharply into the nearby mountain ranges. Sigatoka is the region's main town. It has a lively market alongside the bus-stand but little else of particular appeal. Heading inland, the Sigatoka Valley Road passes through some stunning scenery alongside the winding Sigatoka River. This is Fiji's salad garden - sugar cane fields and vegetable plantations hug the river right into the interior. The hills alongside the river are rolling and covered in grass shrub as opposed to rainforest. Tavuni Hill Fort, an ancient tribal fortification, sits high up on one of these hillocks and has a visitor centre and trails. On view are the rather gruesome killing stones from Fiji's ritualistic past as well as numerous foundations all labelled with interesting facts. West of Sigatoka is an another National Park protecting the Sigatoka Sandunes. The 50-metre high stretch of sandunes has a visitor centre and guides are available for ecology tours. The sandunes are of significant historical importance for they cover what used to be an ancient settlement. Surfing and windsurfing along this stretch of coastline is excellent although the seas can be extremely dangerous for casual swimmers. As you travel east from Sigatoka, the sugar plantations give way to a more tropical scene - mountains and rainforest. Korotogo is a charming stretch of coastline with a handful of family and budget resorts, restaurants and attractions. The beaches along this stretch are not the most spectacular in Fiji, the main problem being from dead coral which becomes exposed at low tide making it impossible to swim. However, the vacation atmosphere of the area and the opportunity to explore the region and eat away from the hotel makes up for this. Beyond Korotogo, the vacation resorts are scattered along the mangrove coastline where there is a good stretch of beach. Korolevu is a defunct airstrip with a few shops. A few miles inland from Korolevu village are some excellent waterfalls and caves which appear on tour itineraries. There is an excellent backpacker resort past Korolevu called the Beachouse which has a lovely beach. The beachouse has self-catering units for families as well as camping and dorms for backpackers. Beyond Korolevu the rainforest becomes denser and the mountains more inaccessible. There is an interesting village on the tiny island of Serua. Waidroka Bay has good hiking and surfing and marks the end of the Coral Coast. All the larger resorts along the Coral Coast have excellent night entertainment including traditional Fijian mekes (dances) and authentic firewalking displays. Coral Coast Accommodation Pacific Harbour & Suva City Pacific Harbour is the tourism centre in the Suva area. It lies about half an hour drive from the Capital towards the Coral Coast. Here there are several vacation resorts, villas and a number of fine independent restaurants as well as a cultural centre, a fantastic golf course, deep sea fishing and diving specialists to the amazing Astrolabe Reef off Beqa. There are also several tour operators offering exciting river trips up the Navua River into the stunning rainforested interior and to traditional villages. Trips can be made by motorized punt or bamboo raft passing riverside villages and isolated scenery. There are some excellent rapids for rafting a little further north. Pacific Harbour is a great place to stay for adventure tourism. Unfortunately the beaches are rather ordinary. Suva is the main centre of Viti Levu and capital of Fiji. The city has a population of about 160,000 making it the largest in Fiji. It is also considered the hub of the South Pacific Islands with the University of the South Pacific, Fiji government buildings, foreign embassies and regional headquarters. Suva is built upon a peninsula surrounded by rainforested mountains and has an excellent harbour and yacht club. The centre of Suva is a mixture of old colonial buildings and modern architecture. Here you will find good restaurants, lively bars and over 20 night-clubs offering everything from local reggae to blues. There is also a colourful local market and some fine shops. Most of Suva's sights are in a small area that comprises the city centre. The extent of this area goes from the bus stand and market, along Victoria Parade to Albert Park and the Fiji museum in Thurston gardens. Most of the pavements are covered by shop awnings or pillared balcony's, which is just as well, for if its not raining, then the sun will be hot on the head. Taxi's are plentiful and cheap and will take you anywhere your legs won't go. Organized tours of the city centre, its suburbs and near by attractions can be arranged through a number of companies or at your hotel desk. Alongside Albert Park, the weathered stone buildings with an impressive clock tower housed Old Parliament from 1939 to 1987. Statues of Fiji's two most important chiefs sit in front of the building and the famous clock tower can be seen and heard from the nearby vicinity. A short pleasant ride from the city centre to Nasese takes you to the rather impressive new Parliament buildings that opened in 1992. The buildings were designed in the style of a traditional Fijian bure, with plenty of magimagi and tapa, painted orange and landscaped. Visitors are free to visit the complex and can arrange to sit in on cession by calling 305811. This recreational area 18 km north of Suva gives a glimpse of the rainforest, views for miles and a break from the rush of life. The park offers marked trails that take hikers to natural swimming pools, waterfalls, vistas and through the dense jungle. The weather in this region is even wetter than Suva and adds to the mystique of the rainforest - so be prepared. A newly introduced fee (minimal) to enter the park goes towards its upkeep. Inland from Suva are the very traditional mountain regions of Naitasiri and Namosi, both constantly veiled in clouds. Fijian villages are found throughout this interior, many of which are far from roads and electricity. Here lies the most remote and conservative village environments, and the most hospitable of Fijians. The region is steeped in history and tradition, has some breathtaking mountain scenes, river gorges, caves and waterfalls and are known only by the locals themselves. The area is excellent to explore if you are fortunate to be invited by locals but otherwise there is nowhere to stay and buses are infrequent. It is possible to explore the rainforest at the government funded Colo-i-Suva Forest Park about 15 minutes north of Suva. There is a well marked trail leading to several waterfalls and viewpoints. Alternatively, trips are offered up the Navua River from just outside Pacific Harbour. Suva spreads in a suburban sprawl towards Nausori, 20km to the north, a small town with an even smaller International Airport. The intertwining mangrove forests around Nausori are vast and rich in wildlife and traditional lifestyle. It's a shame no organized tours explore these fascinating regions. The coast beyond Nausori is rather dreary all the way to Natovi Landing where boats depart for Ovalau and the smaller nearby islands. Accommodation in the Suva Area North Viti Levu Viti Levu's Sunshine Coast is a quiet rural area with only a handful of places to stay. The reason for this is the lack of beaches (the exception being beautiful Nananu-i-Ra island) but the scenic mountain ranges make this a great place to explore. It is also within a few hours drive from Nadi International Airport. The region is dominated by sugarcane plantations and the vast gold mine at Vatukoula. There are several small market towns along the coast, each with a local produce market, basic shops and services as well as a colonial style hotel. For the independent traveller, the region offers several mountain ranges for exploring, including Tomainivi with Fiji's highest peak. It is possible to arrange guided tours to these ranges but they are not well advertised and there are no marked trails. The drive from Lautoka to Ba is very scenic with rolling hills along the coastal road. East of Tavua is Yaqara, a huge cattle ranch. The mountain road inland from Yaqara leads to the impressive Nakauvudra Range which is steeped in legends. Stop at the villages enroute to find out more. On the most northerly point of Viti Levu is the sleepy and rather dusty inland town of Rakiraki. The scenery around Rakiraki is lovely with hills off the road giving excellent views of the bays and mountains. Ellington Wharf on the coast is the departure point for Nananu-i-Ra island and there is usually a fishing boat ready to depart. The island has some lovely beaches and it is easy to walk around the island in less than half a day making it an excellent place for beachcombing. However, the real beauty of this island is its laid back atmosphere with a mixture of local artisans, European residents and independent travellers. Sunshine Coast Accommodation |
