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The Islands
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is Fiji’s second largest island, and home to the capital city of Suva. If you are arriving in Fiji via airplane, your first stop will be in Nadi, where the international airport is located. Viti Levu is the most bustling of all the Fijian islands. If you want to experience a lot of what Fiji has to offer without leaving one island, Viti Levu is where you want to be. From nightlife to beaches, Viti Levu is definitely a tourist hot spot.
Nadi offers lots for the tourist to take in. There are village markets and a hopping Main Street with retail stores and restaurants playing traditional Fijian music. This is also where you will find The Garden of the Sleeping Giant, a public garden featuring more than 2000 varieties of orchids, lily ponds and a dense rainforest, located at the base of Sleeping Giant Mountain.
The capital city of Suva is Fiji’s metropolis. If you’re interested in Fijian city life, Suva is for you. You will find shopping malls, farmers markets, restaurants and bars, museums, parks and government buildings, as well as a variety of lodging choices. From historic hotels with amazing architecture to affordable motels, Suva has everything you need.
Viti Levu is also where you will find Fiji’s “Coral Coast.” The Coral Coast boasts nearly 50 miles of pristine beaches and secluded bays along Vitu Levu’s southern coast and is home to a huge coral reef. The reef offers all sorts of underwater exploration activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing. From the Coral Coast you can easily get to the Beqa Lagoon (on Beqa Island) by charter boat, where you can dive with resident tiger sharks, sea turtles and marine life in one of the world’s largest barrier reefs. If whitewater rafting or kayaking is more your thing, head inland to the Navua River to continue your adventure.
Coral Coast
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji and is located just northeast of Viti Levu. Known for its beautiful beaches and private villas, Vanua Levu is less touristy than Viti Levu and is a natural paradise. Hiking trails through the rainforest inside the Wasali Nature Reserve
lead to waterfalls and breathtaking views. Once you get outside of town you can experience true Fiji: miles of tourist-free beaches, villages, and jungles with hidden waterfalls. 4WD vehicles are a popular choice when renting a car for touring the land. For even more local flavor check out the farmer’s market in Savusavu, where you will find fresh fruits and veggies, fish (if the boats have come in) and friendly locals ready to chat and sell their goods.
The waters of Fiji have many reefs, which bring divers from all over the world. In Vanua Levu the best dive spots are the Rainbow Reef, White Wall and the Namena Marine reserve. For the best chance of meeting up with a pod of dolphins to frolic with, head to Natewa Bay where both Spinner and Bottle Nose dolphins congregate.
Vuodomo Waterfall
The Mamanucas
The Mamanucas are a string of smaller islands with sandy white beaches. If you saw the movie Castaway, it was filmed on the uninhabited island of Monuriki in the Mamanucas. As you can see in the photo below, this is one of three areas in Fiji that have a resort with overwater
bungalows. The Mamanucas are accessible by boat and are located about an hour from Vito Levu.
If you’re looking for a party scene, Beachcomber Island is it. Beachcomber Island Resort is a family-friendly resort for kids of all ages offering parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling, banana boat rides and more.
If you’re looking for a more laid-back experience, and an overwater bungalow, the Likuliki Lagoon Resort may be more your speed. With activities that include non-motorized water sports, island hopping, parasailing and their Friday night entertainment that includes traditional dance, song and food, this resort seems to have it all.
It seems that once you leave the main island the activities become more “resort-based,” so if you want a vacation that has a lot to do from one central location, you may want to choose a resort based on the activities they offer.
Likuliki Lagoon Resort
Taveuni
Taveuni is best known for the Lavena Coastal Walk, which runs for 3 miles along the edge of the forest and the white sands of Lavena beach, then along the black sands of a volcanic beach and through villages until ending at the top of a waterfall. Sounds pretty majestic, doesn’t it? I should mention that to reach the end of the trail you need to swim a bit, but it’s through two aquamarine
pools that you can then jump into from the top of the falls. Taveuni is also known for being the most tropical of all of Fiji’s islands, with lush natural flower gardens along hiking trails and dozens of waterfalls.
If you are SCUBA certified, Taveuni is home to two world-renowned dive sites, Eel Reef and the Great White Wall. One of the world’s most beautiful soft coral reefs can be found in the Somosomo Strait, which runs between Taveuni and Vanua Levu. The straight is also popular for sailing and kayaking.
Taveuni also has a small airport and accommodations to suit every traveler: luxury resorts, rental homes, beach cabins and campgrounds.
Somosomo Straight
The Lau & Moala Island Groups
If you want to be off the beaten path- and I mean WAY off the beaten path, the Lau and Moala island groups are for you. Accessible by plane or boat, this group of islands has traditional villages and untouched jungles. Most tourists don’t venture into this rugged wilderness, but if hiking in the rainforest and snorkeling in the sparkling blue waters of Fiji is your thing, this is where you want to be. There are no dive companies, boating requires a permit and commercial fishing is prohibited. This land is virtually untouched, and the Fijian government is keeping it that way. If you’re looking for an authentic vacation in Fiji’s final frontier, living among the locals, the Lau and Moala island groups provide just that. As for accommodations, there are two simple guest houses on Vanau Balavu and Lakeba islands, and if luxury in the wilderness is more your style, the Vatuvara Resort on the private island of Kaibu is all inclusive and situated on 800 acres of pure Fiji land.
Vatuvara Resort
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