1 Blue Lagoon Cruise: Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands
If you want to sample several islands on your Fiji holiday, a Blue Lagoon Cruise is a great option. These intimate 68-passenger cruises offer a choice of three different itineraries in the picture-postcard Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands. You can choose from three, four, or seven-night cruises, and all have flexible itineraries that are subject to change depending on the weather and local festivities. Daily schedules incorporate a maximum of four hours of cruising each day, so you can spend most of your time exploring the islands. Activities include swimming; diving; and snorkeling in the silky waters; picnics on uninhabited islands; fishing; and visiting local villages and attractions, like the Sawa i lau Caves. Cruises depart from Port Denarau. The Yasawa Flyer also offers daily voyages through the Yasawas from Denarau Marina.
Frequently gracing the list of the world's best and most challenging waves for surfers, Cloudbreak lies on a sheltered reef about two kilometers from Tavarua Island Resort, near Namotu Island Resort, in the Mamanuca Islands. This internationally renowned left reef break speeds up as it barrels over a shallow reef, dumping a massive volume of water, and it's surfable during all tides. Depending on conditions, waves vary in height from two to 20-feet, and access is usually via a jet-ski and tow board. Not surprisingly, the wave is best attempted by expert surfers only. In 2016, Hawaiian surfer Aaron Gold almost drowned riding this break. The best swell comes from the south/southwest, thanks to the eastern trade winds, which typically blow between March and October. Tavarua and nearby islands offer access to eight main surf breaks, including Swimming Pools, Tavarua Rights, and Namotu Left. Besides Tavarua and Namotu, other resorts that offer access to Cloudbreak include Funky Fish Beach Resort, Plantation Island Resort, and Lomani Island Resort.
3 Bouma National Heritage Park, Taveuni Island
Nature lovers, hikers, and birders can soak up some of Fiji's lush natural beauty in Bouma National Heritage Park on the island of Taveuni. Established in 1990, the park encompasses about 150 square kilometers of rainforest, with rare tropical plants and an impressive diversity of birds, as well as four villages that are each responsible for managing portions of the park. You can snorkel in the marine park at Waitabu; hike through the rainforest to ancient ruins near Vidawa; and kayak or stroll the Lavena Coastal Walk, stopping at waterfalls for a swim along the way. A particular highlight of the park are the Tavoro Waterfalls, with three sets of falls maintained by the nearby Korovou village, where you can swim in the cool volcanic pools and capture photos of the veil-like streams of water gushing down the rockfaces. The park is also home to Lake Tagimaucia, a crater lake, where the rare Tagimaucia flower blooms, and De Voeux Peak, which offers spectacular views from its 1,195-meter summit.
4 Beqa Lagoon, Viti Levu
About 144 kilometers southeast of Nadi, off Pacific Harbour, Beqa (pronounced "Benga") Lagoon lures avid divers and adventure seekers, many of whom come here to experience the Beqa Lagoon Shark Dive. With stringent safety measures in place, expert local dive operators offer exhilarating face-to-face encounters with these much-feared creatures in their natural habitat. Among the many species you can see are bull sharks, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, and even tiger sharks. If you're looking for a more subdued underwater experience, the lagoon is home to more than 100 dive sites, including coral bommies, pinnacles, and wrecks that showcase an impressive diversity of soft corals and tropical fish. Most sites are in relatively shallow waters not far from shore. This is a great place to dive if you're visiting Viti Levu and don't have time to travel to reefs around the smaller islands. Beqa Island, just offshore, is home to the Sawau tribe, who started the famous Fiji tradition of firewalking, and you can still watch this centuries-old tradition at ceremonies in nearby resorts.
5 Pacific Harbour, Viti Levu
Less than 50 kilometers from Suva, Pacific Harbour is the self-proclaimed "Adventure Capital of Fiji." This upscale enclave of vacation homes and resorts began its life as a residential canal development in the 1970s, and today, it's evolving into a hot spot for adrenaline sports. Popular activities here include river rafting on the nearby Upper Navua River, zip-lining, jet skiing, surfing, 4WD adventures, and a heart-pumping dive with bull sharks in Beqa Lagoon. If you prefer more low-key activities, Pacific Harbour is also home to a popular arts village with restaurants, souvenir stalls, and cultural shows. Accommodation options range from budget hostels to luxury resorts, and the brand new Pacific Palm Marina is underway, with restaurants, upscale residences, a golf course, and spa. About 20 minutes by car from Pacific Harbour, Kila World offers ropes courses and nature walks.
6 Navua River, Viti Levu
The Navua River on Viti Levu flows for 65 kilometers from the Viti Levu highlands to the south coast through magnificent scenery, with lush rainforests, waterfalls, and rugged canyons.
You can paddle the Upper Navua River in kayaks or canoes, float along on a bilibili (bamboo raft), or ride the whitewater rapids (Grade II to Grade III) on an inflatable raft. Wildlife such as fruit bats, herons, and native parrots are often spotted along the way, and you can combine a river experience with cultural tours to local villages and participate in traditional kava ceremonies. This tangled, tropical wilderness offers a taste of the real Fiji - especially if you are based at one of the manicured resorts of the Coral Coast, Denarau Island, and Pacific Harbour.
7 Garden of the Sleeping Giant and Sabeto Hot Springs, Viti Levu
Less than 30 minutes by car from Nadi, snuggled in the lush foothills of their namesake mountain peak, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant is a rewarding day trip - especially if you're a green thumb. Once the private collection of the late actor Raymond Burr of Perry Mason fame, these gorgeous gardens spotlight more than 2,000 species of orchids, as well as a tranquil lily pond replete with tadpoles and frogs. You can explore the gardens on covered boardwalks that wind through 20-hectares of lawns and native forest. Swings and hammocks invite you to linger and enjoy the peace and serenity of this verdant valley, and free guided tours share fascinating details on the history of the gardens.
After admiring all the botanical beauties, visit the nearby Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool and enjoy a therapeutic mud bath and a soothing soak in the thermal pools.
8 Great Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu
Fringing Fiji's fourth largest island, Kadavu, and other small islands in the Kadavu group, the 100-kilometer-long Great Astrolabe Reef is the fourth largest barrier reef in the world. Divers come here to submerge themselves in an underwater wonderland of caverns, tunnels, pinnacles, drop-offs, kaleidoscopic hard and soft corals, and tropical fish. Most of the dive sites are easily accessible by boat from the southern shores of Kadavu, the currents are typically moderate, and visibility ranges from 10 to 40 meters. The dives cover all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Snorkelers can also enjoy the rich marine life here and the chance to swim with manta rays. Anglers can fish in designated areas; the reef is known for its abundance of billfish species, as well as tuna, mahi mahi, and giant trevally.
9 Sawa-i-Lau Caves, Yasawa Islands
In the northern Yasawa Islands, the mystical Sawa-i-Lau Caves were sculpted by wind and waves over thousands of years and they are famous as the site of scenes from the famous Brooke Shields movie, The Blue Lagoon. Bathed in light, the first limestone cavern is easy to access, and you can swim in the cool, crystal-clear water of the deep pool and admire the interesting limestone formations. To access the inner cave, you have to swim through an underwater tunnel. Locals believe that this inner cavern is the heart of the Yasawas, and that the caves are the final resting place of the ten-headed Fijian God, Ulutini. Note that the second cave is only accessible when the tide allows. Guides are highly recommended.
10 Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, Viti Levu
About 60 kilometers south of Nadi, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park was the country's first national park, established to protect this fragile ecosystem of coastal dunes near the mouth of the Sigatoka River. Formed over thousands of years, the dunes range in height from 20 to 60 meters, with breathtaking views of the surf from the highest peaks. To explore the park, you can choose from two self-guided walks: a one-hour walk through a forest to the beach or a two-hour walk along the ridgeline. Highlights include visiting the archaeological sites to see ancient Lapita artifacts, including more than two-thousand-year-old pottery, stone tools, and one of the biggest burial sites in the Pacific. Birdwatching is also popular, and the small visitor center displays some interesting artifacts found at the site as well as information about its history and ecology.
11 Kula Eco Park, Viti Levu
At Kula Eco Park in Sigatoka, you can hold the rare Fijian crested iguana, capture close-up images of Fiji's beautiful native birds, and learn about captive breeding programs for some of the country's endangered species. Wooden boardwalks thread through more than 12 acres of forest, along the valley floor and canopy, where you can see tropical plants; lizards; snakes; and native birds, including doves, parrots, and waterbirds. Marine exhibits house tropical fish, colorful soft coral, and sea turtles. This is a fun attraction for critter-loving kids and adults alike.
12 Fiji Museum, Viti Levu
You can learn all about Fiji's fascinating culture and history at this small museum in central Suva, set within Thurston Gardens. It is widely considered one of the best museums in the South Pacific, with exhibits on the culture of the indigenous Fijians, British colonial history, the influence of the country's large Indian population, and Fiji's natural history. In the maritime exhibits, double-hulled Fijian canoes and a bilibili (bamboo raft) are on display, as well as the rudder from the HMS Bounty. Other highlights include exhibits on the practise of cannibalism, shards of pottery found at the Sigatoka Dunes archeological sites, and works by contemporary Fijian artists. After admiring all the exhibits, you can relax with a picnic under the palms and fig trees in the surrounding botanical gardens.
13 Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, Nadi
One of the top tourist attractions in Nadi, the rainbow-hued Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere and draws a steady stream of devotees, as well as tourists who come here to admire the impressive Dravidian architecture. Artists traveled from India to paint the temple and work on its colorful ceiling frescoes. The temple is dedicated to the God Mungan, depicted by the wooden statue from India housed in the main temple. Be sure to follow the dress code when visiting here, (cover up and take your shoes off) and note that photographs are off limits once you enter.
14 Levuka, Ovalau
Fiji's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, Levuka is the capital of Ovalau, the main island of the Lomaiviti group, and it was also the first colonial capital of Fiji. This is where the first Europeans settled in the early 19th century, and its historic center, with old wooden buildings, achieved World Heritage status in 2013. Today, the town is not a thriving tourist destination, rather, it's a quaint window into old Fiji, nestled amid mango trees and coconut palms. Highlights include the Royal Hotel, opened in the 1860s and still operating today as the oldest hotel in the South Pacific; Sacred Heart Cathedral and Presbytery from the 1860s; and the Morris Hedstrom bond store. Most visitors to Levuka organize homestays with the locals and linger a while to soak up the laid-back ambiance of this friendly town.
