Destinations And Sightseeing:

A. Sigatoka

It is a small town located along the banks of Fiji's second largest river, some 38 miles from the southern coast of Viti Levu. Apart from being a farmland occupied by farming communities, it also acts as a service town for the Coral Coast resorts. The town has an agricultural market, a large mosque, and some cheap places for accommodation and dining. One of the most popular attractions in the town is the view of the peculiar fantasy-style building located on the hill behind the town. Apart from this, you can also explore the vast Sigatoka sand dunes located near the southern coast and the Sigatoka Valley. The valley is home to many hectares of fertile land and contains more than 200 cultural and archeological sites including the Tavuni Hill Fort, which is a protective structure build by the Tongan cheif Maile Latemai in the eighteenth century.

B. Nausori Highlands

Located east of Nadi, in the center of the Viti Levu islands, are the isolated villages of the Nausori Highlands. These villages are perhaps the most picturesque in Fiji and offer some of the best views of the surrounding countryside. While most villages in Fiji have shifted to homes made from prefabricated corrugated iron and concrete, the villages of Nausori Highlands still live in their traditional homes that have a central promenade leading down to the river. Due to its remote location, only a few visitors come to this place and it is customary to pay a visit to the village chief and ask him if its alright to hang around and take some pictures. If you are looking for fun, avoid visiting the area on Sundays, as it is the day of worship for the local people.

C. Suva

Suva is one of the largest and perhaps the most livable city in the South Pacific, other than cities located in New Zealand or Australia. It has been the capital of Fiji since 1883 and is located on 9.3 miles of peninsula near one of the finest naturally protected harbors in the South Seas. It is inhabited by some ninety thousand people, of which some forty thousand live in the fast-developing corridor stretching from the city limits to the airport at Nausori.

The only drawback of the city is perhaps its weather, which is often wet and muggy. However, this factor is often overlooked as the city has plenty of other things to offer that compensate for the unpredictable weather.

Suva's population is a vibrant mix of people belonging to different ethnicities such as the Fijians, Tongans, Samoans, Micronesians, Europeans, Indians, and Chinese. This cultural amalgamation is easily visible in the variety of Christian churches, Hindu and Sikh temples, and Muslim mosques located in the city. Being the capital of Fiji, the city is the main center of the South Pacific and offers an array of modern facilities that have helped in attracting a number of international bureaus and regional institutions such as the University of the South Pacific. The city is also the headquarters of the Fiji Visitors Bureau.

D. Nadi

The city was originally a small community of farmers but has now been transformed into a mini megalopolis with a population of some twenty thousand inhabitants. The surrounding areas of Nadi are covered with sugarcane fields and have the highest concentration of hotels, restaurants, and resorts in the entire country. Most of the visitors that come to Nadi and like it, as the place offers scenic views and is near to the airport, just about five miles.

Nadi's recent growth has been fuelled mostly by the tourism industry and has become one of the best places in Fiji to shop for souvenirs and for enjoying the delectable Fijian cuisine. The city's surrounding areas are meant for visitors with an adventurous spirit, as roads leading to the mountains can be rough and covered with mud. The beaches around the city are relatively less crowded and the mountains to the east are nothing short of being spectacular. However, renting a car for exploring the surrounding areas is difficult as most car rental companies are wary of renting vehicles for exploration purposes, as the tracks are bumpy.

The city has a large Indian population and is the main religious center of Muslims and Hindus in Fiji. The most sacred place of worship for Hindus is the magnificent Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple located on the east side of the city. It is supposedly the largest Hindu Shrine in the Southern Hemisphere. You are free to enter the temple's premises, but will have to leave your cameras behind and take off you shoes.

E. Yasawa

This group of islands is the place where both parts of the famous Hollywood movie, ‘Blue Lagoon' were shot. The Yasawa is home to some twenty islands of volcanic origin, lying next to each other near the northwest coast of Viti Levu. The chain of islands stretch for approximately fifty miles and the starting point is located about 25 miles northwest of Lautoka. When viewed from a distance, they look like a string of diamonds lying on the horizon. Most of the islands in the region have sandy beaches fringed by deep blue waters. The inflow of tourists has helped the local villagers, as cultivable land is limited on these islands. The islands have become very popular for their cruise sails and the number of cheap and luxury hotels that have started operations in Waya-Naviti, Nanuya Lailai and Nacula.

F. Kadavu

The mesmerizing island of Kadavu is located just 55 miles south of Suva and has a population of approximately 8700 inhabitants. The island is approximately thirty miles in length and its width varies from quarter of a mile to eight miles. It is spread over an area of about 255 square miles, which is little less than that of Taveuni Island. The island is characterized by high mountains and several steep cliffs. Very few roads exist in the rugged landscape, which makes water taxis the most preferred mode of transportation. The eastern side is the most developed area, where the airport, government buildings, and hospitals are located.

Most of the residents living in Kadavu are highly conservative, which is mainly due to the isolated location of the island. However, this should not restrict you from visiting the island as the sea around the island is said to have a rich diversity of undersea life, especially in the Astrolabe Reef. Apart from the sea, the island's flora and fauna is also very diverse, particularly the number of different species of birds that are found here. The island is the home of the rare Kadavu Parrot, which is very colorful and has been declared as an endangered species.

G. Rotuma

The Rotuma Island is just eight miles in length and has an average width of 2.5 miles. The landscape of the island is characterized by white sandy beaches and coral reefs against the backdrop of rugged mountains and lush green vegetation. The main island is surrounded by several islets including the amazing ‘Hafliua', which is also called the split island, as it is divided by a massive fissure.

Rotuma is home to Mt. Suelhof, which is the highest point on the island and is located at an altitude of 839 feet. The population of the island is mostly spread along the coastline and the interior areas of the village are covered with natural gardens and bush lands that have an abundance of coconut trees. The fertile lands of the island are suitable for cultivation and a number of agricultural items are grown in the area such as yams, mango, papaya, taro, bananas, oranges, and melons. The sea and lagoons around the island are home to Hawk's Bill turtles, dolphins, manta rays, parrotfish, and soft coral.

H. Ovalau

The main island of the Lomaiviti group, Ovalau is eight miles in length and has an average width of seven miles. It is situated in the east of Viti Levu and is covered with rugged mountains and thick vegetation. The main attraction of the island is the ancient colonial capital of Levuka, which is located at the base of the mountains and has the ambience of a nineteenth century whaling town with a population of 1500 inhabitants. If you have an interest in the ancient colonial history of the region then you must certainly visit the island, as it is a storehouse of old monuments and customs.

I. Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu is the second largest island of the Fijian Archipelago and has a population of around 130,000 inhabitants. The island measures 112 miles in length, an average width of 20.5 miles, and is spread over an area of approximately 3441 square miles. The island is relatively less crowded as compared to other islands in the region and is surrounded by an extensive system of coral reefs. It was originally the main center of copra cultivation, but now sugarcane is the most common crop found on the island, most of which are cultivated on the western and northern coasts.