introduction

Viti Levu is the largest island in Fiji, covers an area of 10,388 km² and is about 106 km from north to south and 146 km east to west. It is closely comparable in size to The Big Island of Hawaii.

The nation's capital is Suva, is home to the majority of the population of Viti Levu (about 580,000). Other important towns, all around the coast, include Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, Nausori, Rakiraki, and Sigatoka.
 

 

 

 

 

surfing

The main island of Fiji is Viti Levu. Whilst there is still a lot to be discovered in the outer island groups, the mainland has been pretty well scoped by frustrated surfers discovering all too late that unless they were staying at Namotu or Tavaru that they were fresh out of luck. A collection of beach / reef breaks stretch from Suva to Nadi. Both ports offer ready access to Frigates Passage to the south which is an under rated and very affordable gem.

Travel around the islands by fishing boat can be frustrating; boats break, the locals go fishing, forget to pick you up etc. If you find a good driver pay them well and you should be fine. Few Fijians surf and so you need to have your wits about you when you go out. If it looks sketchy or sharky then go off your own gut instinct. It can also be an expensive exercise having the locals take you out at $60 a pop with everyone in the boat giving the thumbs up that it's going to be good. Then when you get out and its 6 inches of sideshore, the locals will usually point at it and say - go surf! Either that or just scratch their nuts and say...no good today huh?

travel

There are many ways of travelling Fiji: by bus, "share taxis", private taxi, bike, ferry or car. Bicycles are becoming more popular in Fiji, but be aware of the traffic and don't travel at night. So bicycle transport in Fiji is unadvisable except for those who are very ambitious or very well-informed.

You can also take a ferry for the inter-island transfer. Check Awesome Adventures Fiji and South Sea Cruises. 

Buses are quite cheap and on the main road circling Viti Levu buses run every half hour and taxis are a substantial proportion of traffic. Road travel tends to be more dangerous than many people think it is, so bus is the safest option unless you are truly comfortable and capable of driving a car on your own. In this case try to avoid driving at night, especially outside of urban areas.

where to stay

It won't be difficult to find an accommodation or a nice resort, as there many of those on Viti Levu. It will really depend on your personal taste and budget. The Beach house Backpackers Resort is a very popular hostel on the Coral Coast, about halfway between Nadi and Suva, and you will have a great opportunity for amazing snorkelling and jungle hikes.

Tanoa Waterfront Hotel is business hotel with quite good rates (best rates on official website start at US$75). If you want to relax, try Tanoa International Hotel, which is conveniently located just three minutes away from Nadi International Airport. Best rates start at US$140. Tanoa Plaza Hotel is in the same location, but should be a bit cheaper.

 

what to pack

Pretty much everything you may need can be bought in Suva, though it's still better to take some important things, such as a good sunscreen, repellent spray, sunnies, hat, trainers, loose clothing. Always take your own medicines.

Bring plenty of memory for digital cameras and bring plenty of batteries. Take your snorkelling gear with you – you won’t regret. And take a good protection for your camera from the sand. 

A small backpack makes a good carryon bag and thongs will be useful for every day use.

Trainers, appropiate clothing for the weather, insect repellent, sunscreen and sunglasses and neccessities. Remember to take medication for emergency use, as you may not be able to communicate with locals there!

 

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