Hiking in Fiji
Fiji is an excellent place for hiking. There are literally thousands of trails around the islands that connect villages, traverse peaks and lead to waterfalls. Most are known only to the local villagers but a few have been opened up for tourism. Several areas have recently been declared as National Parks by the Fiji Island Government and offer well maintained trails, visitor centres and dedicated accommodation. The most popular destinations are reviewed below:
Koroyanitu National Park, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
This National Park offers several day and overnight walks, a visitor centre, scenic lodge accommodation and camping. Trails into the rainforest also pass through local villages and combine the stunning natural scenery with ecotourism. Highly recommended.
Accommodation for Eco-Tourists
Nausori Highlands, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
This inland rural area is an impressive collection of rolling hills, river valleys and volcanic peaks. The highlands also offer fantastic views over the Mamanuca and southern Yasawa Islands to the west. The hills transform from sunburnt grassland to lush green valleys during the wet season from December to April.
Tour Operators
View Regional Guide to Nadi Area
Colo-i-Suva Park, Suva Area, Viti Levu
Offers 6km of trails through rainforest less than 20 minutes drive from Suva. The area offers waterfalls, indigenous flora, bird life, scenic lookouts and lodge accommodation. Buses go beyond Colo-i-Suva into the heart of Naitasiri. The area is stunning although bad weather is common and roads are frequently flooded. This is traditional countryside and although accessible to tourists, village protocol should be observed.
Accommodation for Eco-Tourists
Bouma National Heritage Park, Taveuni, Northern Islands
In the beautiful Garden Island of Taveuni this park offers three separate day hikes - Tavoro Waterfalls, Lavena Coastal Walk and Vidawa Rainforest Hike, all excellent. There is also a rough trail to Lake Tagimaucia, home of the rare Tagimaucia flower that comes out in abundance between October and December.
Accommodation for Eco-Tourists
Other good trails include:
Tropical volcanic mountains behind Levuka on Ovalau, Lomaiviti, including an arduous day trek to remarkable Lovoni Village, isolated in the centre of the island.
Tour Operators
The rainforest around Savusavu on Vanua Levu, Northern Islands has several frequented trails to some excellent waterfalls. Tours also operate to Waisali Nature Reserve, a beautiful rainforest with trails about 40 minutes drive to the north of Savusavu.
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Flora & Gardens
Rare Tagimaucia flower in Taveuni and Vanua Levu, Northern Islands
There is a rough trail to scenic Lake Tagimaucia, where the rare Tagimaucia flowers come out in abundance between October and December.
Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Nadi Area, Viti Levu
Landscaped gardens, orchid collections, tropical flowers and rainforest walk
Thurston Gardens in Suva is a public botanical park next to the Fiji Museum. Although there are few flowers in the park, the indigenous shrubs and trees give a calming atmosphere in the centre of this busy City.
Tropical rainforest hosting many tropical plants and indigenous orchids in the mountains of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu
Tour Operators
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Wildlife & Reserves
Fiji's most famous animal is the crested iguana (brachylophus vitiensis), indigenous only to Yaduataba Island off Vanua Levu. The iguanas have the ability to change colour when aroused and are the only species of its kind. Their closest descendants live in South America. Other rare iguanas found in some local islands as well as other countries in the South Pacific include the rather similar banded iguana.
Sea turtles nest along many beaches in the Fiji Islands. The rich South Pacific coral reefs also provide excellent homes to dolphins, reef sharks, ray's and an abundance of other marine life.
There are over 100 species of birds in Fiji. The main island of Viti Levu has many species of birds, especially around the rainforests along the coral coast and Pacific Harbour. Kadavu, a large rainforested island in the Southern Islands, has a number of stunning musk parrots as well as unique species of fantails and honeyeaters. Taveuni in the Northern Islands has a diverse bird life including parrots and lorikeets. Endangered silktails can be found in the south eastern region of neighbouring Vanua Levu. There are several small islands that have been declared as Nature Reserves for birds, particularly nesting boobies. These include the 45-hectare Namenalala Island off Vanua Levu in the Northern Islands, Mabualau near Toberua Island in Lomaiviti, Bird Island off Vatulele in the Southern Islands and Hatana Island off Rotuma. Qamea, a large volcanic island off Taveuni in the Northern Islands is another good spot for exploring and bird watching.
Accommodation for Eco-Tourists
Kula Wildlife Park, outside Sigatoka on the Coral Coast has a collection of Fiji's natural wildlife and is a conversation park for Fiji's endangered species.
Kula Park - email: mitman@is.com.fj
Tour Operators
Orchid Island outside of Suva, Viti Levu has a small collection of Fiji's wildlife including the crested and banded iguana, parrots and sea turtles.
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