Rotuma
Fiji's remotest island
Indigenous Polynesian culture
Some of the best beaches in the South Pacific
Spilt island of Hofliua
Kota natural stone bridge
Accommodation very limited
Introduction
The remote island of Rotuma is something of a novelty. The island has an indigenous Polynesian population of about 3000. The Rotuman language and culture is quite unique and the people have fairer skin than their Fijian neighbours. In Rotuma you will experience a unique Polynesian culture which is very different to that elsewhere in Fiji. Rotuma is an excellent place to go to mix with the local people and experience the true South Pacific way of life. Rotumans are extremely friendly and far less conservative than their Fijian neighbours. They are also extremely extremely humorous and easy to converse with.
The volcanic island is about 21 sq km in size and has an extremely lush and hilly interior. The villages are stretched out along the coast road along which dogs, chickens and children run wild. Most Rotuman homes have defined gardens.
There is a sand road encircling the island which takes about a day to walk around. There are also several rough roads and trails into the lush plantations inland which makes it perfect for exploring. Rotuma has some of the most breathtaking beaches in the South Pacific with contrasting fine white sand and jet black volcanic rocks. The turquoise lagoons at Motusa and Kalvaka are stunning and the wild coastline of Itumuta in the west is spectacular. There are also some interesting archaeological sights and landmarks to see such as ancient graves in the bush, a natural stone bridge at Kota and the split island of Hofliua.
The main drawback for visiting Rotuma is its remoteness from Fiji and the lack of accommodation and amenities on the island. The Rotuman Council only recently opened up the island to tourism and at the moment this is limited to homestays.
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Getting There
There are no schedule flights to Rotuma. The best way to get there is by cargo boat which call in about once a month and cabins are usually available - if not there is plenty of deck space. This is how many locals travel and it's a great way to get an introduction to the island. The boat takes two days from Suva. Contact Patterson Brothers.
Travel Operators
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Accommodation
There are no hotels on Rotuma. However, a few families offer accommodation within their homes which can be arranged once in Fiji by meeting a local Rotuman.
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