Fiji Travel Vision
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Suva Travel Guide
Viti Levu, Fiji
Suva - cosmopolitan capital of Fiji
Colonial architecture, lively market, excellent nightlife
Cultural Centres and quaint Fiji Museum
Pacific Harbour resorts for adventure and activity vacations
Stunning rainforest with winding rivers and traditional villages
River tours and rafting up Navua River
No decent beaches
Introduction
Pacific Harbour is the tourism centre in the Suva area. It lies about half an hour drive from the Capital towards the Coral Coast. Here there are several vacation resorts, villas and a number of fine independent restaurants as well as a cultural centre, a fantastic golf course, deep sea fishing and diving specialists to the amazing Astrolabe Reef off Beqa. There are also several tour operators offering exciting river trips up the Navua River into the stunning rainforested interior and to traditional villages. Trips can be made by motorized punt or bamboo raft passing riverside villages and isolated scenery. There are some excellent rapids for rafting a little further north. Pacific Harbour is a great place to stay for adventure tourism. Unfortunately the beaches are rather ordinary.
Suva is the main centre of Viti Levu and capital of Fiji. The city has a population of about 160,000 making it the largest in Fiji. It is also considered the hub of the South Pacific Islands with the University of the South Pacific, Fiji government buildings, foreign embassies and regional headquarters. Suva is built upon a peninsula surrounded by rainforested mountains and has an excellent harbour and yacht club. The centre of Suva is a mixture of old colonial buildings and modern architecture. Here you will find good restaurants, lively bars and over 20 night-clubs offering everything from local reggae to blues. There is also a colourful local market and some fine shops.
Most of Suva's sights are in a small area that comprises the city centre. The extent of this area goes from the bus stand and market, along Victoria Parade to Albert Park and the Fiji museum in Thurston gardens. Most of the pavements are covered by shop awnings or pillared balcony's, which is just as well, for if its not raining, then the sun will be hot on the head. Taxi's are plentiful and cheap and will take you anywhere your legs won't go. Organized tours of the city centre, its suburbs and near by attractions can be arranged through a number of companies or at your hotel desk.
Alongside Albert Park, the weathered stone buildings with an impressive clock tower housed Old Parliament from 1939 to 1987. Statues of Fiji's two most important chiefs sit in front of the building and the famous clock tower can be seen and heard from the nearby vicinity.
A short pleasant ride from the city centre to Nasese takes you to the rather impressive new Parliament buildings that opened in 1992. The buildings were designed in the style of a traditional Fijian bure, with plenty of magimagi and tapa, painted orange and landscaped. Visitors are free to visit the complex and can arrange to sit in on cession by calling 305811.
This recreational area 18 km north of Suva gives a glimpse of the rainforest, views for miles and a break from the rush of life. The park offers marked trails that take hikers to natural swimming pools, waterfalls, vistas and through the dense jungle. The weather in this region is even wetter than Suva and adds to the mystique of the rainforest - so be prepared. A newly introduced fee (minimal) to enter the park goes towards its upkeep.
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Inland from Suva are the very traditional mountain regions of Naitasiri and Namosi, both constantly veiled in clouds. Fijian villages are found throughout this interior, many of which are far from roads and electricity. Here lies the most remote and conservative village environments, and the most hospitable of Fijians. The region is steeped in history and tradition, has some breathtaking mountain scenes, river gorges, caves and waterfalls and are known only by the locals themselves. The area is excellent to explore if you are fortunate to be invited by locals but otherwise there is nowhere to stay and buses are infrequent. It is possible to explore the rainforest at the government funded Colo-i-Suva Forest Park about 15 minutes north of Suva. There is a well marked trail leading to several waterfalls and viewpoints. Alternatively, trips are offered up the Navua River from just outside Pacific Harbour.
Suva spreads in a suburban sprawl towards Nausori, 20km to the north, a small town with an even smaller International Airport. The intertwining mangrove forests around Nausori are vast and rich in wildlife and traditional lifestyle. It's a shame no organized tours explore these fascinating regions. The coast beyond Nausori is rather dreary all the way to Natovi Landing where boats depart for Ovalau and the smaller nearby islands.
Accommodation in the Suva Area
Go North to Sunshine Coast
Visit Offshore Islands
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Getting There
About half an hour flight from Nadi International Airport to Nausori airport and another twenty minutes from there to Suva Centre. Alternatively it is a four hour bus journey from Nadi along the Queens Road or six to seven along the Kings Road. Most cargo boats for the outer islands leave from Suva Harbour as do the regular ferry services to Kadavu, Vanua Levu and Taveuni.
Car Hire Companies
Nausori Airport has internal flights to the following:
Nadi Airport; Kadavu Is (Southern Islands); Savusavu, Labasa, Taveuni Is (Northern Islands); Ovalau, Koro, Gau (Lomaiviti Group); Vanua Belavu, Lakeba (Lau Group); Rotuma.
Local Airlines
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