10 Things to Do on Taveuni Island, Fiji
- IDreamofMangoes
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
If you are looking to visit the beautiful island of Taveuni, stay with locals, sample Fijian food and explore Fiji on a smaller budget, I Dream of Mangoes has you covered with this blog post on the 10 best things to do on Taveuni! Even if you prefer to travel in style and are just looking for things to do beyond your luxury Fijian resort, this blog post may help you out. Here are all the best things to see and do on Taveuni Island, as well as tips on my favourite places to stay and how to get around!
CONTENTS
About Taveuni Island
Taveuni is the second biggest island in Fiji, and it is known as ‘The Garden Island’ because of its volcanic soil, lush and fertile land, and abundance of beautiful flowers. In fact, 80% of the island is blanketed in pristine tropical rainforest, dotted with tiny villages and stunning waterfalls - not to mention the surrounding coral reefs teeming with life! If you like to get off the beaten path but still have access to a few creature comforts, or love nature, or both, then Taveuni is a great choice for a holiday in Fiji.
My Top 3 Packing Essentials for Taveuni Island
Laundry Soap and Retractable clothesline - This means you can pack light for the tiny plane, and just lather and rinse your clothes every few days!
Kula Cloth - Ladies, no more dripping after a wild wee, this anti-microbial cloth can be used instead of tissue, it holds odour and hangs on the outside of your bag, it is AWESOME.
Water Shoes – These are super light and fold up really small. Ideal for Taveuni's rocky beaches and chasing waterfalls!
How to Get to Taveuni Island
To get to Taveuni, you'll first need to reach Nadi (or Suva) - Fiji's two main transport hubs. That is, unless you're sailing yourself - many folks we met on Taveuni had made the perilous 2-week journey on small sailboats from New Zealand.
PLANE
You can catch a domestic flight from Nadi or Suva to Taveuni. We came from Nadi, in a tiny 16-seater Twin Otter Plane operated by Fiji Airways, which was a fantastic experience. The low-flying plane offers amazing views of the reef, although the journey is fairly wavy, so if you get motion sickness, you’ll need to medicate!
BUS/FERRY
For budget travellers, you can reach Taveuni from Nadi by public transport, by taking a bus followed by two ferries, the first to Vanua Levu and then a second to Taveuni. This journey will take all day, but you will certainly see more sides of Fiji and save a few bucks. Otherwise, as another option, if you time it right, you can take an overnight cargo ship from Suva to Taveuni.
RELATED POST: Scuba-Diving in Fiji - A Guide to the Rainbow Reef |
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Where to Stay on Taveuni Island
BUDGET TRAVELLERS
We stayed at Aeroview Home Retreat, a homestay walking distance from Taveuni's tiny airport and hosted by the wonderful Sam and Sarah, a local couple with a big family who all chipped in to make our week with them so so memorable. The price was £75 per night, which is nowhere near as cheap as homestays in other countries, but the best you're going to get on Taveuni. This price was between two and included a massive breakfast. Dinner is £20 per night, and it is a FEAST and the best food we had in all of Fiji - we are still dreaming about their Kokoda.
They also have snorkel gear you can use for free, and they are very generous with their time and knowledge of Fiji. As it happens, most of the information on the top 10 things to do in Taveuni in this blog post comes from chats with Sam! Sam will advise you on how to get the bus or hitch-hike for many of the activities below; otherwise, you can also hire him as a driver for the day.
We had such a wonderful experience at Aeroview and a real taste of Fijian family life. If we went back to Taveuni again, this is where we would stay.
RESORT
If you're lucky enough to be able to splurge, then my pick would be Paradise Taveuni Resort, right at the south of the island and a great jumping off point for diving the Rainbow Reef. We were lucky enough to stay for a few days in one of the new luxury oceanfront bures at Paradise, a ‘bure’ essentially being a traditional Fijian hut, although the one we stayed in was much grander than that. Truthfully, it is probably one of the nicest hotel accommodations I have ever stayed in.
The room came with a private plunge pool, a huge deck with daybeds, hammocks, rope swings, an air-conditioned bedroom and living space, and the pièce de résistance: the outdoor lava-stone shower and bathtub. The price starts from closer to £350 per night, including all food (quite a jump) - but they have various packages including diving and it is a beautiful spot.
Getting Around on Taveuni Island
DRIVER
The easiest way to get around Taveuni is to hire a driver for the day. This can cost up to 200 FJD (£70) all in, but you can get to multiple hard-to-reach places in one go, and it is super convenient. It is easy to arrange a driver through your accommodation; everyone knows everyone on Taveuni. For a cheaper option, you can also flag down shared taxis as they pass.
BUS
Pacific Transport provides super affordable bus services around Taveuni. The bus company operates from Naqara, with routes to Navakawau in the south and between Wairiki on the west coast over to Lavena on the northeast coast via Matei and Bouma Village.
The 'Gold Bus' has a very limited schedule of around three times a day, which is further reduced on Sundays. Be sure to ask for the latest timetable at your accommodation or in Naqara and Matei, but be prepared for buses to run on Fiji time. On the plus side, buses provide quite a fun local experience and are incredibly cheap – around 5FJD per person.
HITCH
Stand around looking lost for a few minutes, and someone will pull over and ask if you need help, and potentially offer you a ride. That is just how Fijians are. I wouldn't rely on this form of transport and take advantage of Fijian's friendly nature, but more to use it as a backup, i.e. if you get yourself lost, or in a pickle, someone WILL help you.
For travel insurance, nowadays I put my trust in Safety Wing, and I use their 4-week rolling policy as it is affordable and covers almost every country. They have been great so far!
Things to Do on Taveuni Island
This is Fiji, and you are on island time, so do not expect days jam-packed with activities and excursions. There is enough to do here to spend a 2-3 weeks on Taveuni for the not-so-hyperactive... balanced with a lovely amount of nothingness!
1. Scuba Diving & Snorkelling
Taveuni has arguably the best diving in Fiji, with the Rainbow Reef being the soft coral capital of the world. The colours underwater will amaze you, especially if you time it right and manage to dive 'the Great White Wall'.
You don't need to dive to see Taveuni's underwater splendours, as there is plenty of snorkelling, and if you stay at Sam and Sarah's, gear rental is free. Just walk 10 minutes down the hill to The Drift Cafe, and leave your things on the deck and swim to the drop-off from there. The owners happily let you hang out there for free, but we always bought a homemade lemonade before we went snorkelling as not to be freeloading. After your snorkelling session, head next door to 'The Dive Cafe' for an ice-cold Fiji Gold.
2. Walk the Bouma Falls Track
The Bouma Falls Track is a beautiful trail showcasing three waterfalls, that are all perfect for swimming and jumping if you're an adrenaline seeker like me!
This walk really shows off why Taveuni is called the Garden Island – the fauna is stunning, so bring your camera. At the base of the track is a great spot for lunch by the river.
3. Waitavala Natural Waterslides
A super fun natural waterslide, and a great way to cool off from the Fijian heat!
4. Go to the International Dateline
This is a famous landmark where you hop from one day to the next, taking a photo with each foot on two different days. (A bit of a challenge to find on your own, so best done with a guide.)
5. Fiji Night!
Fiji Night is where you can experience authentic Fijian cooking in a Lovo (earth oven), watch the traditional Meke dancing and have a taste of Kava during the Yaqona Ceremony with storytelling and more dancing!
Kava is a traditional drink made from some crushed plant roots, and it is common across Polynesia. Pacific Islanders have partaken in the ceremonial drinking of Kava for thousands of years.
It is technically a 'controlled substance' in the UK, however the Kava you will be offered on Fiji Night will be a very diluted version, and it is not considered rude if you choose not to partake.
This experience of Fiji Night was included in our stay at the resort, where it was held once per week, and it was one of our favourite things to do in Fiji!
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6. Lavena Coastal Walk
The Lavena Coastal Walk is a 10km out-and-back stunning trek that ends with a little swim to see a glorious hidden waterfall.
There is an FJ$35 entry fee, and even though they may try to convince you to take a guide, you do not need one as it's an easy-to-moderate walk with some (pretty serious) water crossings. We had the entire track to ourselves, as well as the emerald pool at the base of the waterfall. This was a real paradise-on-earth moment for us.
7. Visit a Fijian Village
Fijians are very welcoming people, and with the proper arrangements, you can visit a local village and meet the chief, who will teach you a little about Fijian culture.
You’ll get the opportunity to see Fijian crafts like the weaving of mats from Pandanus leaves and potentially even purchase anything that catches your eye. Make sure you are dressed appropriately and remove sunglasses/hats as a sign of respect.
8. See the Southern Blowhole
On the southernmost tip of the island is a spot where water can shoot over 50 metres high on the incoming tide. Created by water rushing into the gaps in the volcanic rocks, this is a great spectacle to witness!
9. Search for the Tagimoucia
Tagimoucia is the official flower of Fiji that only grows on Taveuni. It is said to have grown from the tears of a Princess who ran away from an arranged marriage into the forest, and it blooms from October to January and can be found via a 6-hour hike to the shores of Lake Tagimoucia.
This hike starts with an easy-to-follow 2-hour trail to Des Voeux peak (the highest peak on Taveuni at 1,195m) - from there, it's 1-2 hours further to Lake Tagimoucia, finished with a 3-hour descent.
It is advised to take a guide for this 6-hour hike, and the trail is a little rough, and not only that, but your guide knows the best spots to view the Tagimoucia.
10. Visit the Holy Cathedral
The Holy Cathedral was built in 1907 to thank a French Missionary for his help in winning a canoe battle on the shores of Taveuni. This church has some amazing stained glass imported from France and is a great stop on your way to other activities on the island.
You would be most welcome to the services on Sundays, which are in Fijian, where the choir is outstanding!
***Watch a Fijian Rugby match
We were lucky to stumble across a Fijian rugby match purely by chance, but I am sure you can ask the team at your accommodation for timings on local fixtures. We loved our experience! The atmosphere was buzzing, with the entire community out enjoying the match.
A Budget for Travelling Taveuni Island
Homestay - £75 per night for two people, including breakfast
Food - £20 for a banquet feast at Sam and Sarah's. £5 for street food, £15 for a meal in a resort
Water - We drank boiled rainwater, so zero
Getting Around - Island Bus - £3 or a driver for a whole day £70
Snorkelling - Free if you stay at Sam and Sarah’s, you can use their gear and walk to the local reef
Paddle-boarding - £10 to rent from The Drift.
Beers - £4
Hiking - Conservation fees can be £10- £20 entrance, but hiking is free if you do not take a guide
Massages - £40 for an hour
Scuba - $200FJD a day/ish! Use a local company like Taveuni Ocean Sports
Every time I think back on my trip to Fiji, I cannot help but smile. The warmth we felt from the people, the beauty of the landscape, and the sense of calm that Fiji Time brings - it is just one of those places we cannot stop talking about even months later.
Thank you for reading my post: The Top 10 Things to Do in Taveuni!
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Happy Travels
xx
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