National Museum in Suva
When touring the islands, take the chance to learn more about the country’s rich culture and history. Actually, almost all towns in Fiji have small museums that contain locally handmade items and vital artifacts, but the most popular of all the museums in the country is the National Museum in Suva.
Also called the Fiji Museum or the Museum of Suva, the National Museum started operating in 1904 with its first collections consisting of items given to the Suva Town Board by Sir William Allardyce, a British civil servant who served as governor of Fiji from 1901 to 1902. These items were first displayed in the town hall and were later transferred to various venues until 1972, when they finally came home to Suva’s Botanical Gardens, where the National Museum was eventually erected.
Aside from touring the place and learning a lot from the displayed artifacts, you can also enjoy other events and activities in the National Museum. There are pottery-making demonstrations, book launching, and other events that are scheduled according to the numbers of tourists who flock to the place.
You can also take time to savor the sights and surroundings of the Suva Botanical Gardens. There is also a gift shop where you can find and buy various souvenirs such as carvings, jewelry items, pottery, handicrafts, artworks, and books.
Orchid Island Cultural Center
The Orchid Island Cultural Center is among the country’s main tourist attractions. As you enter the place, you will be greeted by the captivating sight of a pagan temple called the Bure Kalou. It stands at a height of 50 feet, so it’s impossible to miss.
The Bure Kalou is a notable reproduction of the places where ancient Fijians performed human sacrifices and dedication of ancestral spirits in the olden days.
Orchid Island Cultural Center is also often referred to as “Mini Fiji” because it is rich with the country’s culture, which is evident in various handicrafts that can be found here. You can even watch local people creating these handicrafts.
The center also has a collection of Fiji’s endemic flora and fauna.
But aside from sightseeing, you can also take a ride at the dugout canoe from the Cultural Center and take this chance to check out the Fijian villages. This is where you can see locals weaving baskets and creating bark cloth. This trip is also a great chance for you to buy souvenirs and local handicrafts.
Bouma National Park
Situated in the Taveuni Island, the Bouma National Park is another popular tourist destination.
The park, which covers up to 15,000 hectares of land, was created to help protect the rich cover of the rainforest. It houses waterfalls, volcanic peaks, and cliffs. Everything in it is spectacular and breathtaking.
The park’s main attraction is the Tavoro Falls, which actually comprises of three falls. This is an hour’s walk from the main road and is frequented by trekkers, hikers, or sightseers.
There are two hiking routes at the site: the Lavena Coastal Walk and the Bouma Falls Trails. These trails are well maintained, but it is advised that you go hiking with a knowledgeable guide. The same applies if you want to tackle unmarked routes and trails.
Suva Municipal Market
The Suva Municipal Market is the largest market in the entire South Pacific. And it’s not just big, it is also very busy and vibrant at all times, especially during Saturdays. You will miss a good part of your Fiji trip if you fail to stop by at this market.
Aside from buying food, necessities, and souvenirs, you can take this chance to learn more about the nation, the places, and the people of Fiji. You can ask the sellers things about the country, and they will gladly tell you about the details that you would want to know more about, as long as they are not that busy. Most people here are friendly; they will even teach you how to properly pronounce the items in the market.
Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple in Nadi
If you are passionate about great architectural structures, make sure that you include the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple in Nadi in your itinerary. This is the largest Hindu temple in southern hemisphere. It is said that eight craftsmen from India were brought to the site to start the construction of the temple.
Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple, which was built in dedication to Lord Murugan, is divided into three sections. Its walls have carvings of statues.
A word of caution, though: you have to be mindful of the rules when you are inside or within the vicinity of the temple. This site is very well kept and carefully maintained, so you must do your share in keeping it clean and sacred.
Koroyanitu National Park
If you want an overload of nature, you can get a good dose of it in Koroyanitu National Park in Viti Levu. Aside from the sceneries, you can also indulge in your favorite outdoor activities here, such as camping, hiking, and trekking.
There are interesting trails inside the park. These trails will lead you to great bodies of water, small settlements, and the spectacular Mount Batilamu. There are also six villages here, which are part of the ecotourism project in the country.
If you do not want to tire yourself out doing rigorous physical activities, you can always choose to do laidback activities such as mingling with the locals. Expect to be delighted at how friendly they are and how willing they are to share insights, trivia, and other useful details about the place.
Kadavu Island
Kadavu Island, the fourth largest island in the country, is among the top eco-tourist destinations in Fiji. Spanning 410 square kilometers, this island can be found near another top tourist site, the Astrolabe Reef.
A word to the wise: the views in Kadavu Island may be fascinating, but the area is tough to conquer, so be ready. The place has few roads, and most of its land is covered with stiff mountains. In fact, the island can be reached by means of small boats and ferries.
On the other hand, the beauty of the island can make the trip all worth ig. Kadavu Island is heaven for those who are into sea kayaking, scuba diving, trekking, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, and bird-watching.
Taveuni Island
Taveuni Island is also referred to as the “Garden Island of Fiji,” because of its abundant flora. This cigar-shaped island is the third largest island in Fiji, with a land area of 435 square kilometers.
You can find the Bouma Falls in this island. The Bouma Falls are the most famous waterfalls in the country.
Taveuni Island has three major diving spots as well.
You will also find a rare flower, the tagimaucia, in this top tourist spot. In fact, almost all indigenous plants and some endangered marine animals in Fiji can be found here.
Most tourists flock to Lake Tagimaucia when they happen to be at the island. The lake has a volcanic crater, which has an altitude of 800 meters.
Colo-I-Suva Forest Park
Colo-I-Suva (pronounced “Tholo ee Suva”) Forest Park is another great place for swimming, bird-watching, and hiking. Two and a half square kilometers of this rainforest houses numerous types of birds and tropical fauna. The nature reserve has up to 4 ½ kilometers of land that have natural trails and which can lead you to lush forests and natural bodies of water where you can indulge in a good swim.
In fact, a few of the park’s pools have been developed specially as swimming areas. Still there are other pools, preserved in their natural state, which are shallow enough for children to play in, with adult supervision.
The best time to visit the Colo-I-Suva is during the dry season because the streams can flood in heavy rains. The park is also located higher than the rest of Suva, so the weather there tends to be cooler and wetter than in the low grounds.
Tavarua
Surrounded by a coral reef, this heart-shaped island used to be a private surf resort, but it was finally opened to the general public on July 1, 2010. Tavarua measures 29 acres and can be reached by boat.
Tavarua is a nice place per se, but no one can appreciate more than a surfer. There are three main breaks that can be found here. They are dubbed Restaurants, Cloudbreak, and Tavarua Rights. All these are considered world-class waves. The most famous of the three is Cloudbreak, while Restaurants is one of the most perfect waves in the world and breaks at the same spot every time.
Fijians take advantage of the pristine state of the island and the great surfing spots by hosting professional surfing competitions every year.
Hello fellow travelers! My name is Mary and I am the main author of Traveling East. Just like any other travel enthusiasts, traveling has also been our passion! For inquiries, suggestions or anything travel related, please feel free to send us an E-mail at support@travelingeast.com.