Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Northeast: Vanua Levu and Nearby
Islands
If you've cleared in at Savusavu, the logical place to start cruising is the northeast end of
Fiji where highlights are many and varied. Viani Bay is fifty miles from Savusavu, a popu-
lar spot thanks to pleasant surroundings and world-class diving on Rainbow Reef (map,
#1). Dive operators make pick-ups directly from boats in Viani and even offer a yachtie's
discount (we paid US$100 for an unforgettable two-tank dive with Taveuni Ocean Sports).
Thanks to a good Vodafone signal in Viani, you can easily surf the Internet and call dive
operators.
The lush mountain scenery of Taveuni, the “Garden Isle” of Fiji, is not to be missed. Hire a
local cab for a day trip to the windward side to hike beautiful trails and multiple waterfalls.
The same cab can take you to the natural water slide near Somosomo (rated the top site in
Fiji by our nine-year-old). Since its anchorages are quite exposed, Taveuni is best visited in
settled weather.
Other prime destinations on the northeast side of Fiji include the lovely islands of Qamea
and Matangi (map, #2), as well as scarcely visited Budd Reef (another stop for settled
weather; map, #3). The islands of Rabi and Kioa are notable as Polynesian enclaves within
Melanesian Fiji (map, #4). Friends reported idyllic, virtually empty anchorages there once
a weather window sparked a mass exodus of the cruising fleet to the Lau group. Even few-
er cruisers venture over the reef-strewn north side of Vanua Levu, a place to truly get away
from it all.
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