Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Korotogo Beach to Vatukarasa
Beyond Korotogo Beach, the Queens Road hugs the coastline for 30km all the way to
Namatakula village. One of the finest coastal views is found 15km beyond Sigatoka, past
Malevu village, overlooking the peaceful
Sovi Bay
with its pounding surf. There's plenty of
roadside parking and you can scramble down the rocks to the grey sandy beach for a walk
(though with unpredictable currents, swimming is not advisable). On the far side of the bay
is the pretty setting of
Vatukarasa
, once settled by Tongans and with several beautifully
thatched bures surrounding the village green, plus a couple of excellent
handicraft
shops.
Korolevu, Biausevu and around
At
Korolevu
, 15km east of Vatukarasa, there's a BP petrol station with a small shop. Visible
in the undergrowth behind is a small airport control tower, evidence of the old airstrip that
served guests heading to the
Korotogo Beach Hotel
. The hotel was the pinnacle of tourism
in the early 1970s before the Queens Road was tar-sealed. The hotel, the first tourist resort
in Fiji, closed in 1983. A dirt road running parallel to the disused grass runway leads inland
for 5km through lush tropical forest to
Biausevu Village
(F$10 entry fee). From the village,
there's a thirty-minute relatively flat trail which crosses over a small stream half a dozen
times and ends at the pretty
Savunamatelaya Waterfall
, where you can swim in the natural
pool.
Beyond Korolevu
Nine kilometres beyond Korolevu is the village of
Namatakula
in the province of
Serua
.
Here the Queens Road cuts inland for 20km to climb over steep hills draped in thick
rain-
forest
. On the first ascent, a small dirt road leads to
Mango Bay Resort
, with a beach backed
by incredibly tall coconut palms. There's another pretty beach with good snorkelling at
Namagumagua
, accessed down a 4km dirt road signposted to
The Wellesley Resort
, 10km
further along the Queens Road.
For a wonderful view of this
mountain scenery
, take yet another dirt road signposted to-
wards
Waidroka Bay Resort
at the 69km roadside marker, and go past the Dogowale Radio
Station track, turning left on Retreat Road. Walk up the first steep driveway on your left for a
panoramic lookout - you can keep on walking for ten minutes up to the tower but the views
at the top are sometimes obscured by long grass.
ACCOMMODATION: THE CORAL COAST
KOROTOGO BEACH TO VATUKARASA
Beach Cocomo Lodge
650 7333,
beachcocomo.com
;
map
.
Set on a small hill over-
looking the ocean and with steps leading down to a secluded sandy beach, this little-known
spot is a real gem for those seeking seclusion. The two wooden cottages with polished
wooden floors are tastefully decorated and have hot-water en-suite bathrooms; the only
