Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By 1952 Suva covered an area of fifteen square kilometres and was proclaimed Fiji's first
official city. A year later, a tsunami caused by an offshore earthquake smashed into the
shoreline, killing eight people and causing damage to the city centre. In 1987 and again in
2000, Suva hit the world headlines after political
coups
threw the city into chaos with wide-
spread looting. The 2006 coup was less fiery, with the army quickly assuming control of the
streets. For more background on Fiji's political history see
The four coups
.
SUVA - A SELF-GUIDED TOUR
The following
walking tour
(9km) should take three hours - a taxi ride covering the same
ground will cost F$25 with waiting time. Start from the
Old Parliament
on Victoria Parade
and head north into the city turning left at Ratu Sukuna Park along the harbour wall of St-
inson Parade and into the
market
. From the market, walk along Usher Street, bearing right
at the traffic lights and into busy Cumming Street for shop browsing. At the end, walk up-
hill along Waimanu Road and at the fork, bear right up Toorak Road. Turn right on Amy
Street, head past the Toorak mosque and continue along flame-tree-lined
Holland Street
with its fine city views, past the Laxmi Hindu Temple. At the roundabout, walk across Vict-
oria Park to Pender Street and at the end, turn right and first left which takes you along
winding Domain Road and past some expensive residences. When Domain Road eventu-
ally hits Ratu Sukuna Road, turn left and right again on Vuya Road, off which lies
Parlia-
ment House
where you should make a detour. Carry on down Vuya Road to Suva Point
and then head right on Queen Elizabeth Drive along the picturesque foreshore, past the
grand
Government House
and through Thurston Gardens to finish your tour at the
Fiji
Museum
, or back on Victoria Parade.
