THE GUIDE - Rough Guide to Fiji - page 211

Bay (F$20 temporary membership fee; 323 2402). The National Archives on Carnarvon
St (Mon-Thurs 8am-4.30pm, Fri 8am-4pm; free; 330 4144) was once the print works
for the Fiji Times and hosts a comprehensive collection of historical documents for public
browsing, including Fiji Times newspapers dating back to the first issue in 1869 and many
old photographic albums.
Pharmacy Superdrug Pharmacy, Central Building, Renwick Rd (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat
8am-3pm; 331 8755); Nasese Pharmacy, Ratu Sukuna Rd, 2km from city centre
(Mon-Sat 8am-5pm & 7-9pm, Sun 10am-1pm & 7-9pm; 331 4450).
Police Corner of Pratt and Joske streets 991 or 331 1222. There are 24hr manned police
posts at Market St ( 331 1122) and Gorrie St ( 330 9822) overlooking Albert Park.
Post office Scott St (Mon-Fri 7.30am-5pm, Sat 8am-1pm).
Telephone Behind the post office on Scott St, in QBE Building, Victoria Parade. Phone
cards are available from the post office.
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Around Suva
There are plenty of attractions around Suva worth exploring on day-trips or by staying
overnight. Off Suva Point is Nukulau Island , which has the only sandy beach and snor-
kelling reef in the vicinity. Inland, the tranquil forest park of Colo-i-Suva forms a boundary
between Suva and the wet mountainous interior of Viti Levu. The mountains feed the im-
pressive Rewa River, which drains to the north of Suva through Nausori town and into the
vast, mangrove-lined Rewa Delta . This region, and the coast to the north, is home to the
chiefly villages of Rewa and Bau - the latter once home to Cakobau, the only King of Fiji -
and remains the most influential power-base in Fiji.
Nukulau
Lying 8km east of Suva Point, and barely 1km from Laucala Point is Nukulau , a tiny coral
cay with good snorkelling and a pretty sandy beach. According to Fijian legend, the island is
cursed by the devil god Batidua , who plagued the islanders for centuries. In 1846 the local
Rewan people were only too happy to sell Nukulau to American John Williams who bought
the island for US$30, paid in muskets and alcohol. The house he built here was burnt down
and looted on July 4, 1849, an event which led to Fiji becoming a British colony; there are
no remnants of the house today. Recently the island was the location of the makeshift prison
which held the 2000 coup perpetrator George Speight before he was transferred to Naboro
Maximum Security Prison after the Bainimarama coup of 2006. There are plans to turn Nuku-
lau into a tourist attraction and introduce a ferry service from Suva harbour. For now, the only
way to visit is to charter a small boat from the Royal Suva Yacht Club .