Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By village boat
You should be able to pick up a village boat from Vunisea - go to Galoa Bay
for boats heading along the south coast, or alongside the airport for the north coast. Note that
the seas can be rough, especially along the exposed south coast, and that boats do not carry
life jackets. It takes 35 minutes to reach the west point of Kadavu from Vunisea and an hour
to reach the Astrolabe Reef in good weather, double if seas are rough.
By road
The two winding roads on Kadavu are unsealed, making them impassable after
heavy rains. There are no buses, and no rental cars available, but several minivans and trucks
shuttle around Vunisea between the airstrip and jetties and can be hired for exploring further.
INFORMATION
Services
Apart from at the resorts, facilities are limited: there is no tourist information, no
banks or restaurants and only a few basic shops selling mostly tinned food and kerosene. In
Vunisea, heading up the hill from the north coast, you first pass the imposing hospital ( 362
0788) on the right-hand side. Continuing up the hill and bearing left, the post office and po-
lice station ( 368 1268) are on the left side of the road.
ACCOMMODATION
Note that the airport terminal building is the only place on the island to buy
takeaway food
,
but only with incoming flights around lunchtime. You'll be reliant on your accommodation
place for food, though you can pick up fresh fruit and veg from the market in Vunisea.
Vil-
lage homestays
in Nacomoto in East Kadavu can be organized through either
Matava
or
Tamarillo Expeditions
.
Homestays can also be arranged at Solodamu Village in West Kadavu
( 362 3009); a contribution of at least F$35 per person should be given to help pay your
way.
VUNISEA AND WEST KADAVU
Biana Accommodation
Vunisea 368 6010.
This basic cottage overlooking the old jetty
has three rooms, mostly used by government workers, sharing a lounge, kitchen and cold-wa-
ter bathroom. The owners cook and serve meals (F$8). The beach here is sandy, and there are
good snorkelling re
efs i
in the bay but you'll need to bring your own gear. Rate (per person)
includes breakfast.
F$65
CENTRAL KADAVU
Matana Beach Resort
368 3502,
matanabeachresort.com
.
With the Namalata Reef off-
shore,
Matana
is primarily a dive resort, and the owners' dive business, Dive Kadavu, is of-
ten used as the resort name. Offers ten bur
es wit
h polished timber floors and large windows,
in a beautiful setting. Rates include meals.
F$125
Papageno Resort
603 0466,
papagenoresort.com
.
Set in 346 acres of serene tropical
forest, this is a nature lover's paradise. Accommodation is in rooms, villas and colonial-style
bures, and food is outstanding, sourced from locally grown organic ingredients. Divers have
the option of either the Astrolabe or Namalata reefs and there are regular snorkelling trips to
