Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: OVALAU
BY PLANE
The small airstrip at Bureta on the southwest side of Ovalau is used only by Northern Air Ser-
vices ( 347 5005,
northernair.com.fj
)
for flights from Nausori (12min). A minibus meets
all incoming flights and shuttles passengers to Levuka for F$10. When departing Levuka for
the airport, request the minibus service at your hotel.
BY FERRY
From Natovi Landing
Patterson Brothers ( 331 6544) have regular departures (daily,
though not always on Sun, around 3.30pm; 4hr; F$35 one way) from Natovi Landing, a rather
isolated spot midway up the east coast of Viti Levu, to Buresala on the west coast of Ovalau,
from where there is a connecting bus into Levuka; the ferry returns to Natovi at 5am the fol-
lowing morning. A Patterson Brothers bus runs to Natovi Landing from Bay 6 at the Suva
bus stand at 1.30pm (F$10).
From Suva
Venu Shipping ( 339 5000) has twice-weekly departures from Walu Bay in
Suva direct to Levuka (6hr; F$20 passenger one-way, F$171 car plus driver one-way), al-
though there is no fixed timetable (phone for details).
From Caqalai or Leleuvia
If you're heading from Viti Levu direct to the small backpacker
resorts on
Caqalai or Leleuvia
, onward small boat passage from either island to Levuka costs
around F$35 and takes 40min. The boat journey can be done in either direction, making a
round trip a popular option with budget travellers.
GETTING AROUND
By bus
The only public bus on Ovalau is the school service, which runs from Bureta at 6am
(daily except Sun; F$2) to St John's Catholic Mission via Levuka, returning along the same
route around 3pm.
