THE GUIDE - Rough Guide to Fiji - page 242

Niukaubi Hill
Jutting out into the sea splitting Levuka town and Levuka Village is Niukaubi Hill , a small
bluff where the Supreme Court and parliament were located before the capital moved to Suva.
In its place now stands a war memorial listing all Fijian soldiers who died fighting for Bri-
tain during World War I. The adjacent bay is where the Leonadis docked on March 3, 1879,
bringing with it Fiji's first shipload of indentured Indian labourers.
Levuka Village and Gun Rock
Three hundred metres north of Niukaubi Hill, beyond the hospital, is Levuka Village where
the first Europeans set up camp. The small village is backed by a large exposed rockface
known as Gun Rock , used as target practice by the cannons of HMS Havanah to impress and
intimidate Cakobau and other chiefs. Ask around the village for a guide to accompany you
on the twenty-minute hike to the top.
Nasova House and the Cession Site
The grand Nasova House , once the residence of the British Governor, lies at the southern
end of Levuka, beyond the tuna cannery. Across the road is the ceremonial spot where King
Cakobau signed the Deed of Cession on October 10, 1874, handing over not only sover-
eignty to Great Britain but also his iconic warclub. A public re-enactment of this occasion
is performed every year on the same date, coinciding with the week-long festival, “ Back to
Levuka ” . A stone embedded with a plaque was laid to mark the Cession Site in 1935, and
two further stones accompanied this - one in 1970 to commemorate Independence, and the
second in 1974 to mark the centenary of the original deed. Prince Charles presided over the
1970 Independence Ceremony and used the beautiful thatch bure across the road as his tem-
porary home.
ACTIVITIES AROUND LEVUKA
There are a couple of worthwhile hikes around Levuka, including The Peak trail , an ardu-
ous two-hour hike through forest culminating in a panorama of the eastern coastline from
the large hill which rears up behind Levuka. Hikes are available with the affable Nox, who
is best contacted through Levuka Homestay ( 344 0777; The Peak F$25; plantation walk
including information on local medicine and a swim in a natural pool F$20).
The Levuka Community Centre (Mon-Fri 8am-1pm & 2-4.30pm, Sat 8am-1pm; 344
0356) organizes ninety-minute walking tours (from F$10) on demand. A more impromptu
walking tour is offered by Nox (book via Levuka Homestay on 344 0777; from F$10),
who will guide you round the less-explored parts of town.
The nearest diving operators are Leleuvia Island Resort and Naigani Island Resort . Other-
wise, there's excellent snorkelling off Caqalai Island, which can be visited as a day-trip
from your resort.