Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Telephone
Plenty outside the post office, although you'll need a calling card. Skype calls
are available from Govinda's internet café.
East of Labasa
Some of the most attractive countryside around Labasa lies to the east of the sugar mill across
the Qawa River. Past the river, the main Wainikoro-Dama road turns north towards the coast.
Five kilometres along is the turn-off for
Malau Port
, protected by the large offshore island
of Mali.
The snake temple
Buses from Labasa heading to Natewa Bay pass the temple (30min; F$1.20); a taxi should cost F$18
Twenty kilometres northeast of Labasa is the Hindu shrine of Naag Mandir, better known as
the
snake temple
. Inside is a peculiar attraction: a cobra-shaped rock that devotees claim has
grown by 3m over the space of seventy years - the roof has had to be raised four times. Vis-
itors are welcome to visit the shrine (remove shoes first).
Korovatu Beach and beyond
Two hundred metres past the snake temple is the turn-off to palm-backed
Korovatu Beach
,
the nearest sandy beach to Labasa. It's 3km from the main road to the beach and cars are
charged F$5 access. Beyond the turn-off, the main road continues in a perfectly straight line
for 3km, the longest stretch of straight road in Fiji. The surrounding
scenery
- with big
mountains to the south and unusual rocky outcrops to the north - is an excellent place to
ex-
plore
by foot, with opportunities to wander along dusty roads through Indian settlements and
climb hills for panoramic views.
Lekutulevu
Regular buses run to Lekutulevu from Labasa (daily except Sun at 7am, 10am & 2.45pm; F$3.50); the road is
extremely rough and the journey takes over an hour - if the road is bad, the bus stops at Dreketilialia and you'll
need to walk the remaining 4km
Twelve kilometres south from Labasa, accessible along the Bulileka Road, is the remote vil-
lage of
Lekutulevu
. The village offers a delightful guided one-hour hike to a
waterfall
(local
guide F$12). Along the way you'll pass a natural stone
tanoa
(drinking bowl) 3m in diameter
which is reputed to be used by the ancient god Dakuwaqa. A thirty-minute detour from the
waterfall leads to the summit of
Mount Uluinamolo
, from where you can see Taveuni on a
clear day.
West of Labasa
Fourteen kilometres west of Labasa the tar-sealed Wainikoro-Dama Road branches towards
the coast at Tabia, where a couple of remote resorts allow you to explore the
Great Sea Reef
.
This is the third longest continuous barrier reef system in the world, boasting 44 percent of
Fiji's endemic marine life and 74 percent of its corals. Forty minutes by boat to the north
in the far reaches of the Great Sea Reef sits
Kia Island
, where surfers can enjoy impressive
breaks
.
