Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
waterfall at its end. Also within the park are
Lake Tagimaucia
and
De Voeux Peak
, although
these are best accessed from the west coast.
Waitabu Marine Park
Guided snorkelling trip F$20 • Bookings 888 0451
Waitabu Marine Park
, set in a secluded bay off the main road, is the first attraction you'll
come to. There's no sign indicating the village - keep an eye out for the access road heading
towards the coast from the brow of a steep hill, about fifteen minutes' drive south of Navaka-
coa. Waitabu translates as “sacred waters”, and in 1998 the seven Fijian communities here
signed an agreement to neither fish nor anchor in a one-kilometre stretch of coastline up to
the fringing reef. Consequently, the coral and fish here are thriving and can be visited on a
guided snorkelling trip
. The
visitor centre
at the end of the access road beside the beach
has cold-water showers and an extensive selection of snorkelling equipment. If you turn up
unannounced it may take a while before someone from the village wanders down to help out
so it's worth calling in advance; hotels will arrange this if you're visiting on an organized
day-trip. You can stay at their
campground
.
Vidawa Rainforest Hike
Guided hike (6-7hr) F$50 • Bookings essential on 990 5833
A kilometre beyond the Waitabu turn-off, the road passes through the smallest of the four
villages, Vidawa. Here, the community has organized the
Vidawa Rainforest Hike
, a full-
day trek to the pristine upper forests. The guided hike departs from the small
visitor centre
in the village. The earlier you start, the more chance you have of spotting the
native birds
which forage in the fruit trees of the lower slopes before heading back to the cover of the high
forest - golden whistlers, silktails, red shining parrots and blue-crested broadbills are com-
monly sighted. Once you start ascending the hills into the forest, the foliage becomes thick
with tangled vines and there are only fleeting views of the surrounding mountains. It was in
the deep jungle, away from the exposed coasts, that Taveuni's first inhabitants used to live,
protected from warring tribes and cannibalism. Today the only evidence of their existence is
a series of
stone platforms
hidden in the undergrowth. After trudging through the sweaty
and often muddy rainforest, the hike emerges in the lower forests at the first
Tavoro waterfall
where you can take a refreshing swim.
Tavoro Waterfall Trail
Daily 8am-5pm • Trail access F$15 • 888 0390
The most popular of the four adventures in the park is the
Tavoro Waterfall Trail
. The self-
guided walk starts from the
Tavoro visitor centre
, in Korovou village, often referred to as
Bouma village; the centre has toilets and sells souvenirs and cold drinks.
