Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To the first waterfall
From the visitor centre, an easy ten-minute stroll through gardens leads to the first of the
three
waterfalls
. The first falls are arguably the most picturesque and have the best pool for
swimming. Boulders on the left side of the pool lead to a 5m-high rock ledge which cuts in
behind the cascading water - if you summon up the courage, you can throw yourself through
the falls and into the deep pool beneath. You could easily spend a few hours splashing around
here (changing huts are provided) or cooking yourself a
barbecue
on the grills provided.
However, most visitors generally push on for the more adventurous trail to the second and
third falls, returning to the first falls for a swim at the end of the hike.
To the second waterfall
The section of trail to the
second falls
is the prettiest, starting with a steep ten-minute climb
up, helped along by wooden steps and a crushed coral path to the ridge above the first set
of falls. From the top there's a covered platform with a view over Thurston Point towards
Qamea Island. The track then heads into light forest and crosses the Tavoro River, where
there are large boulders to hop across and a rope for hanging onto. Another ten minutes brings
you to the photogenic 30m-high second falls, which cascade over numerous ledges into a nat-
ural pool.
To the third waterfall
The trail to the
third falls
offers the most demanding hiking and can be very slippery after
heavy rain. It's worth the effort, though, as most day-trippers only visit the first and second
falls, leaving the third blissfully uncrowded. The trail starts 30m downstream from the second
falls, and climbs a steep bank on the far side of the stream into thick forest. It takes another
thirty minutes to reach the falls. At only 10m high, they are the smallest of the three, but the
wide pool below is great for swimming and deep enough to jump into. It's possible to climb
up the slippery rock ledges of the falls and continue upstream, following the river (you'll
need sturdy shoes for walking along the river bed) to reach a succession of smaller falls. Al-
low yourself an hour to return from the third falls to the roadside.
Lavena Coastal Walk
Trail access F$15 • 920 5834
The pretty beach at
Lavena
, 6km south of Tavoro, marks the start of a scenic
coastal walk
to another set of waterfalls hidden in forest. Accommodation is available at
Lavena Lodge
, at
the entrance to the village where the coastal road from Matei ends; the lodge also doubles as
the
visitor centre
where you pay your entrance fee for the coastal trail (3hr return).
The first forty-minute section is a flat amble with wonderful views along the coast, passing
a black-sand beach and a lagoon littered with rocky pedestals resembling giant mushrooms.
About halfway you'll reach the tiny settlement of
Naba
. It's respectful not to wander through,
so follow the path down to the beach to the small stream at the far end of Naba from where
the trail continues. After meandering around several cliffs and over a suspension bridge, the
