10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com
10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji

© FijiPocketGuide.com

The Top Places for Birdwatching in Fiji

Fiji’s marine life might take most of the limelight in Fiji, but its land and sea birds are also well worth looking out for. The island archipelago in the South Pacific is home to more than 170 species of birds, around 30 of which are endemic and only 13 have been introduced by humans. Whether you’re captivated by the colourful birds of the forest or want to admire the majesty of Fiji’s seabirds, this list of the best places to see birds in Fiji will guide you toward your birding goals.

For more fauna to look out for on the islands, be sure to check out A Traveller’s Guide to Wildlife in Fiji.

1. The Forests of Kadavu

Of course, the best spot for birdwatching in Fiji is one of the remotest island groups. But if birding is at the top of your Fiji bucket list then the one-hour flight to get here is well worth it. Kadavu is the southernmost island group in Fiji, home to a handful of eco-friendly resorts where birdwatching is as easy as taking a walk among the resort grounds. As well as spotting Fiji’s key bird species, you’re also highly likely to spot Kadavu’s own endemic species, such as the Kadavu shining parrot, Kadavu honeyeater, Kadavu fantail and the whistling dove.

Start planning your trip to Kadavu using The Complete Travel Guide to Kadavu.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© Pxhere

2. Des Voeux Peak

Another outer island of Fiji, Taveuni is well worth getting to for any twitcher. The island is dubbed “The Garden Island of Fiji” due to its abundance of flora, which, in turn, hosts more than a hundred bird species. A top birdwatching site on the island is at its highest peak, Des Voeux Peak, which is accessible by hiking or 4WD from one of the island’s main villages, Waieyvo. Try to time your visit for the nesting season from August to September.

Plan your trip out to Taveuni using Information, Shops & Services on Taveuni.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© Aviceda on Wikipedia

3. Colo-i-Suva Forest Park

If you’re looking for a more accessible place to see birds in Fiji, check out the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park just a short drive from the capital. The forest with a network of walking trails is where you can see some of Fiji’s more common native birds, including collard lories, masked shining parrots, Fiji wood swallows, white-collared kingfishers, wattled honeyeaters and much more.

Plan a trip to Fiji’s capital using The Complete Travel Guide to Suva.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

4. Waisali Rainforest Reserve

Fiji’s second-largest island, Vanua Levu, is another particularly decent place to watch birds in Fiji. Located just a short drive from the main tourist town, Savusavu, the Waisali Rainforest Reserve is home to some undulating trails through the verdant rainforest. Keep an eye out for blackfaced shrike bills, long-legged warblers, orange doves and red shining parrots. You may also see the friendly ground-dove on the trail paths.

Plan your trip out to the island using The Complete Travel Guide to Vanua Levu.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

5. Buca Bay and Tunuloa Peninsula

Another fantastic birdwatching site on Vanua Levu, the Tunuloa Peninsula, which runs alongside Buca Bay is an opportunity to spot the rare silktail, as well as the orange dove. The birds are easily spotted on the peninsula but not that easy to get to with driving on dirt roads being necessary. The Daku Fiji Resort offers tours to the area as part of its four-day birdwatching programme.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

6. Yabu Island

One of the largest seabird rookeries in Fiji can be found off the shores of Kadavu. Resorts like Oneta Resort can take you to the island’s shores to see the nesting site of thousands of red-footed boobies and brown boobies, best seen at sunset when they come back to the island to roost. It’s also possible to kayak here from the resort, as listed in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Kadavu.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

7. Koroyanitu National Heritage Park

Arrive early morning at the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park, accessible from Abaca Village, and you’ll likely spot a few of Fiji’s native bird species. Collard lory, Fiji parrotfinch, Polynesian thriller, Fiji bush warbler, red-vented bulbul and more can be spotted flittering around in the trees before the sun gets too hot. Learn more about visiting the national park and village on Viti Levu, a short drive from Lautoka, in the 5 Best Walks in Nadi.

Plus, learn more about the various regions of Fiji’s main island in The Complete Travel Guide to Viti Levu.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© Tourism Fiji

8. Garden of the Sleeping Giant

Admittedly, this is not the best birdwatching site in Fiji but it’s worth mentioning for those birders who have limited time in the country. The Garden of the Sleeping Giant is a popular attraction just outside of Fiji’s arrival city, Nadi, awash in orchid gardens, as well as native flora. Among the forested areas, look out for Fiji wattled honeyeater, kingfishers and, of course, the introduced but abundant jungle myna. There’s a small entrance see to access the gardens and make use of the short walking trails.

Plan more of your trip to Nadi using The Complete Travel Guide to Nadi.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© FijiPocketGuide.com

9. Vidawa Rainforest Hike – Bouma National Heritage Park

Although we’ve already touched on Des Voeux Peak, which is in the Bouma National Heritage Park of Taveuni, it’s still worth mentioning some of the other walking trails where you’re likely to spot birds in the national park. An apt choice for birdwatchers is the Vidawa Rainforest Hike, a 6 to 7-hour walk with a guide from the local Vidawa village. Guides here are proficient in spotting birds, as well as showing Fijian medicinal plants and historical sites.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© Pxhere

10. Kula WILD Adventure Park

Finally, if all else fails you’ll be forgiven for getting some easy birdwatching in at the Kula WILD Adventure Park. Located along the Coral Coast on Viti Levu, Fiji’s only captive breeding centre for native birds is an obvious go-to to see birds close-up. There is around a kilometre of walkways through open forest, as well as walk-through enclosures.  Find out more on Viator and Tripadvisor.

And learn more about visiting the Coral Coast in The Complete Travel Guide to the Coral Coast.

10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji© Kula WILD Adventure Park

More About the Best Places to See Birds in Fiji

That’s it for the best places to see birds in Fiji. See more amazing experiences in the 101 Things to Do in Fiji. Plus, get even more tips from The Complete Travel Guide to Fiji.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Fiji. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Fiji’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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