Experience the Other Side of Fiji
Ok, so Fiji is an island archipelago of 333 islands, so there are A LOT of islands that could have featured on this list of the less-travelled islands in Fiji. However, since we don’t have fingers that are up to the task of typing a 300+-point list and we know you’re more interested in islands that you can actually reasonably travel to, we’ve whittled this list down to just 10 islands that are less travelled but easy to visit. Check them out and discover the true Fiji.
1. Vanua Levu
Despite being the second-largest island in Fiji and unmissable on the map, Vanua Levu is only visited by around 2% of Fiji’s tourist visitors each year. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track yet still have access to a range of resorts and activities, then Vanua Levu provides a comfortable yet quieter Fiji experience. From luxury private island resorts to budget dive resorts, there’s something for everyone on the island. Check out The Complete Guide to Vanua Levu for a whole lot more information about visiting the island.
© Captain Cook Cruises
2. Taveuni
One of Fiji’s youngest volcanic islands, sitting right beside Vanua Levu, Taveuni is a haven for nature-lover’s. Despite its number of villages, the island remains mostly pristine with much of it made up of the Bouma National Park. Highlights of the island include waterfall walks, hikes through the verdant rainforest and to the volcanic peaks of the island, as well as scuba diving at the Rainbow Reef, kayaking and snorkelling in marine reserves and much more. Check out The Complete Guide to Taveuni to start exploring further.
© Captain Cook Cruises
3. Ovalau
Despite being the hub of the Lomaiviti Islands, a group of islands less than 20km (12 miles) off the shores of Viti Levu, less than 0.1% of visitors visit Ovalau. The island is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town of Levuka, which was the first capital of Fiji. The streets of the small town are lined with preserved colonial buildings, while the centre of the island is home to Fijian villages in the centre of a caldera. From the island, you can explore the surrounding Lomaiviti Islands and its waters of marine reserves and fishing grounds. Check out The Complete Guide to the Lomaiviti Islands to learn more about these islands.
© FijiPocketGuide.com
4. Kadavu
In the southern reaches of Fiji, around 123km (76 miles) south of Viti Levu, Kadavu is an island where time stands still. The island is made up of around 75 coastal villages where boats or remote hiking trails are the only way to get between them on this island with very few roads. That’s the beauty of Kadavu, retreating to a simpler way of life to enhance the things that matter, whether it be connected with nature through bird-watching, scuba diving or island hikes or connecting with each other. Learn more about this island in The Complete Guide to Kadavu.
© Brian on Flickr
5. Qamea Island
If Taveuni wasn’t less-travelled enough, why not try the neighbouring Qamea Island? Home to a luxury adult-only resort, as well as mid-range resorts like the Maqai Beach Eco Resort, it’s a place to experience a true island retreat in Fiji away from the crowds. The island has a few walking trails to explore, breathtaking beaches and surf breaks a short boat ride away.
© Maqai Eco Beach Resort
6. Beqa Island
Off the shores of the Pacific Harbour of Viti Levu, if you want to get the outer island experience in Fiji without venturing too far from the main island, Beqa Island is a spectacular choice. Neighbouring the Beqa Lagoon, Beqa Island is a hotspot for scuba diving and snorkelling among pristine coral and even trying out shark diving. The island has a few choices of four-star resorts, who will keep you entertained with island walks to waterfalls, watersports, island massages and more. Learn more about the island in The Complete Guide to Pacific Harbour & Beqa.
© Pixabay
7. Vanua Balavu
If you’re looking to get well and truly off the beaten track – we’re talking about a place where very VERY few tourists get to see, then set your sights on the Lau Islands. A great place to start is with Vanua Balavu, the main island of the northern Lau Islands. Accessible by a weekly flight, with your own sailing yacht or on a four-times-a-year with Captain Cook Cruises, visitors to the island can organise guided walks to see hot springs and burial caves and take boat trips of the Bay of Islands. Learn more about Captain Cook Cruises on Viator and Tripadvisor, as well as about the Lau Islands in The Complete Guide to the Lau Islands.
© Tourism Fiji
8. Wayasewa Island
Although the Yasawa Islands are one of the most-visited outer island groups in Fiji with a wide array of resorts, those visiting Wayasewa Island, also known as Wayalailai, will get a much more authentic and down-to-earth Fiji experience. The small island with a craggy rocky outcrop towering at its centre is home to a variety of Airbnb homestays and two budget lodges. This allows visitors to experience the real village life in Fiji along with its customs of presenting a sevusevu (gift) to the chief and more. Check out Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village to prepare yourself for staying in a village. Plus, learn more about the Yasawas in The Complete Guide to the Yasawa Islands.
© FijiPocketGuide.com
9. Nanau-i-Ra
About 3km (1.9 miles) off the northern coast of Viti Levu, Nanau-i-Ra is the ultimate backpackers’ island with a range of affordable cottages and accommodation to make the most of. The island’s main drawcard is for its windsurfing, presenting fantastic conditions for any enthusiast of this niche watersport. Other things to do here include island hikes, kayaking around the perimeter of the island, and more. Check out The Complete Guide to the Suncoast to learn more about this island.
© FijiPocketGuide.com
10. Kioa
A piece of Tuvalu in Fiji, Kioa Island is unique in that it is owned by settlers from Tuvalu, who settled on the island between 1947 and 1983 to escape the overpopulation on Tuvalu’s Vaitupu atoll. Resorts on the neighbouring Vanua Levu, as well as cruises with Captain Cook Cruises (on Viator and Tripadvisor), can take you to visit the island and experience the Tuvaluan culture.
© Captain Cook CruisesMore About the Less-Travelled Islands of Fiji
