11 Best Foodie Experiences on Taveuni

Last Updated: 28 August, 2024

The Top Food Activities on Taveuni

If you’re a foodie looking to immerse yourself in a culture through its cuisine, you’ve certainly found an amazing place to do so on the “Garden Island” of Fiji. Taveuni and its surrounding islands of Qamea, Laucala and Matangi boast an abundance of tropical crops provided by Mother Nature that the locals have been harnessing for hundreds of years. Discover this rich culinary heritage through the array of food-related activities available on the islands. We’ll whet your appetite with this list of things to do on Taveuni for foodies.

While you’re here, don’t miss The Food Guide to Taveuni too! Plus, bookmark The Complete Guide to Food in Fiji for even more tantalising tips!

1. Vitalise All the Senses on Bobby’s Farm Tour

Na Bogi Ono Farms, affectionately known as Bobby’s Farm, offers a sensory journey through Fiji’s natural remedies. Join Bobby for an enlightening tour of this conservation farm, teeming with birdlife, medicinal plants, and tropical fruits. You’ll discover sustainable farming practices and learn about the importance of preserving local flora and fauna. For those seeking a more immersive experience, opt for the three-hour tour that includes a delightful “garden-to-table” vegan lunch. Savour fresh produce straight from the farm as you indulge in this farm-to-fork feast. Alternatively, the standard 2-hour tour incorporates birdwatching and food tasting. You can visit the farm independently (it’s located south of Waiyevo) or arrange a tour through any of the resorts on Taveuni. Learn more about Bobby’s hiking tour in the 10 Best Walks & Hikes on Taveuni.

Location: Southwest coast of Taveuni.

2. Learn How to Cook Fijian Food in a Cooking Lesson or Demonstration

Fijians are proud to share their food with visitors, so it’s pretty easy to find a cooking class on Taveuni. Watch the chefs work their magic at the Matangi Private Island Resort, where you’ll get to sample divine prawn curry in freshly squeezed coconut milk, roti flatbread and condiments made with local tropical fruit. At Taveuni Palms Resort, you have the opportunity to take part in a complimentary cooking class with your own personal chef during your stay at this five-star resort. Finally, those staying five nights or more at the Coconut Grove Beachfront Cottages will receive a complimentary cooking class with the staff, who just happen to run one of the most popular restaurants on the island – see in our Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants on Taveuni.

Location: Matangi Resort – Matangi Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Taveuni Palms & Coconut Grove – Matei, north coast of Taveuni.

3. Discover Natural Medicinal Remedies in a Medicine Walking Tour

Uncover the healing secrets of Fiji’s lush landscapes with a fascinating medicine walking tour. These enlightening excursions offer a unique glimpse into traditional Fijian remedies, showcasing the island’s abundant natural resources. You’ll learn to identify various medicinal plants and understand their uses in treating ailments. Many resorts, including Matangi Private Island Resort, offer weekly Medicine Talks as part of their complimentary activities. These sessions often include hands-on demonstrations of collecting and preparing bush medicine, giving you a deeper appreciation for Fiji’s natural pharmacy.

Location: Matangi Island, off the east coast of Taveuni.

4. Join in on a Kava Ceremony

A staple cultural experience in Fiji, the kava ceremony is a welcoming ceremony involving drinking a local narcotic drink known as yaqona or kava. A village visit tour will naturally involve a kava ceremony, as it is customary when new visitors arrive at a village. If you’re visiting without a guide, be sure to bring your own yaqona root to follow the customs described in Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village. Otherwise, some resorts, such as Matangi, Qamea and Maqai resorts, do their own kava ceremonies at least once a week where guests can try the drink and learn about the traditions surrounding the ceremony. Vakanananu Retreat offers a themed dinner night, particularly on Tuesdays, where guests can enjoy a traditional Fijian Night, including a kava ceremony.

Location: All over Taveuni! Matangi Resort – Matangi Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Qamea & Maqai – Qamea Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Vakanananu – Matei, north coast of Taveuni (take the inland road opposite Tramonto).

4. Learn All the Uses for Coconuts in a Coconut Show

Coconut milk and fronds have been a useful staple in the South Pacific culture for thousands of years. However, it’s not an easy nut to prepare. Learn how to husk and scrape a coconut in demonstrations such as at Matangi Private Island Resort, Maqai Eco Beach Resort and Paradise Taveuni.

Location: Matangi Resort – Matangi Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Maqai – Qamea Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Paradise Taveuni – Southwest coast of Taveuni.

5. Indulge in a Traditional Lovo Feast

The ultimate foodie experience in Fiji you can’t miss is trying a “lovo”. Lovo is a traditional food preparation method where food is wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked in an earth oven. The result is to die for. Once a week during the winter months, Wiwi Village puts on a lovo and meke (traditional dance) night for resort guests at Taveuni Palms, Aroha Taveuni, Vacala Bay and others to enjoy and open your mind to a different way of life. An in-resort lovo feast is also organised once a week at the Paradise Taveuni resort.

Location: Taveuni Palms & Vacala Bay – Matei, north coast of Taveuni. Paradise Taveuni – Southwest coast of Taveuni. Aroha – Wairiki, west coast of Taveuni.

7. Sample Real Fijian Food in a Village Homestay

If you want to discover what Fijians really eat and how they eat it, then the best thing to do is a village homestay. Stay with a Fijian family where meals are offered to guests at a very reasonable cost and consist of simple yet delicious fresh seafood, root crops like taro and tropical fruit like breadfruit, usually sat on the floor while eating with your hands – the real deal! Pick your homestay with our 5 Best Homestays on Taveuni.

Location: See the link above for recommendations and their locations.

8. Catch Your Own Dinner on a Fishing Charter

Fishing is a way of life in Fiji and just happens to be an exciting sport, with many highly-sought game fish in Fiji’s waters, such as mahimahi, yellowfin tuna and giant trevally. Join a sports fishing charter with Raiwasa Private Resort, Nakia Resort and Makaira Resort. Alternatively, practice traditional Fijian fishing methods like handline fishing at Tides Reach Resort or spearfishing at Maqai Eco Beach Resort.

Location: Raiwasa, Nakia, Makaira & Tides Reach – Matei, north coast of Taveuni. Maqai – Qamea Island, off the east coast of Taveuni.

9. Treat Your Loved One to a Private Dining Experience

To celebrate a special occasion or just because you’re on holiday – you don’t need an excuse; private dining is a special foodie experience on Taveuni. Many of the luxury resorts offer the option to have a private table set up on the beach, often with candles and serenaders. Resorts like Matangi Resort, Paradise Taveuni, The Remote Resort, Coconut Grove and Qamea Resort offer this, for example. An irresistibly romantic option is a private island picnic available with Matangi Resort, where you’ll indulge in a gourmet picnic on Horseshoe Bay. Vacala Bay Resort offers a similar option, along with wine or beer, on a sailing cruise to Honeymoon Island.

Location: Coconut Grove & Vacala Bay – Matei, north coast of Taveuni. Qamea Resort – Qamea Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Matangi Resort – Matangi Island, off the east coast of Taveuni. Paradise Taveuni – Southwest coast of Taveuni. The Remote Resort – Far eastern end of Vanua Levu on the Somostrait, accessible via Savusavu (1 hr) or Taveuni (20-min boat ride).

10. Visit the Fruit Stalls and Town Markets

If you haven’t had the chance to visit the produce markets on Fiji’s mainland, then don’t miss the opportunity to visit the local produce markets. Fruit stalls and markets are found on the roadsides and in the towns of Naqara and Matei where you’ll see an impressive array of tropical fruit and vegetables, as well as baked goods and ice cream. Stallholders are usually super friendly and eager to share recipes, so you’ll get a cultural experience out of it too. Take your purchases back to your self-catering accommodation, which we list in our 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations on Taveuni.

Location: Along the northwest and northern roads of Taveuni.

11. Take a Tour of Fiji Sea Salt

Discover the art of salt-making at the Fiji Sea Salt‘s informal factory tour, just a short 15-minute boat ride from Taveuni to Viani Bay Resort. You’ll learn about the fascinating process of creating flavoured salts and have the opportunity to take home some unique salty souvenirs. Learn more about the resort in the 15 Best Eco-Resorts in Fiji.

Location: Viani Bay Resort, Viani Bay, Vanua Levu. Accessible by private boat transfers organised through the resort, 15 minutes across from Wairiki/Taveuni.

More About Taveuni for Foodies

That’s it for our guide to foodie experiences in Taveuni, but for more information about this lush island paradise, check out the following articles:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in our Complete Guide to Taveuni.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Taveuni Tourism Association (Regional tourism website)
Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Taveuni Tourism Association (Regional tourism website)

Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Robin (Ruveni) C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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