Food Activities on Vanua Levu
Get ready to taste the flavours of Fiji on the island of Vanua Levu. Fiji’s “other large island” offers a unique food scene that’s quite different from what you might have experienced elsewhere in Fiji. The best way to describe it? Extremely authentic, with a mouthwatering mix of Fijian and Indo-Fijian cuisine to sample. What’s more, you can dive into these flavours through hands-on experiences, from mud-crabbing to herbal walks. Check out some of your best options for foodie experiences with this list of things to do on Vanua Levu, and its main hub Savusavu, for foodies.
While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Food Guide to Vanua Levu. Plus, bookmark The Complete Guide to Food in Fiji for even more tasty tips!
Table of Contents
1. Learn How to Make Chocolate with KokoMana
Delve into a unique farm experience at KokoMana, where you can indulge in a farm tour and chocolate tasting. This two-acre farm is home to 400 cocoa trees producing fine-flavoured chocolate that’ll make your taste buds dance! As you wander through the grounds, you’ll learn about their sustainable permaculture practices (think organic composting and herbal medicine – it’s pretty impressive stuff). The real treat comes when you discover the chocolate-making process. Using just two ingredients and no preservatives, Kokomana crafts exclusive chocolates that are only available in Savusavu. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on tasting these delectable treats!
Location: Lot 11, Daku Estate, Lesiaceva Road, Savusavu.
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2. Indulge in a Traditional Fijian Lovo
A traditional method of slow-cooking food wrapped in banana leaves underground, the Fijian Lovo is an experience usually saved for special occasions. However, guests of Vanua Levu’s resorts have the opportunity to experience the smokey flavours and melt-in-your-mouth textures for themselves. Try it for yourself at the Koro Sun Resort, Savasi Island Resort or Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. At Nukubati Great Sea Reef, you can also experience a Tatavu also known as a Fijian barbecue.
Location: Koro Sun Resort & Savasi Island – Hibiscus Highway, Savusava. Jean-Michel Cousteau – Lesiaceva Point, Savusavu. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu.
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3. Treat Her to a Private Sandbank Picnic
For something especially romantic, treat your loved one to a private picnic on the beach or on a secluded sandbank. Nukubati Great Sea Reef‘s signature activity is their sandbank picnic where they’ll set up a Champagne lunch for you amidst the Great Sea Reef. Trips to secluded beaches complete with a private gourmet picnic can also be experienced with the Koro Sun Resort, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort and Emaho Sekawa Resort. We also love the private destination dining experience of The Remote Resort included in each night of stay! For more activities like this, check out the 10 Romantic Activities in Vanua Levu.
Location: Koro Sun Resort – Hibiscus Highway, Savusava. Jean-Michel Cousteau – Lesiaceva Point, Savusavu. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu. Emaho Sekawa Resort – Sekawa Beach Estate, Savusavu. The Remote Resort – Far eastern end of Vanua Levu on the Somostrait.
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4. Mingle with the Locals at the Savusavu and Labasa Markets
Check out the fabulous array of tropical fruits and vegetables for sale at the Savusavu and Labasa markets. Vanua Levu specialities include cassia bark (cinnamon), wild honey, bush dhaniya (coriander), avocado, fresh mullet, cabacaba lobster, sici shells and some of the sweetest fruit. So pick up some ingredients if you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, such as what we list in the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Savusavu & Vanua Levu. The markets in Savusavu and Labasa are located by their town centre bus stations on the waterfront.
Location: Savusavu Market – Lesiaceva Road, Savusavu town centre. Labasa Market – Jaduram Street, Labasa. There is also a smaller market on Naseakula Road.
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5. Take Part in a Fijian or Indo-Fijian Cooking Class
A foodie favourite on the islands of Fiji, cooking classes are a must! Learn traditional Fijian cooking methods in a Fijian cooking class with Savasi Island Resort. You’ll prepare banilolo (steamed coconut bread) or kokoda (fish marinated in coconut milk), as well as learn how to weave staple Fijian ingredients into your own cuisine. Or if you prefer to just watch, the chefs at The Remote Resort put on Fijian cooking demonstrations at the bar once a week. Alternatively, learn a mix of Fijian and Hindi cooking with a cooking class at Sigasiga Sands Boutique Bungalows. Other resorts that offer Fijian cooking classes include Nukubati and Koro Sun.
Location: Savasi, Sigasiga Sands & Koro Sun – Hibiscus Highway, Savusavu. The Remote Resort – Far eastern end of Vanua Levu on the Somostrait. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu.
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6. Learn About Traditional Medicinal Plants on a Herbal Walk
An abundance of interesting herbs and plants grow on Vanua Levu and its surrounding islands. Resorts such as Savasi Island Resort offer herbal walking tours where you’ll discover the natural medicinal qualities the vegetation around the island possesses. Nukubati Great Sea Reef takes guests through their gardens to show traditional medicinal plants. Or delve deep into the rainforest with the Koro Sun Resort for a herbal walk watching the wonders of nature unfold.
Location: Savasi & Koro Sun – Hibiscus Highway, Savusavu. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu.
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7. See How Fijians Welcome Each Other in a Kava Ceremony
If there’s only one thing you know about the Fijian culture, it’s probably the kava ceremony. This ceremony is performed when newcomers visit a village, gifting a yaqona root to grind into a narcotic drink known as kava or “grog”. At resorts such as The Remote Resort and Nukubati Great Sea Reef, you’ll experience a kava ceremony upon arrival and get to sample kava for yourself. Don’t worry, the yaqona root is provided, but if you’re visiting a Fijian village or doing a homestay, you will need to present yaqona as a gift. Learn more in our Fiji Village Etiquette: What to Do When Visiting a Fijian Village.
Location: The Remote Resort – Far eastern end of Vanua Levu on the Somostrait. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu.
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8. Embark on the Vuadomo Savu Experience with Muanivatu Trails
Get ready for a taste of authentic Fijian culture with the half-day Vuadomo Savu Experience! You’ll be welcomed with a traditional ceremony before embarking on a guided trek to a stunning waterfall. Watch in awe as locals demonstrate traditional food gathering and cooking techniques, then indulge in a mouthwatering Fijian lunch. The storytelling sessions will transport you deep into Fiji’s rich cultural heritage. What’s more, this village-run tourism operation ensures your visit directly benefits the local community. Book your experience with Muanivatu Trails.
Location: Vuadomo Village, Savusavu. Approximately 15 km (9 mi) from Savusavu town.
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9. Learn All About the Crafty Coconut in a Coconut Demonstration
Vanua Levu is Fiji’s coconut or “copra” capital, so it’s the perfect place to learn more about this versatile nut. Learn about the many uses of coconuts including for making coconut milk, oil, chutney, brooms, mats or snacks at the Sigasiga Sands Boutique Bungalows. Attend the Coconut 101 class at The Remote Resort to learn how to craft all sorts of objects with coconuts, as well as how to make pina coladas using fresh pineapple as an added extra. Similar experiences are also available at Koro Sun Resort, Savasi Island Resort and Nukubati Great Sea Reef.
Location: Savasi, Sigasiga Sands & Koro Sun – Hibiscus Highway, Savusavu. The Remote Resort – Far eastern end of Vanua Levu on the Somostrait. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu.
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10. Experience Mud Crabbing after Dark
Experiencing hunting the local way at the Savasi Island Resort. Their “Mud Crabbing” experience takes you beside the mangroves and estuaries where mud crabs hide. Learn how to catch the crabs using traditional hunting methods then take your catch to the kitchen to enjoy a dish made with your freshly caught seafood. Note that this is a seasonal activity.
Location: Hibiscus Highway, Savusavu.
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11. Have a Private Dining Experience on the Beach, by a Waterfall or in a Seacave
To celebrate a special occasion or “just because”, indulge in a private dining experience during your stay on Vanua Levu. At the Namela Resort & Spa enjoy a romantic meal in some stunning locations around the resort, including beside a waterfall or inside a candlelit sea cave. Alternatively, dine under the Milky Way with a private table set up on the beach at the Nukubati Great Sea Reef resort. A romantic set-up on the resorts’ piers is also available at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, while The Remote Resort takes you all around its stunning resort property with an included private dining experience each evening.
Location: Namale – Hibiscus Highway, Savusavu. The Remote Resort – Far eastern end of Vanua Levu on the Somostrait. Nukubati Great Sea Reef – Nukubati Island, northern Vanua Levu. Jean-Michel Cousteau – Lesiaceva Point, Savusavu.
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12. Scout Out the Cheap Eats
Vanua Levu is known for being one of Fiji’s more affordable islands, especially when it comes to dining out. The towns of Savusavu and Labasa each have their fair share of restaurants serving reasonably priced Indo-Fijian, Chinese, Korean and Western food. Even in some of the budget resorts around Vanua Levu, the menus are well-priced, offering some Fijian favourites into the mix. Check out our recommendations in the Top Cheap Eats on Vanua Levu or see more suggestions in our Guide to the Best Eats & Restaurants on Vanua Levu.
Location: See the links above for specific locations.
© FijiPocketGuide.comMore About Food Activities in Vanua Levu and Savusavu
That’s it for our guide to food activities in Fiji, for more information about Fijian cuisine and foodie experiences, check out the following articles:
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in our Complete Guide to Food in Fiji.
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:
- Savusavu 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])
- Savusavu Tourism Association (Regional tourism website)
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