Hikes and Walks Near Denarau Island
Let’s get one thing straight: Denarau Island is not a hiking destination in Fiji. The reclaimed mangrove swamp-turned island of five-star resorts can only offer a few sidewalks and one pathway that follows the coast going from resort to resort. However, there are a few hiking trails within 30 minutes to an hour’s drive of Denarau, either accessible by hiring a car or taking a tour. Check out your hiking options in the list below of the best walks from Denarau!
While you’re here, you might also be interested in 10 Must-Dos on Denarau Island.
1. Denarau Beach and Walkway
Being the largest integrated resort in the South Pacific, Denarau Island is well worth walking around. One of the best walks for checking out the resorts is the waterfront walkway, which can be joined from any of the Denarau resorts. A winding well-graded pathway takes you from resort to resort, passing various beaches, swimming pools, landscaped gardens and eateries. Walking from the waterfront at the Wyndham Resort to the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort will take approximately 20-30 minutes one way. For more activities like this in Denarau, see 11 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Denarau.
© FijiPocketGuide.com2. Garden of the Sleeping Giant Walk
The next closest area to Denarau featuring a stunning walk is at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Located about 22km (13.7 miles) north of Denarau, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant provides a short walk around vibrant orchid gardens and verdant rainforest. The marked trail is easy to follow, taking around 30 minutes to complete the entire loop. Note that there is a small entry fee. Tours to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant which offer pick-ups in Denarau, are available with Rosie Holidays (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor), Valentine Tours Fiji (on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Go Dirty Quad Bike Tours (on Viator and Tripadvisor). See more things to do in the Nadi area here.
© FijiPocketGuide.com3. Koroyanitu National Park Waterfall Walk
The Korotanitu National Heritage Park offers some of Fiji’s most accessible hikes. To go it alone, hire a 4WD rental vehicle and drive via Tavakuva Road off Drasa Avenue in Lautoka. Alternatively, you can take a taxi or book a tour including transportation to Abaca Village where all the walking trails start. At Abaca Village, one of the locals will find you where you’ll need to pay a small fee – around FJ$15 for a map and directions and FJ$25 for a guide. Then, enjoy one of the amazing walks that this stunning national park has to offer. A popular walk to suit most fitness levels (which is also great for kids) is the waterfall walk. This 1h30min-2-hour loop walk takes you to a stunning waterfall and swimming hole. Tours to this walk are also available with Fiji Eco Tours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Exotic Holidays Fiji (on Viator and Tripadvisor). See more excursions like this in The Best Day Trips from Denarau.
© Pixabay4. Mt Koroyanitu Trail
An alternative walk in the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park is on the Mt Koroyanitu Trail. This walk is accessed the same way as the waterfall hike mentioned above – through the Abaca Village. Mt Koroyanitu, otherwise known as Mt Evans, is Fiji’s fourth highest mountain at 1,195m (3,920ft). It offers an excellent mix of jungle landscape and mountainous views. While it’s usually said to take 4 hours to complete, those with a higher fitness level tend to be able to complete the walk in 2 hours. Guided tours to Mt Koroyanitu are also available with Nadi Urban Adventures (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor).
© Nadi Urban Adventures5. Mt Batliamu Trail
Another fantastic mountain trail in the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park is Mt Batliamu. Mt Baliamu is also known as the “Sleeping Giant” and is the mountain that the Garden of the Sleeping Giant (see above) is named after. Like the other walks in Koroyanitu National Park, you will need a local guide to tackle this unmarked trail. The walk takes around 3-5 hours to complete depending on which route your guide takes you. For a good portion of the trail, you will be in exposed grassland before delving into lush rainforest. The mountain stands 1,110m (3,649ft) high offering a brilliant viewpoint overlooking the outer islands of Fiji! Guides can be organised from the Abaca Village or with Exotic Holidays Fiji (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor). For more walks into the Koroyanitu National Park from the Suncoast, see the 9 Best Walks on the Suncoast.
© Pxhere.comMore About Walks From Denarau
