Vanua Levu & Savusavu Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around)

Last Updated: 8 October, 2024

How to Get to and Around Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu is Fiji’s second-largest island, situated northeast of Viti Levu. Because most travellers arrive in Fiji via Nadi International Airport, located on Viti Levu, the most common way to get to Vanua Levu is via domestic flight or ferry. Once you arrive in Vanua Levu, there are several options for getting around, from the extensive bus network to convenient taxi transfers. Find out more about the transport in Savusavu, the most-visited part of Vanua Levu, and all around the island in this Vanua Levu transport guide.

1. Scheduled Flights – How to Get to Vanua Levu and Savusavu

From Nadi International Airport (NAN), the easiest and quickest way to get to Vanua Levu is via a domestic flight to Savusavu Airport (SVU) and Labasa Airport (LBS). Regular flights are available with Fiji Airways and Northern Air, taking approximately 1 hour. Flights to Savusavu are also available from Suva Airport (Viti Levu) and to Labasa Airport (Vanua Levu). Learn more about Savusavu and Labasa Airports in What Are the Airports in Fiji? More tips for domestic flights can be found in The Complete Guide to Domestic Flights in Fiji.

Tip #1: If you’re flying on Fiji Airways from overseas, book your flight all the way to Vanua Levu to get the international luggage allowance. Otherwise, the domestic luggage allowance is 15 kg (33 lb).

Tip #2: To save on costs when flying to the Savusavu area, you can opt to fly to Labasa instead, where larger planes land and have cheaper fares, and then take a taxi from Labasa to Savusavu. This option is particularly more economical for families but not so much for solo travellers/couples because of the taxi price.

Vanua Levu Transport Guide: 6 Ways to Get to Vanua Levu (& Around Vanua Levu)

2. Charter Flights – How to Get to Vanua Levu and Savusavu

For those seeking a more luxurious way to reach Vanua Levu, private charter flights are at your service. Several high-end resorts on the island offer this convenient option. Island Hoppers Fiji and Pacific Island Air operate from Nadi International Airport, whisking you away to paradise in style. If you’re coming from further afield, Paramount Business Jets can arrange international flights directly to Labasa and Savusavu. Here’s a little-known gem: Kokomo Private Island (based in Kadavu) also provides charter flights from Nadi to outer islands like Vanua Levu if you reach out to them directly.

Fancy learning more about soaring through Fiji’s skies? Check out our guide on Where to Hire a Plane or Seaplane in Fiji. It’s packed with all the details you need to take your Fijian adventure to new heights!

3. Ferries – How to Get to Vanua Levu and Savusavu

For travellers on a budget, there’s also the option to take one of the ferries. Interlink Shipping Line travels between Natovi/Suva and Nabouwalu/Savusavu/Labasa and Goundar Shipping travels between Suva and Savusavu. You can also island-hop between Buca Bay on Vanua Levu and Taveuni with Taveuni Princess. Ferry services usually include bus transfers from the ferry ports in Nabouwalu, Buca Bay and Natovi to the towns stated above. While taking a ferry is cheaper than taking a flight – see How Much Do Water Taxis & Ferries Cost in Fiji? – the travel duration is much longer. Bus and ferry services between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu take approximately 4 hrs 30 mins to 11 hours. Nevertheless, it’s a real Fiji adventure and a great way to travel like a local!

Learn more about taking a ferry to the north of Fiji in How to Take the Ferry to Vanua Levu and The Guide to Travelling in Fiji by Ferry.

4. Taxis – How to Get Around Vanua Levu and Savusavu

Vanua Levu is well-connected with roads, so taxi services are easy to find (according to locals, around 150 taxis are operating in Savusavu). The main taxi stand is at the Savusavu Bus Station on Lesiaceva Road. Otherwise, you can hail a taxi from the roadside or any accommodation will be able to call their regular taxi provider. Taxis are affordable even running on a metre within 16 km (10 mi) of Savusavu or Labasa town. If you are hiring a taxi to do some sightseeing in the countryside for the day, you can negotiate a price or check out the usual price range in Taxi Prices in Fiji: The Costs You Need to Know. Check out more of our tips in 10 Things You Need to Know About Taxis in Fiji.

5. Bus Services – How to Get Around Vanua Levu

Public buses on Vanua Levu offer an extremely cheap (FJ$3-$15) and scenic way to get around the island. Buses have open windows and offer an opportunity to mingle with the friendly locals. The main bus station is located in Savusavu on Lesiaceva Road (near the marketplace), with bus services running all around the island to Labasa, Natewa Bay, Napuca, Naweni, Lesiaceva and everywhere in between. Although there are no formal timetables, ask at the stands (or something helpful locals will volunteer information) at the Savusavu Bus Station for more information. Note that some bus services do not run on a Sunday. For more information here, check out How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus.

6. Rental Cars – How to Get Around Vanua Levu and Savusavu

Another way to get around Vanua Levu is to do it yourself with a rental car. Vanua Levu offers a number of scenic drives with interesting stops along the way. Sealed roads include the road between Savusavu and Labasa, as well as the Hibiscus Highway. Otherwise, other roads on Vanua Levu are gravel roads. There are a number of car hire companies on Vanua Levu which we list in The Best Car Rentals on Vanua Levu. For tips on driving in Fiji, check out How to Drive in Fiji.

7. Resort Transfers – How to Get Around Savusavu

Before you go book a taxi or get a car rental delivered to the airport, perhaps before you’re ready to use it, bear in mind that your accommodation might offer return airport transfers. Many resorts and even holiday homes offer an airport meet-and-greet. Compare all of your options in the 10 Best Airport Transfers in Fiji.

Vanua Levu & Savusavu Transport Guide: 6 Ways to Get to (& Around)

8. Guided Tours – How to Get Around Savusavu

Another way of getting around Savusavu and Vanua Levu to see the sights is with a guided tour that includes transport. Tours are typically operated by resorts or some accommodations may book car hire services (similar to taxis) which is essentially a private driver who will take you on a customised route. Find out more about your guided options in the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Fiji. Plus, more on private drivers can be found in How to Hire a Driver in Fiji.

9. Yachts – How to Get to Vanua Levu and Savusavu

Outside of the cyclone season (November to March), Savusavu is a port of entry for yachties. Mooring is made easy with four marinas in the bay, including the affordable Waitui Marina and Savusavu Marina, the mid-range Copra Shed Marina, and the luxury Nawi Island Marina. Find out more about visiting Savusavu via yacht and the protocols involved in our Guide to Port Savusavu and Sailing Guide to Fiji: Tips for Yachting in Fiji.

10. Cruise Ships – How to Get to Vanua Levu and Savusavu

For a quick visit to Savusavu, the island is on the itinerary of several South Pacific cruises. Savusavu does not have a dedicated cruise ship wharf. Instead, cruise passengers typically enter Savuasavu on tender boats through the lagoon’s main passage, arriving in the heart of Savusavu. From there, passengers spend the day on island tours, exploring the town, scuba diving and more, as listed in The Guide to Taking a Cruise to Fiji. Find out which cruises visit Savusavu in the 10 Cruises That Visit Fiji.

More About Vanua Levu Transport and Ways to Get to Vanua Levu

That’s it for our guide to Vanua Levu transport and ways to get to Vanua Levu, for more information about transportation in Fiji, check out the following articles:

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

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)

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

About The Author

Laura (Lora) 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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