The Guide to the Ferries in the Yasawa Islands
The scattering of idyllic islands in the Yasawa Islands is what a getaway to Fiji is all about, but how do you get there? One of your least expensive options is via a ferry. We go over the ferry companies, routes, prices and how to book in this complete guide to how to take a ferry to the Yasawa Islands.
For more information about these islands, check out The Complete Guide to the Yasawa Islands and the 20 Best Resorts in the Yasawa Islands.
Table of Contents
5 Quick Tips for Taking a Ferry in the Yasawa Islands
Here are our top tips to ensure your journey is smooth sailing (pun intended!):
- The Awesome Adventures ferry departs from Port Denarau, around 10 km (6 mi) from Nadi, while the Tavewa Seabus departs from Lautoka, around 26 km (16 mi) from Nadi.
- Book resort connections for the Yasawas through the Awesome Adventures website, not South Sea Cruises, to see cheaper prices.
- All Yasawas’ ferries have coach transfers from Nadi free of charge, which must be booked in advance.
- Check-in for your ferry transfer at least 30 minutes before departure.
- Ferries have the same baggage allowance as most airlines – carry-on bags of up to 7 kg (15 lbs) and main luggage up to weighs up to 25 kg (50 lbs) on Awesome Adventures and 20 kg (44 lbs) on Tavewa Seabus.
For more tips, check out the 10 Tips for Taking the Ferry in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Yasawa Islands Ferries
There are two ferry operators to the Yasawa Islands, Awesome Adventures, which is run by South Sea Cruises, and the Tavewa Seabus.
Awesome Adventures (Yasawa Flyer)
The Awesome Adventures ferry, also known as the Yasawa Flyer, runs up and down the Yasawa Islands from Port Denarau once a day. The ferry is a high-speed catamaran ferry with a travel desk, licensed cafe, and bar on board. Rides on their large catamaran are usually a comfortable and fun experience. Upgrades are available for the “Captain’s Lounge” on the upper deck to enjoy spacious booths, air conditioning and complimentary drinks and snacks.
Tavewa Seabus
Tavewa Seabus has two smaller catamaran passenger ferries, 30- and 56-passenger catamarans, operating between Lautoka and 14 Yasawa Islands, including resorts around the Blue Lagoon. They travel to and from the Yasawas daily. Rides on their smaller vessel can be bumpy sometimes, so if you have a weak stomach – try the other ferry.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Yasawa Island Ferry Route and Durations
Both ferry companies in the Yasawas offer a route through the Yasawa Islands to most island resorts and accommodations in the island group. Resort boats will usually come to meet the ferry, and the crew will help transfer your bags between the ferries and the resorts’ fibre longboats.
Awesome Adventures (Yasawa Flyer) Ferry Route
The Yasawa Flyer ferry route departs daily from Port Denarau Marina in the morning. Below is a list of resorts/islands stopped by along the route, along with the travel time from Denarau:
© FijiPocketGuide.comTavewa Seabus Route
The Tavewa Seabus departs daily at 7:30 am from Lautoka Kings Jetty, with check-in starting at 6:30 am. Weather permitting, the journey to the Yasawas takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Their round-trip service returns to Lautoka Kings Jetty between 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm.
The Tavewa Seabus route includes the following stops:
- Lautoka Wharf
- Barefoot Kuata Resort, Wayalailai, Naqalia Lodge
- Paradise Cove, Mantaray Island Resort, Barefoot Manta Resort
- Korovou Resort, White Sandy Beach Resort
- Long Beach Resort, Navutu Stars, Turtle Island
- Nanuya Beach Resort, Gold Coast Resort, Coralview Island, Coconut Beach Resort
- Nabua Lodge, Safe Landing Resort, Oarsman’s Bay Lodge
- Nacula Island
- Nabukeru
- Malakati
- Bay of Plenty
How Long Does it Take to Get to the Yasawa Islands?
The duration of ferry journeys to the Yasawa Islands depends on which island you are going to. The Awesome Adventures ferry takes longer to get to each destination, as there are more stops on the route than the Tavewa Seabus.
The Awesome Adventures ferry takes approximately two hours to arrive in the southern Yasawa Islands from Port Denarau – their first stop in the Yasawas. It takes approximately five hours to get to their final stop in the northern Yasawa Islands from Port Denarau. Note that they go to each of their stops on the journey back to Port Denarau too, taking just as much time to return to Port Denarau.
The Tavewa Seabus takes around one hour to get to their first stop in the southern Yasawa Islands and five hours to get to their last stop in the northern Yasawa Islands.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Cost of the Yasawa Ferries and Where to Purchase Tickets
The Yasawa Islands ferry prices are determined by which island you are travelling to. Usually, the longer you travel on the ferry, the more expensive the ticket is. So that we only have to keep one price page up to date, check out ferry prices around Fiji and our complete cost guide: How Much Do Water Taxis & Ferries Cost in Fiji?
Where to Book Ferry Tickets for the Yasawa Islands
Ferries in the Yasawa Islands must be booked in advance. This can be done directly through the ferry companies’ websites, over the phone, via email, or through their offices. Awesome Adventures/South Sea Cruises has an office at the Customs Hall of Nadi International Airport and the passenger area of Port Denarau.
Tavewa Seabus has an office in Lautoka at Office 2 in the FPCL Building on Waterfront Road (at Lautoka Kings Jetty). PVV Tours & Travel, based at the Nadi Downtown Hotel in Nadi Town, is a booking agent for the Tavewa Seabus, providing another easy way to get tickets.
Alternatively, ferries can be booked through the travel desk or reception of most Fiji accommodations and your travel agent.
For more about booking ferries, check out How to Book Cruises Around the Fiji Islands. Finally, check out more ferry prices around Fiji in our guide: How Much Do Water Taxis & Ferries Cost in Fiji?
More About Taking the Ferry to the Yasawa Islands
That’s it for our guide to taking the ferry to the Yasawa Islands; for more information about exploring Fiji’s stunning archipelagos, check out the following articles:
- Yasawa Transport Guide: 8 Ways to Get to (& Around) the Yasawa Islands
- The Complete Travel Guide to the Yasawa Islands
- The Guide to Cruises Around Fiji
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Guide to Travelling in Fiji by Ferry.
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:
- Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Fiji (General travel 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])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - 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])
Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
