© FijiPocketGuide.com
© FijiPocketGuide.com

How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Explore Fiji by Bus

At first glance, budget travellers may think that Fiji is expensive to get around with all the islands spread out across the South Pacific Ocean. However, those in the know will know that Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, is incredibly easy to explore by bus. What’s more, Viti Levu really offers a bit of everything that Fiji has to offer, from beaches to the Fijian culture to inland hiking, rafting, boating and much more! In this guide, we’ll show you all the ways to travel around Fiji by bus.

Note that other islands also have bus transport, such as on Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau (Lomaiviti Islands), however, visiting these islands will involve other modes of transport too.

5 Tips for Travelling Fiji by Bus

  • Express buses are a fun and affordable way to travel around Viti Levu – see our Fiji Budget Itinerary: 7 Days for a typical itinerary you could do using express buses
  • Make your travels around Viti Levu super easy with one of the multi-day bus tours in Fiji – they sort our accommodation, transport and some meals for you
  • Public buses are rough, dusty and don’t have windows – an awesome adventure for backpackers but best to avoid if you’re a bit “precious”
  • Public buses are known for running on “Fiji time“, so they are best used if you have plenty of time to spare
  • Taxis, water taxis, ferries, cargo boats, planes and helicopters are all other ways to get around Fiji. Find out more in 7 Ways to Get Around Fiji.
How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus© FijiPocketGuide.com

City Buses in Fiji

Travelling around a city or between neighbouring towns is available with public buses on the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau. Buses are extremely affordable, usually costing around FJ$1 to travel within a city. For typical prices, take a look at How Much Does it Cost to Travel Fiji by Bus?

Public Buses

Need to get around a city or from a city to a rural area? Public buses provide a real “local” experience at an ultra-affordable price. Public buses are usually old buses with basic seating and have open windows with tarp covers should it start raining. Public buses are available on the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau, although the latter two just have buses running twice a day along with the school run.

Public buses in Fiji run on a rough schedule, but you can see up-to-date timetables at bus stops in the major towns and cities. In rural areas, bus stops are not obvious, it’s best to ask a local where to wait for the bus.

Learn more about public buses, as well as carriers and minivans, in The Guide to Commuting in Fiji.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Denarau

Denarau Island, a manmade island 20 minutes away from Nadi Airport made up of five-star resorts and a port to the outer islands, has its own inner-island bus. The Bula Bus stops at resorts and Port Denarau throughout the day, offering a hop-on hop-off bus service. Day passes and four-day passes are available, allowing passengers to use the bus as much as they want within the timeframe of the pass.

Learn more about getting to and around Denarau in 5 Ways to Get to Denarau Island.

How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus© FijiPocketGuide.com

Inter-City Buses in Fiji

Aside from on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, bus transport is quite limited between major settlements. However, those wishing to explore Viti Levu by bus will find the express coaches a comfortable and affordable way to travel.

Express Buses on Viti Levu

“Express bus” is the name commonly given to the coaches that travel between towns and cities on Viti Levu. Express buses take two major routes: between Nadi and Suva on the Queens Road (south of Viti Levu) and between Nadi and Suva on the Kings Road (north of Viti Levu).

While more expensive than public buses, express buses are still what many would consider affordable, with prices being FJ$16-$25 to get between Nadi and Suva. Express buses have frequent schedules, starting around 6.30am until 6pm, and stop off at towns and major resorts.

Public Buses to Travel Between Towns and Cities

Like the city buses (see the section above), public buses are basic buses with tarp-covered windows. These types of buses are also available to get between towns and cities on Viti Levu at a much slower speed but much cheaper price than the express buses.

On the islands of Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau, public buses are your only bus option to get between settlements on the islands. The bus service on Vanua Levu goes to all main towns and cities on the islands, starting from around 6.30am until around 4.30pm. Buses on Taveuni and Ovalau double up as school buses, so only depart two or three times a day.

Learn more about the transport on these islands in:

How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus© FijiPocketGuide.com

Resort/Airport Transfers in Fiji

Another way travellers can find themselves travelling by bus is on an airport transfer to a resort. While private transfers are available, taking passengers in cars and vans, shared airport transfers will often be in a minibus or a coach.

Shared Airport Transfers in Fiji

Shared airport transfers run between Nadi International Airport and popular resort centres, such as Nadi, Denarau and the Coral Coast. Drivers will often meet passengers on arrival at the arrivals lounge of Nadi International Airport and drop you off right outside your resort and vice versa. Transfer operators that offer shared transfers by bus include:

How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus© Tourism Fiji

Multi-Day Bus Tours in Fiji

Escorted bus tours are another way to get around Fiji by bus. Multi-day bus tours only operate on the island of Viti Levu and sometimes include boat transfers to the Mamanuca Islands, the Yasawa Islands or off-shore island of Viti Levu, such as Robinson Crusoe Island or Nananu-i-Ra Island. All in all, they are a good way to travel around the main island of Fiji without the hassle of planning logistics, booking your accommodation or finding things to do. They are also a great option for solo travellers to explore Fiji with like-minded people.

Bus Tours in Fiji

Bus tour prices usually include all accommodation, all transport (including boat transport if applicable and airport transfers), some activities and some meals.

Fiji bus tour operators include:

Find out more about what each operator offers in The Best Multi-Day Bus Tours of Fiji.

More on How to Travel Around Fiji by Bus

That’s it from the guide to how to travel around in Fiji by bus. Check out more transport options around the islands in our Fiji Transport Guide: 16 Best Ways to Get Around Fiji.

Author

Laura 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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