Information, Shops & Services in the Lomaiviti Islands© FijiPocketGuide.com
Information, Shops & Services in the Lomaiviti Islands

Information, Shops & Services in Levuka & the Lomaiviti Islands

© FijiPocketGuide.com
Last Updated: 22 September, 2024

What Services are Available in Ovalau and the Lomaiviti Islands?

Although just a short flight from Fiji’s capital, the Lomaiviti Islands are blissfully uncrowded. Most of the islands here are rather underdeveloped aside from villages and the odd resort. That’s with the exception of the town that was once Fiji’s capital, Levuka. Located on Ovalau Island, Levuka is the hub of the Lomaivitis, offering a small but convenient selection of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, a bank, a hospital and a post office. Find out more about them in this guide, which provides information about shops and services in the Lomaiviti Islands.

For more tips on planning the perfect trip here, check out The Complete Travel Guide to the Lomaiviti Islands.

Table of Contents

Useful Services for Tourists

Information, Shops & Services in the Lomaiviti Islands© FijiPocketGuide.com

Food and Groceries

Most of the Lomaiviti Islands’ shops and supermarkets can be found on the island of Ovalau. The town of Levuka has a small but decent selection of grocery stores, as well as a produce market.

Supermarkets on Ovalau

Most supermarkets can be found in the town of Levuka on Ovalau. You will also find the odd general store or food stall in the village around Ovalau and Lomaiviti’s other islands. While not a complete list, some popular supermarkets in the Lomaiviti Islands include:

  • Dutt’s Retail Store, Beach Street, Levuka
  • MH Supermarket, opposite the museum and wharf, Levuka
  • Narson’s Supermarket, Levuka

Grocery stores in Levuka are generally open daily from 7/8 am to 9:30 pm. Learn more about grocery shopping in the Guide to Food Shopping in Fiji.

The Levuka Market

[Update: The new Levuka Market is still under construction; see the Fiji Government website for the most up-to-date information.]
For fresh fruit, vegetables, and fish, the Levuka Market is a popular option located along Levuka’s waterfront. The market runs from 7 am to 6 pm each day except Sundays.

Restaurants in the Lomaiviti Islands

Of course, resorts and accommodations in the Lomaiviti Islands endeavour to keep guests fed through their on-site restaurant or with pre-arranged meals. For casual dining in the Lomaivitis, however, you’ll have to turn to Levuka, which has the following restaurants:

  • Kumar’s Kozy Kafe, Beach Street, Levuka, Ovalau
  • Paak Kum Long/Naova’ke Uptown Cafe, Beach Street, Levuka, Ovalau
  • Horizon Restaurant, Beach Street, Levuka, Ovalau
  • Ovalau Holiday Resort, Ovalau Road, Vatukalo
  • Kara’s BBQ Stand, Hennings Street, Levuka, Ovalau

For more dining recommendations, head to The Food Guide to Levuka & the Lomaiviti Islands.

Information, Shops & Services in the Lomaiviti Islands© FijiPocketGuide.com

Health Centres and Hospitals in the Lomaiviti Islands

While light medications (like painkillers), baby products and toiletries are often sold in supermarkets in Levuka, prescription medication and health treatments may be dealt with at the hospital or health centres. We recommend bringing any medications you need, along with the items we list in What Medication to Pack in Your First Aid Kit for Fiji, to the Lomaiviti Islands due to the limited supplies on the islands.

Levuka Hospital

The hospital on Ovalau is the Levuka Hospital, located on Beach Road at the northern end of Levuka. The hospital receives regular renovations and financial aid from overseas. They are happy to treat tourists for a small fee. Serious cases are transferred to Suva Hospital by helicopter. 

Health Centres

You can also find health centres in the Lomaiviti Islands at the following locations:

  • Levuka Health Centre, by the public school, Levuka, Ovalau
  • Bureta Health Centre, near the airstrip, Bureta Health Centre, Ovalau
  • Qarani Health Centre, Qarani, Gau Island
  • Nasau Health Centre, Nasau, Koro Island.

Otherwise, community nurse stations make up the rest of the healthcare facilities in the Lomaiviti Islands. For locations, check out the Ministry of Health & Medical Services website.

Police Station

There is a police station in Levuka located on the corner of Totoga Lane and Garner Jones Road, opposite Ovalau Club and Town Council.

For more advice about healthcare, check out How to Stay Safe in Fiji.

Information, Shops & Services in the Lomaiviti Islands© Captain Cook Cruises

Fuel Stations, Banks and Communication in the Lomaiviti Islands

As with the other information, shops and services in the Lomaiviti Islands, such as fuel stations and banks, can only be found in Ovalau. There is, however, a post office on Gau Island.

Fuel Stations

Fuel stations are limited in the Lomaiviti Islands at:

  • Pacific Energy – Levuka Service Station, Beach Street, Levuka, Ovalau
  • Nacamaki Biofuel Station, Nacamaki, Koro Island
  • Gau Biofuel Station, Navukailagi, Gau Island.

Post Offices

For postal services, money transfers and some retail goods, head to the post offices in the Lomaiviti Islands. There is the Levuka Post Office on Queens Wharf Lane leading to the wharf on Ovalau and the Qarani Post Office at the northern end of Gau Island. Phone and fax facilities are also available at the Levuka Post Office.

Internet and WiFi

The best way to have access to the internet in the Lomaiviti Islands is to have a local SIM card with a data bundle, depending on the coverage. Needless to say, there are no Digicel or Vodafone offices in the Lomaiviti Islands, so it’s best to purchase a SIM card before visiting – learn more in The Best SIM Card in Fiji for Travellers.

Your next option for having access to WiFi while in the Lomaiviti Islands is to stay at an accommodation offering WiFi. Such accommodations include Levuka Homestay and the Royal Hotel, both in Levuka. See Where to Get WiFi in Fiji for tips on staying connected.

The Bank

As there is only one bank in the Lomaiviti Islands, and because many shops and restaurants do not accept card payments, it’s best to bring enough cash with you. The only bank is the Westpac Bank at the southern end of Beach Street, Levuka. Traveller’s cheques, foreign currency and most major credit cards can be exchanged/are accepted. There is also an ATM there. Opening hours are from Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 4 pm (often closed for lunch between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm).

More About Information, Shops and Services in the Lomaiviti Islands

That’s it for our guide to information, shops and services in the Lomaiviti Islands. For more information about these stunning islands, check out the following articles:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Complete Guide to the Lomaiviti Islands.

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:

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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