The 20 Largest Islands in Fiji

Last Updated: 20 October, 2024

What are the Largest Islands in Fiji?

333 islands are scattered across the nation of Fiji. With such a huge number, it’s difficult to get your bearings and start getting to know the islands of Fiji. A good place to start is by looking at Fiji’s largest islands!

The geography of Fiji is split into nine separate island groups. The smallest island groups are the Conway Reef Islands and the Skerries, while the largest island group is the Viti Levu Group. Out of Fiji’s 333 islands, only the islands (and small island groups) listed below are more than 100 km² (39 mi²) – the next largest is only 67 km² (26 mi²). The vast majority of Fiji’s islands are well under 5 km² (2 mi²)!

So, what are the largest islands in Fiji? Let’s check out the top 20!

1. Viti Levu (10,388 km² / 4,011 mi²)

Often referred to as “the mainland”, Viti Levu is not only Fiji’s largest island but the hub of Fiji’s population and industry. It’s home to Fiji’s largest cities, including Lautoka, Nadi, Ba and the capital city Suva. The oval-shaped island is 146 km (91 mi) from east to west and 106 km (66 mi) from north to south, with a mountainous interior scattered with villages. The island has four large rivers and two main roads mostly running along the coast, while the interior is mostly made up of gravel roads suitable for 4WD vehicles. Find out more about Fiji’s largest island in our Guide to Viti Levu.

2. Vanua Levu (5,587 km² / 2,157 mi²)

Vanua Levu means “Big Island”, which is apt for Fiji’s second-largest island. Sitting north of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu is known as a much quieter island than Viti Levu, ideal for tourists looking to get off the beaten track. The island has a mix of laidback towns, Fijian villages and some of Fiji’s most premium resorts. The landscape consists of rainforests and coconut plantations, and the view of the ocean is never too hard to find. Find out what you could be getting up to in Vanua Levu with our 20 Best Things to Do on Vanua Levu.

3. Taveuni (434 km² / 166 mi²)

Known as the “Garden Island”, Taveuni is packed with rainforest, tropical flower gardens and underwater coral gardens. The volcanic island has a mix of white and black sand beaches to add to its stunning landscape. While there are no “large” towns on Taveuni, mostly villages, the largest centre is Waiyevo, while the northern village of Matei is a popular boutique resort hub near the airport. Check out the activities on this island in the 20 Best Things to Do in Taveuni.

4. Kadavu Island (411 km² / 159 mi²)

The centre of the Kadavu Islands group, Kadavu Island is Fiji’s fourth-largest island. Kadavu Island sits around 100 km (60 mi) south of Viti Levu and is known for its unspoilt prehistoric landscape and rugged coastline. Out of the Kadavu Group’s 72 villages, Vunisea on Kadavu is the area’s hub. The small town has a police station, post office, hospital, and a small airport. Find out more about Kadavu in our 20 Best Things to Do in Kadavu.

5. Gau Island (142 km² / 88 mi²)

Gau Island, in the Lomaiviti Islands group, is Fiji’s fifth-largest island. The island doesn’t have much of a tourist scene but is more known for its natural and cultural conservation. 50% of the island is forest, with the island’s highlands being an important bird habitat for the Fiji petrel. Out of the limited villages on the island, Sawaieke is the largest. Find out more about the Lomaiviti Group in our 10 Best Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands.

6. Ovalau (106 km² / 41 mi²)

The main centre of the Lomaiviti Group, just west of Viti Levu, is Ovalau. The island is made up of sharp peaks and rugged volcanic beauty, as well as historic European settlements and Fijian villages. Levuka is the largest town on the island, while Lovoni village’s drawcard is its location inside a deep volcanic crater. Ovalau is also the closest island to the mainland. Learn more about Ovalau in The Complete Travel Guide to Levuka & the Lomaiviti Islands.

7. Koro Island (105 km² / 40.5 mi²)

Koro Island is the seventh largest island in Fiji. The island is north of the Lomaiviti Islands and sits in the Koro Sea, named after the island. The island has a chain of volcanic cones extending from north to south. The island has an airport and a couple of resorts and is one of the travel hubs of Fiji, with regular ferries to and from Suva on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The largest town on the island is Nakodu.

8. Vanua Balavu (103.6 km² / 40 mi²)

Located in the Northern Lau Islands, the group’s largest island is Vanua Balavu. Vanua Bavu is about 2 km (1.2 mi) wide and is grouped with eight other surrounding islands inside a barrier reef. While not many tourists venture to the Northern Lau Group, there are still a few guesthouses and homestays to make use of and discover a remote and “real” side of Fiji. There are no major towns, but the largest village is Lomaloma. The total area of the Northern Lau Islands is 198 km² (76 mi²). Check out the 10 Best Things to Do in the Lau Islands for more information.

9. Moala Island (62.5 km² / 24 mi²)

Another group of islands on the western side of the Lau Group, the Moala Islands, together make up one of Fiji’s “large” island groups at a total land area of 125 km² (48 mi²). The main activity on the islands is coconut and root crop farming. The largest island in the group of islands, Moala Island, is 62.5 km² (24 mi²) and is Fiji’s ninth-largest island, with a population of around 3,000 living across eight villages, the largest of which is Naroi.

10. Lakeba (60 km² / 23.2 mi²)

Some of Fiji’s remotest islands make up the Southern Lau Group. There are around 17 islands that make up this group, the largest being Lakeba. Lakeba is a volcanic island roughly about 9 km (5.6 mi) in diameter. The island is home to some 2,000 people with a handful of roads to get around. Tubou is the main hub of the Southern Lau Islands, with accommodation, a police station, a hospital and a post office. The Southern Lau Islands has a total land area of 177 km² (68 mi²).

The Next 10 Largest Islands in Fiji

Having explored Fiji’s ten largest islands, let’s now turn our attention to the next ten in size. These smaller yet equally captivating islands deserve recognition for their unique charm and natural beauty.

Cicia (34 km² [13.1 mi²])
Kabara (31 km² [12 mi²])
Nayau (18.4 km² [7.1 mi²])
Matuku (17 km² [6.6 mi²])
Yacata (8.5 km² [3.3 mi²])
Ono-i-Lau (7.9 km² [3.1 mi²])
Naitaba (approximately 5 km² [1.9 mi²])
Vanua Vatu (4.9 km² [1.9 mi²])
Fulaga (4.5 km² [1.7 mi²])
Ogea Levu (4.4 km² [1.7 mi²])

These islands, though smaller in size, offer visitors a chance to experience Fiji’s diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage away from the more frequented destinations.

More About the Largest Islands in Fiji

That’s it for the largest islands in Fiji. For more about Fiji’s geography, check out the following:

Finally, see how many islands you can squeeze into your trip with the following itinerary compilations: The Best Fiji Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Fiji Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Fiji Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Fiji Itineraries for a Weekend.

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:

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])
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])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])

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

About The Author

Robin (Ruveni) C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of Fiji Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before settling in the South Pacific, so he knows a thing or two about planning the perfect trip in this corner of the world. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides and is a regular host of webinars with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.

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