The Best Day Trips in the Lomaiviti Islands

Last Updated: 8 September, 2024

The Top Places to Visit in the Lomaiviti Islands

You’ve made it all the way to the less-visited side of Fiji; don’t waste your whole time here sunbathing on the beach. There are many exciting day trips from the 10 Best Places to Stay in the Lomaiviti Islands, from excursions to bird sanctuaries to villages rich in history and culture. The main way to get around the Lomaiviti Islands is by boat, except for the roads on Ovalau, so in most cases, you will need to organise transport with your accommodation. Regardless, we’ll give you the best day trips from the Lomaiviti Islands to ask about at your resort, as well as list guided day tours in this ultimate guide to the best places to visit in the Lomaiviti Islands.

While you’re here, be sure to bookmark The Complete Travel Guide to the Lomaiviti Islands for more trip-planning success.

Can You Visit Ovalau (Levuka) on a Day Trip From Suva?

It is possible to take a day trip to Ovalau from Suva, but it would be a very long day with limited time on the island. There are two main options to get from Suva to Ovalau:

By air: Northern Air Services offers weekday flights from Nausori (Suva) Airport to Ovalau. The flight takes only 12 minutes but returns to Suva shortly after landing.
By road and sea: Goundar Shipping runs daily bus and ferry services between Suva and Ovalau.

At a push, you could take a flight to Ovalau Island with a morning flight (usually departing at 9 am from Nausori Airport) and return on the Goundar 3 pm ferry departing Ovalau. Needless to say, we recommend staying on Ovalau for at least a couple of days (if not much more)!

5 Best Day Tours from the Lomaiviti Islands

Before we dive into the amazing day trips from the Lomaiviti Islands, here is a quick list of guided options where all of the transport is included:

Levuka Town Trip with Leleuvia Island Resort
Bird Island Trip with Toberua Island Resort
Lovoni Village Tour with Epi’s Midland Tour
Naigani Island Trip with Bobo’s Farm
Moturiki Island Trip with Leleuvia Island Resort.

Now that we’ve whetted your appetite with these exciting options, let’s explore each day of the trip in more detail to help you plan your perfect Lomaiviti Islands adventure!

The Best Day Trips from the Lomaiviti Islands

Levuka

The Best Day Trip in the Lomaiviti Islands for Budget Travellers

Relevant tour: Levuka Town Trip with Leleuvia Island Resort

The beautifully preserved Levuka town was the capital of Fiji and a bustling metropolis between 1871 and 1881. Now, the town’s beautifully preserved colonial buildings are part of its UNESCO World Heritage status. Start your exploration at the Morris Hedstrom building, now home to the Levuka Museum. Other historical points of interest include the Church of the Sacred Heart (1858), the Ovalau Club (1904), the Town Hall (1898) and the Navoka Methodist Church (1862).

For more about Levuka, see the 10 Free & Cheap Things To Do in the Lomaiviti Islands.

Gau Island

The Best Day Trip in the Lomaiviti Islands for Luxury Travellers

Relevant tour: Bird Island Trip with Toberua Island Resort

One of the larger islands in the Lomaiviti Group, Gau Island is also one of only two bird sanctuaries in Fiji. Getting there means joining a tour with those such as Toberua Island Resort, who can transport you there and guide you through the island’s diverse plants and birds, as well as tell local legends and point out plants used in Fijian medicine. There are also 16 villages on the island.

For more places to birdwatch, check out the 10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji.

Lovoni Village

The Best Day Trip in the Lomaiviti Islands for Foodies

Relevant tour: Epi’s Midland Tour from Levuka, Ovalau

The village of Lovoni was once home to a feared tribe living in the centre of the impenetrable volcanic crater. The stories of this village on Ovalau are best told (in detail) on a tour with Epi’s Midland Tour. It’s a bumpy ride up the dirt road from Levuka leading to Lovoni, where Joe will present a sevuesvu (gift) to the village chief on your behalf before you enjoy lunch with Epi’s family in the village.

For more adventures like this, see the 20 Best Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands.

Moturiki Island

The Best Day Trip in the Lomaiviti Islands for Families

Relevant tour: Moturiki Island Trip with Leleuvia Island Resort

Just off the shores of Ovalau and Leleuvia Island, Moturiki Island is steeped in fascinating history and authentic culture. Not only is the island home to 10 different villages where you’ll get to see the lives of day-to-day Fijians in action, but the island also holds the site of one of the earliest Lapita settlements. There are many fascinating stories from this island, and a village visit there will definitely be one to remember.

For more family day trips, see the 10 Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands with Kids.

Naigani Island

The Best Day Trip in the Lomaiviti Islands for Couples

Relevant tour: Naigani Island Trip with Bobo’s Farm

About 10 km (6 mi) off the north coast of Ovalau, Naigani Island is a fascinating place to visit. During the reign of Cakabau, Naigani’s villagers were aligned with his enemy, Verata, where a famous invasion of the island in 1860 left all but two villagers dead (and taken to Bau to be eaten). Today, the island has a small population living in villages, some of which are the descendants of the survivors. You may be able to tour the original village on the northernmost peak of the island as well as an old hillfort.

For more idyllic islands to visit as a couple, see the 5 Romantic Activities in the Lomaiviti Islands.

More Day Trips from the Lomaiviti Islands

That’s it for the best day trips in the Lomaiviti Islands. For more tips on planning the best trip to this lesser-visited paradise, check out the following:

Finally, plan more of your trip in Fiji with the following compilations of itineraries: 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 Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - 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])
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 Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - 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.

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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