The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast© Unsplash
The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast

The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast

© Unsplash

The Top Places to Visit on the Suncoast

Off the beaten track, the Suncoast of Fiji is all about discovery. There are many exciting day trips from the resorts of the Suncoast, from excursions to vibrant towns to traditional Fijian villages. We go through some of the best self-drive day trips from the Suncoast, as well as list guided day tour alternatives, in this ultimate list of the best places to visit on the Suncoast.

Where is the Suncoast? As a lesser-known part of Viti Levu, you can be forgiven for not knowing its whereabouts. The Suncoast is the northern region of Fiji’s main island along the Kings Road, incorporating towns such as Lautoka, Ba and Rakiraki. Find out more plus get more trip-planning ideas in The Complete Travel Guide to the Suncoast.

5 Best Day Tours from the Suncoast

Before we dive into the amazing self-drive day trips from the Suncoast, Rakiraki, Ba and Lautoka, here are some guided options where all of the transport is included:

The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast© Mark Snyder - Tourism Fiji

Navala Village

The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Families

Travel time by car: 40 mins from Ba/1h20mins from Lautoka/1h55mins from Rakiraki one way
Relevant tour: Navala Village Tour with Fiji Eco Tours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)

A striking example of the Suncoast’s inland villages, Navala Village is one of the very few remaining Fijian settlements with traditionally thatched bures. Set among rolling hills and the Ba River, Navala is not only a stunning photo opportunity but the villagers are very welcoming. For a small fee, they’ll give you a tour of the village and an amazing insight into the Fijian way of life.

For more day trips from the nearest town, see the 5 Best Things to Do in Ba.

The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast© Pacific Travel Experts

Lautoka

The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Luxury Travellers

Travel time by car: 40 mins from Ba/1h45mins from Rakiraki one way
Relevant tour: Lautoka Surrounds & Ancestral Tour with Pacific Travel Experts (more info on Viator or Tripadvisor)

At the westernmost end of the Suncoast is Fiji’s second-largest town, which many describe as a better version of Nadi. Lautoka offers an exciting day of sightseeing with historical and cultural highlights like the Lautoka Sugar Mill, Krishna Kaliya Temple and the huge Lautoka Market. The town also presents excellent shopping at the TappooCity mall, as well as authentic Fijian and Indo-Fijian eateries.

Plan more of your day trip pitstops using the 10 Best Things to Do in Lautoka.

The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast© Unsplash

Koroyanitu National Heritage Park

The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Couples

Travel time by car: 30 mins from Lautoka one way
Relevant tour: Mt Koroyanitu Heritage Tour with Highlander Twinny Tours Fiji (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor).

For an active day trip, set your sights on the natural wonders of the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park. Although there are many access points via the northern end of the park from Ba, the main entrance is via Abaca Village from Lautoka. Drive down the gravel road deep into the park where the residents of Abaca Village will meet you and set you up with either a guide or a map to enjoy one of the gorgeous walks here, including a two-hour waterfall walk and a full-day mountain hike.

See more active day trips, as well as details on the walk discussed, in the 9 Best Walks on the Suncoast.

The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast© Unsplash

Nananu-i-Ra Island

The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Budget Travellers

Travel time by car: 15 mins from Rakiraki/1h20mins from Ba one way
Travel time by boat: 15 mins from Ellington Wharf one way

Every mainland destination in Fiji has its island excursion. On the Suncoast, it’s Nananu-i-Ra, the most affordable island excursion there is. The hilly 3.5km² (3.8ft²) island boasts white sand beaches, mangroves and budget accommodation. Trekking offers amazing views of Fiji’s mainland, while at low tide, it’s possible to walk around the perimeter of the island in about four to five hours. Kayaking is also another popular activity here where kayaks can be hired from the island’s accommodations.

Discover more day trip ideas like this in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do on the Suncoast.

The Best Day Trips from the Suncoast© Unsplash

Rakiraki

The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Foodies

Travel time by car: 1h10mins from Ba/1h45mins from Lautoka one way

Rakiraki is the mid-way point on the Kings Road and the main hub of the Suncoast. The town offers vibrant Indo-Fijian shopping, eateries, but most importantly, a great produce market at the Rakiraki Market. Visiting a Fijian market is a must-do in any Fiji town where locals are happy to mingle and share recipe ideas. Not to mention, the array of colourful tropical fruit and vegetables is always an impressive sight.

For more trip ideas like this, see the 10 Must-Dos on the Suncoast.

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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