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.
Table of Contents
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:
- Navala Village Tour with Omnus Travel & Tours
- Mt Koroyanitu Heritage Tour with Highlander Twinny Tours Fiji
- Nabalasere Waterfall Day Trip with Volivoli Beach Resort
- Narara Village and Waterslide Tour with Ring Gold Divers
- Mt Tomanivi Hike with Talanoa Treks.
For more about the attractions visited, check out the 21 Best Things to Do in Rakiraki & the Suncoast and for more tours across Fiji, check out the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Fiji.
© Mark Snyder - Tourism FijiNavala Village
The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Families
Travel time by car: 40 mins from Ba/1 hr 20 mins from Lautoka/1 hr 55 mins from Rakiraki one way
Relevant tour: Navala Village Tour with Omnus Travel & Tours or Pacific Valley View Tours (PVV Tours)
A striking example of the Suncoast’s inland villages, Navala Village is one of the very few remaining Fijian settlements with traditionally thatched bures. Located among rolling hills and the Ba River, Navala is not only a stunning photo opportunity but also features very welcoming villagers.
For a small fee, they’ll give you a tour of the village and an amazing insight into the Fijian way of life. If you’re visiting independently, be sure to bring a sevusevu.
For more day trips from the nearest town, see the 5 Best Things to Do in Ba.
© FijiPocketGuide.comLautoka
The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Luxury Travellers
Travel time by car: 40 mins from Ba/1 hr 45 mins from Rakiraki one way
Relevant tour: Lautoka Sightseeing Tour with Valentine Tours
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.
© FijiPocketGuide.comKoroyanitu 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.
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.
For more information about visiting the park, check out the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park website.
See more active day trips, as well as details on the walk discussed, in the 9 Best Walks on the Suncoast.
© FijiPocketGuide.comNananu-i-Ra Island
The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Budget Travellers
Travel time by car: 15 mins from Rakiraki/1 hr 20 mins 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 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) 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.
© FijiPocketGuide.comRakiraki
The Best Day Trip from the Suncoast for Foodies
Travel time by car: 1 hr 10 mins from Ba/1 hr 45 mins 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 20 Must-Dos on the Suncoast.
More Day Trips from the Suncoast
That’s it for the best day trips from the Suncoast. For more details about Rakiraki, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua and more, check out more of our insightful guides:
- The Complete Travel Guide to the Suncoast
- Suncoast Transport Guide: 5 Ways to Get to the Suncoast
- Information, Shops & Services on the Suncoast
Finally, plan more of your trip in Fiji 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 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])
- Tourism Suncoast (Regional tourism website)
Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
