5 Best Day Trips in Savusavu & Vanua Levu

© Captain Cook Cruises

Labasa

The Best Day Trip on Vanua Levu for Budget Travellers

Travel time by car: 1 hr 25 mins from Savusavu one way

Although it’s the largest town in Vanua Levu, Labasa is not a place that every visitor gets to. Nevertheless, it’s still worth the day trip. The town provides a very different vibe to the rest of the island with a predominantly Indo-Fijian influence. You’ll find a great array of curry houses and shops selling interesting souvenirs and saris. A highlight is the Labasa Market, while a short drive out of the town will bring you to cultural highlights like the Naag Mandir Temple, home to a rock formation worshipped due to its likeness of a serpent god.

For more ideas on what to do on your day trip, see the 6 Best Things to Do in Labasa.

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Vuadomo Village

The Best Day Trip on Vanua Levu for Families

Travel time by car: 20 mins from Savusavu/1 hr 10 mins from Labasa one way
Relevant tour: Vuadomo Waterfall Tour with Daku Fiji Resort and Savasi Island Resort

One of the popular waterfall day trips on Vanua Levu is the Vuadomo Waterfall. If visiting independently, pick up some kava from the market to gift as a “sevusevu” to the village chief, along with an FJ$25 donation for one of the villagers to take you on a tour to the impressive waterfall. Otherwise, most resorts on Vanua Levu offer guided tours to the village and waterfall.

To make more of a day trip out of visiting Vuadomo, the village now runs its own community-run tours to help visitors immerse in the culture and nature of Vuadomo. Visitors can enjoy a scenic walk across a ridge from the village to the waterfall, known as the Muanivatu Trails. The village also provides opportunities for guests to engage in activities like mangrove planting on the beach and participating in traditional sevusevu ceremonies. Additionally, there are options to experience a traditional Fijian village visit, including booking massages and enjoying a barbecue with local dishes like lamb chops and sausages. These tours are designed for those interested in both the natural beauty and cultural richness of the area, with bookings required in advance through the Muanivatu Trails website.

For more natural wonders to visit across the island, see the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Vanua Levu.

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Savusavu

The Best Day Trip on Vanua Levu for Foodies

Travel time by car: 1 hr 25 mins from Labasa one way
Relevant tour: Savusavu Market Day Trip with Koro Sun Resort

Savusavu is the main tourist hub on Vanua Levu with always something to do. As well as the usual Savusavu Market, shopping and dining to be done, there’s the Nakama Hot Springs, wandering around the Flora Tropica Gardens, and a pearl farm tour with J Hunter Pearls. The town is worth at least a one day trip on Vanua Levu no matter where you are staying.

Get more day trip inspiration from our 10 Best Things to Do in Savusavu.

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Savusavu to Kuladrusi (Hibiscus Highway Road Trip)

The Best Day Trip on Vanua Levu for Couples

Travel time by car: 25 mins from Savusavu

Experience the beauty of Vanua Levu with this Hibiscus Highway itinerary. This scenic route along Fiji’s second-largest island offers stunning coastal views, pristine beaches and opportunities for snorkelling in crystal-clear lagoons. Here’s a guide to some of the highlights you’ll encounter on your journey:

Hibiscus Highway Itinerary (Vanua Levu)

Drive Down the Hibiscus Highway: A Guide to Key Stops Along the Way

• 9.3 km: Snorkel at the lagoon past Savasi Island Resort. Look for the bus stop and follow a narrow path to the beach. The shallow lagoon offers abundant marine life around small coral heads. Best visited at high tide.
• 10.4 km: Devodara Beach and Blue Lagoon. Turn left onto a dirt road (watch for the sudden turn). Enjoy the long sandy beach and explore the exposed reef at low tide. The Blue Lagoon is perfect for swimming, with great snorkelling opportunities further out.
• 13.3 km: Koro Sun Lagoon. Swim out towards the islands to discover interesting coral heads and marine life. Deeper than Savasi, but tricky at low tide.
• 13.5 km: Stop for a drink at Koro Sun Resort’s Sandbar Restaurant.
• 17.1 km: Snorkel the reef off Sere ni Ula beach. Head south of the coral head in the middle of the reef’s semi-circle for the best experience.
• 19.3 km: Kuladrusi. Drive up the dirt track to visit Vesi and Ruby Simpson’s soap-making operation and see a fascinating old chapel on his land.

For more exciting day trip ideas, check out the 10 Must-Dos in Vanua Levu.

© FijiPocketGuide.com

Kioa Island

The Best Day Trip on Vanua Levu for Luxury Travellers

Travel time by car: 1 hr 20 mins from Savusavu/1 hr 50 mins from Labasa one way
Travel time by boat: 10 minutes from The Remote Resort one way
Relevant tour: Kioa Snorkel Tour with The Remote Resort

And for your token offshore island excursion, as there always is in Fiji, a particularly interesting trip is to Kioa Island. The island resides people from the island nation of Tuvalu after they were displaced due to rising sea levels. Although village visits are no longer available with The Remote Resort, you can still go on snorkelling tours to experience the diverse soft and hard coral displays that rival that of the nearby Rainbow Reef.

See more of Vanua Levu’s more secluded resorts offering unique excursions in the 10 Best Resorts in Vanua Levu.