The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Levuka & the Lomaiviti Islands

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How to Get to the Lomaiviti Islands on a Budget

The Lomaiviti Islands are located off the east coast of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu – see How to Get to Fiji, best accessed from the city of Suva – see 8 Ways to Get to  Suva. While flights are available, water transport is the cheapest option for those travelling on a budget.

Lomaiviti Islands by Ferry

The cheapest way to get between Viti Levu and the Lomaiviti Islands is by ferry. Bus/ferry services depart daily (but not every Sunday) from Suva, and it takes approximately four hours to reach Buresala on Ovalau. To reach Koro, a weekly ferry service departs from Suva. Find out more about the details of ferry travel in How to Take the Ferry to the Lomaiviti Islands.

Resort Transfers

Resorts on selected islands in the Lomaiviti Group offer ways to access their islands by boat. For instance, Leleuvia Island Resort offers transfers between Bau Landing (near Suva) and Leleuvia Island, as well as to and from Levuka.

How to Get Around the Lomaiviti Islands

Those staying on private island resorts will rely on the transport provided by their hosts, usually in the form of boat tours and excursions. Road transport is available to get around Ovalau Island, with a road running around the perimeter of the island. Taxis and carrier vans are based beside the seawall, opposite the church, in Levuka. Alternatively, there is a school bus that runs around the island, which also picks up passengers for super cheap (around FJ$2-$5). The bus runs between Bureta to the St John’s Catholic Mission via Levuka, starting at 6 am and 3 pm each day except Sundays. Shuttle services run between the Bureta Airstrip and Levuka in time for incoming flights. Some accommodation providers also offer transfers between Levuka and the Bureta Airstrip if booked in advance, as well as guided tours around Levuka and the greater Ovalau Island.

Again, more details on how to get to the islands, including flights, can be found in the Lomaiviti Islands Transport Guide.

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Free and Cheap Land Activities on the Lomaiviti Islands

Usually, we would start off our budget guides with all the amazing things there are to do in the water, but the historical sites and villages are too intriguing to wait until last. The Lomaiviti Islands, especially Ovalau, are rich in history, so much so that Levuka has enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage status since 2013.

Explore the Historic Town of Levuka

The beautifully preserved Levuka town was once the capital of Fiji. The town was a bustling metropolis of the South Pacific between 1871 and 1881 before the capital moved to Suva. The town is home to a lot of Fiji’s “firsts”, such as the first hotel, first bank, Methodist church, school and more. Start your exploration of the town at The Morris Hedstrom building, now home to the Levuka Museum & Community Centre, where you can pick up maps for a self-guided tour of the town, book a guided tour, or check out the relics in the small museum, as featured in the 5 Best Museums in Fiji. Other historical points of interest in Levuka include the Church of the Sacred Heart (1858) located on Beach Street, the Ovalau Club (1904), the Town Hall (1898) and the Navoka Methodist Church (1862) – the latter three located around Nasau Park. [Update: Double-check that the Levuka Museum has reopened before making plans to visit].

Soak in the Views from Mission Hill

If you only have a short time in Levuka, then we recommend revelling in the views from Mission Hill. Climb the 199 steps leading from the Navoka Methodist Church to the top of Mission Hill. Enjoy views of Levuka and the outer islands of Makogai, Batiki and Wakaya. It’s also possible to spot pilot whales throughout the year or even humpback whales between May and October. From the top of Mission Hill, you have the option to return a different way to the northern end of Beach Street (the main street of Levuka) via a dirt track and beside a village.

Visit the Historical Crater Village of Lovoni

The village of Lovoni was once home to a feared tribe living in the centre of the impenetrable volcanic crater. The stories of this tribe, believed to be the only village not conquered by Cakobau, the King of Fiji during the 1870s, are best told (in detail) on tour with Epi’s Midland Tour – a longstanding local tour guide offering affordable tours for around FJ$70. The tour starts with a bumpy ride up the dirt road from Levuka leading to Lovoni where Epi will present a sevuesvu (gift) on your behalf before you enjoy lunch with Epi’s family in the village. The village is now located along the side of the crater for practical reasons but still boasts dramatic scenery and an interesting cultural experience. Hikes to Lovoni are also available with The Baystay in Rukuruku Village but expect a full-day adventure. It’s one of The Best Day Trips from the Lomaiviti Islands!

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Free and Cheap Water Activities on the Lomaiviti Islands

If you know anything about Fiji, it is no surprise that the snorkelling and kayaking around the Lomaiviti Islands are excellent. Coral reefs, mangrove forests, a mix of sandy and volcanic rocky coastline, crystal clear waters… It’s always a pleasure to spend some time out on the water in this tropical paradise. Why say no when these activities are free?

Snorkelling in the Lomaiviti Islands

Like in many parts of Fiji, the underwater world of the Lomaiviti Islands is simply awesome. Some of the best snorkelling can be found off the coasts of the affordable Leleuvia Island Resort, with a reef just 10 m (33 ft) away from the beach. Other budget accommodations also offer snorkelling boat trips to take you to outer reefs; for instance, at Kauwai Retreat, snorkelling trips are around a reasonable FJ$50. Finally, good snorkelling can be found at a fringing reef on Ovalau about 1 km (0.6 mi) past Wagadaci Village, as well as on the beach at the Ovalau Holiday Resort, but you will need your own snorkel gear.

Kayak, SUP and Outrigger Canoes

Getting out on the water is a free activity when staying at budget accommodations, like The Baystay or Leleuvia Island Resort. Leleuvia Island Resort also has the unique option of paddling out on outrigger canoes, a traditional style of canoe used by Pacific Islanders for thousands of years. Another excellent base for kayaking is at Kauwai Retrat on Ovalau, where you can enjoy half-day paddles through mangrove forests, to Lando Rock, Nukuvula Sandbank, Lando Yalewa (Pirate Island) and over to Moturiki Island. Finally, on the subject of kayak, Old Captial Inn provides kayak and canoe hire in Levuka for approximately FJ$10-$20 per hour.

Trek to the Ovalau Waterslides with Bobo

Staying on Bobo’s Farm on Ovalau is an experience in itself, but an exciting activity that is free for house guests (or a small fee for day-trippers) is the walk to the Na Vu Wai waterfall. Bobo will take you on a 20-minute walk through a beautiful forest to a fun set of waterslides to play in until your heart’s content! More activities from Bobo are coming up on this list!

More Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands

The rest of your time in the Lomaiviti Islands can be enjoyed by island-hopping on local ferries, exploring historic sites on Ovalau, or snorkelling in the vibrant coral reefs, which you can find out more about in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands. For experiences that don’t necessarily fall into the budget category but are no less amazing, check out the 20 Best Things to Do in the Lomaiviti Islands.

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Dining on the Lomaiviti Islands on a Budget

The Lomaiviti Islands are among some of the most affordable outer Fiji islands to eat out. While a couple of supermarkets are available in Levuka with self-contained accommodations with kitchens to match, eating at the budget accommodations is an affordable and cultural experience where you’ll get to indulge in authentic cuisine. The town of Levuka also has a small selection of eateries, making it another way to enjoy this picturesque town.

Accommodation Meals

The budget accommodation on the Lomaiviti Islands makes eating on the islands an affordable experience. Meals at Bobo’s Farm are often praised, with European, Indian and Fijian dishes costing approximately FJ$15 for lunch and FJ$25 for dinner. Real Fijian and Indo-Fijian food can be enjoyed with an affordable meal plan at Kauwai Retreat: around FJ$30 per day for vegetarian and FJ$40 for pescatarian meals. The Baystay also has an affordable plan of around FJ$25. The only place where food is going to be a little pricier is on Leleuvia Island, with the compulsory meal plan costing approximately FJ$90-$110 per day. Finally, Old Capital Inn and New Mavida Hotel also both offer reasonably priced homemade lunch and dinner options.

Dining in Levuka

Levuka is the only place on the Lomaiviti Islands where you’ll find an independent, albeit small, selection of restaurants.

Budget-conscious travellers will love Kumar’s Kozy Kafe (Beach Street, Levuka), offering hearty meals that won’t break the bank. Tuck into curries starting at FJ$13.50 or pizzas starting from FJ$20. Fancy some seafood? Fish dishes are available for as little as FJ$10.

Paak Kum Long/Naova’ke Uptown Cafe (Beach Street, Levuka) is another wallet-friendly gem. Savour a chicken stir fry for FJ$14 or fried rice from FJ$13. With filling options like pork chop suey at FJ$16 and vegetarian dishes around FJ$14, it’s the perfect spot to refuel without emptying your pockets.

For more about dining in the islands, including navigating dietary requirements, self-catering and more, check out The Food Guide to Levuka & the Lomaiviti Islands.