The Budget & Backpacking Guide to Savusavu & Vanua Levu

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How to Get to Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu is Fiji’s second-largest island, located northeast of Viti Levu. Most budget travellers and backpackers arrive in Fiji via Nadi International Airport on Viti Levu. From there, the most affordable ways to reach Vanua Levu are by domestic flight or ferry. Once on the island, many accommodations offer transfers. Alternatively, there’s an extensive bus network and budget-friendly taxi services to explore. For more details on getting around, check out the 10 Ways to Get to Vanua Levu.

Vanua Levu by Plane

From Nadi International Airport, the quickest route to Vanua Levu is via a domestic flight to Savusavu Airport, taking about an hour. For the budget-conscious, consider flying to Labasa Airport instead, where larger planes land and fares are often cheaper.

Tip #1: If flying with Fiji Airways from overseas, book your flight all the way to Vanua Levu to get the international luggage allowance. The domestic allowance is only 15 kg (33 lb).

Tip #2: To save money when flying to the Savusavu area, fly to Labasa Airport and then take a shared taxi to Savusavu. This option is particularly cost-effective for groups.

For more information on flying to the island, check out The Complete Guide to Domestic Flights in Fiji and our Vanua Levu Transport Guide.

Vanua Levu by Ferry

For backpackers on a tight budget, ferries between Suva and Savusavu are a wallet-friendly option. These services usually include bus transfers from the ferry port to major towns on both islands. Journey times can range from 4 hrs 30 mins to 11 hours (welcome to Fiji Time!). For approximate prices, see How Much Do Water Taxis & Ferries Cost in Fiji?. Get more details on ferry companies in How to Take the Ferry to Vanua Levu.

How to Get Around Savusavu and Vanua Levu

Exploring Savusavu and Vanua Levu on a budget is easy with various transport options. Affordable taxis are plentiful at the Savusavu Bus Station, and many budget accommodations can call one for you. For a more local experience, hop on the extensive public bus network. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to split costs, car rentals are available for self-drive exploration. For a comprehensive overview of budget-friendly transport choices, don’t miss our Vanua Levu Transport Guide.

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Free and Cheap Water Activities on Vanua Levu

With waters teeming with tropical marine life, not to mention that the water is pretty warm, it’s understandable why spending time in or on the water in Vanua Levu is a must! There are a couple of ways to enjoy your time exploring the waters surrounding Vanua Levu as cheaply as possible.

Snorkelling

If you know anything about Fiji, then this one will be no surprise to you, but it’s a fun and cheap thing to do nonetheless! Vanua Levu is blessed with a wealth of amazing snorkelling spots, from marine reserves to vast coral reefs. While many resorts offer snorkelling as a complimentary activity by providing masks and snorkels, if you have your own gear and are looking for your own snorkelling adventure then we recommend Split Rock. Split Rock offers some of the best snorkelling in Savusavu Bay. Colourful reef fish such as clownfish, sergeant fish, damsels, clams, grouper and parrotfish can all be seen here. Find Split Rock on Lesiaceva Road, opposite road post No.63. A white buoy marks the spot. Approximately 6 km (4 mi) west of Savusavu town.

Kayak or Stand-Up Paddle Board

Glide peacefully across crystal clear waters and up close to coral reefs by hiring a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard. Pretty much all of the mid-range and luxury resorts on Vanua Levu offer complimentary use of watersports equipment, while only a select few budget accommodations have kayaks and paddleboards available. Hire two kayaks for around FJ$10 a day at the Sigasiga Sands Boutique Bungalows or enjoy complimentary use of kayaks at Daku Fiji Resort to explore Savusavu Bay.

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Free and Cheap Land Activities on Vanua Levu

Most of Vanua Levu’s free and cheap activities are on the land, though visiting Fijian villages, and glorious gardens, doing jungle walks, visiting cultural sites and much more. Check out some of our recommendations here, as well as in our 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do on Vanua Levu.

Flora Tropica Garden

See a gorgeous garden filled with more than 300 types of palms and countless tropical flowers at the Flora Tropica Gardens. Located just off Lesiaceva Road on Daku Road (about 5km southwest of Savusavu), Flora Tropica Garden. Explore the gardens on a mix of elevated boardwalks and stone paths. Guided tours are also available Monday to Friday at 10am for around FJ$20.

Vuadomo Village and Waterfall

Chasing waterfalls and cultural village visits come hand-in-hand in Fiji, as you can experience it in several locations on Viti Levu, Taveuni, and right here on Vanua Levu. One of the popular waterfall experiences on Vanua Levu is the Vuadomo Village and Waterfall. Located along the Cross Island Road, between Savusavu and Labasa, Vuadomo Village holds an amazing spot for swimming and taking stunning photos. 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 of the impressive waterfall. Alternatively, you can book a visit via the Muanivatu Trails website or visit with a guided tour for your tour guide to go through the customs on your behalf. To get to Vuodomo from Savusavu, take Cross Island Road past the village of Jerusalemi and turn onto Vuadomo Road. Follow the dirt road for about 2 km (1 mi) until you reach the village.

Enjoy a Nature Walk or Two

Vanua Levu has no lack of gorgeous places to stretch your legs. Popular walks include the Muanivatu Trails for a mix of village, beach, forest and vistas (a fee of approximately FJ$25 applies). Budget resorts also offer walks straight from the resort, such as the magnificent jungle walk to a mountain peak from Daku Fiji Resort. Sigasiga Sands Boutique Bungalows also has several bushwalks through 40 ha (99 acres) of forest. Ask your accommodation provider for the best places to take a walk nearby or check out the 10 Best Walks in Savusavu & Vanua Levu.

Visit Naag Baba

Naag Baba is a stone snake head visited by religious devotees from all over the world. The interesting natural and cultural-significant attraction can be seen inside the Naag Mandir Temple. Additionally, choose to walk the 108 steps leading from Naag Baba to the main Yagan Havan. The temple is 14 km (8.7 mi) from Labasa along the Wainikoro Road. For more cheap experiences in Vanua Levu’s northern town, check out the 6 Best Things to Do in Labasa.

More Things to Do on Savusavu and Vanua Levu

The rest of your time on Savusavu and Vanua Levu can be enjoyed by visiting the local markets, hiking to hidden waterfalls, or snorkelling in pristine bays, which you can find out more about in the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Savusavu & Vanua Levu. For experiences that don’t necessarily fall into the budget category but are no less amazing, check out the 20 Best Things to Do on Vanua Levu.

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Dining on a Budget on Vanua Levu

Unlike other destinations around Fiji, the budget accommodation on Vanua Levu usually offers cheap meals at their restaurant or in-room dining service. For instance, the Sigasiga Sands Boutique Bungalows has a fantastic Indo-Fijian menu with meals priced around FJ$15 delivered straight to your door! However, if you’re looking to get out of your resort, there are plenty of cheap restaurants to sample the cuisine in Savusavu and Labasa.

Cheap Eats on Vanua Levu

Burgers and curries priced between FJ$5-$10 shouldn’t taste as good as they do at Arun’s Taste of Hidden Paradise Restaurant (LTA Building, near Savusavu Wharf). They serve up Chinese stir-fries, Indian curries, burgers and Thai food. The Captain’s Cafe (Copra Shed Marina, Savusavu) is another fantastic option to watch the boats come into the marina as you indulge in curries, pasta dishes, pizzas, burgers, enchiladas and more for less than FJ$20. Savusavu Wok (Lesiaceva Road) is an affordable Chinese restaurant serving up fresh seafood for around FJ$8-$20.

Planter’s Club (Lesiaceva Road, west end of town), a historic eatery and bar, offers a variety of affordable dishes with most options priced between FJ$9 and FJ$12. You’ll find an array of lamb, chicken, and beef dishes, including fried rice, stir-fries, curries, and burgers, all at wallet-friendly prices. A local favourite (and a favourite of ours too), Mum’s Country Kitchen (Lesiaceva Road, opposite the bus station) offers budget-friendly local cuisine with dishes ranging from FJ$3.50 to FJ$10. You’ll love their affordable options, including hearty chicken curry rice, roti parcels, and classic egg sandwiches.

Over the hill on the other side of Vanua Levu, The Banana Leaf Restaurant (679 Naseakula Road, Labasa) serves up a good choice of Indian curries with roti for around FJ$10 each. Enjoy the Fijian decor with a Chinese twist at the Oriental Bar & Restaurant (Jaduram Street). The restaurant serves up plenty of Chinese cuisine with a few Fijian options to choose from.

For more recommendations, see our Top Cheap Eats on Vanua Levu.