Where are the Best Places to See Wildlife in Fiji?
The islands of Fiji are not just a place to connect with your loved ones on an island getaway but to connect with nature. From watching colourful tropical birds to, well, colourful tropical fish, Fiji offers an array of wildlife experiences. But where are the best places to see wildlife in Fiji?
Top Fiji Destinations for Wildlife
- Kadavu – A relatively untouched island with plenty of endemic bird species in the bush and the Great Astrolabe Reef makes for exceptional diving
- Taveuni – Nicknamed the “Garden Island”, Taveuni has large tracts of forest with more than 100 species of birds
- Vanua Levu – The Namena Marine Reserve is one of the many protected marine areas around Fiji where fish and coral thrive
- Yasawa Islands – The islands are particularly known for their manta ray runs between May and October and opportunities to swim with sharks.
© Tourism FijiThe Best Places for Snorkelling and Scuba Diving
It could be argued that anywhere, where there are snorkelling and scuba diving tours, are the best places to see marine wildlife in Fiji. There are opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive in all of the island groups, but some of the highlights include the Pacific Harbour, Yasawa Islands, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu.
Snorkelling and Scuba Diving in Fiji
From the 305km (190-mile) Beqa Lagoon in the Pacific Harbour to the 65km (40-mile) Great Astrolabe Reef in Kadavu, the snorkelling and scuba diving sites in Fiji are vast, to say the least. Recreational scuba diving tours will often take snorkellers too to enjoy the sights from the above. This is also the case in marine reserves, such as the Namena Marine Reserve in Vanua Levu.
Speciality dives and snorkelling tours are also available in the Yasawa Islands to swim/dive with sharks.
Check out 10 Best Places to Snorkel in Fiji and the 10 Best Places to Scuba Dive in Fiji for more in-depth information on where to go for a marine wildlife encounter. For those looking to learn to dive, check out The Best Places to Learn How to Dive in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Best Places for Wildlife Cruises
You don’t have to get in the water to enjoy watching the marine life of Fiji. From dolphin cruises to glass-bottom boats, there are several fun ways to observe aquatic life without getting wet.
Dolphin Cruises in Fiji
Watch acrobatic spinner dolphins leap alongside the boat on a dolphin cruise in Fiji. Dolphin Watch Fiji offers dolphin cruises from Takalana Bay in Viti Levu, taking you to Moon Reef where regular pods of spinner dolphins are seen. Alternatively, head to Vanua Levu where resorts like the Savasi Island Resort can take you to see the inhabitants of Natewa Bay on a special dolphin cruise. Check out the 10 Best Wildlife Cruises in Fiji for more information on these cruises.
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours in Fiji
Observe colourful corals and tropical fish in the child-friendly experience of a glass-bottom boat tour. Either choose a day tour, like the Tivua Island tour with Captain Cook Cruises in Denarau (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Sea Fiji Reefs in the Pacific Harbour, or stay at a resort with a glass-bottom boat to enjoy this experience. See 10 Best Resorts with Glass-Bottom Boats in Fiji to check out resort examples.
© FijiPocketGuide.comThe Best Places for Bird Watching in Fiji
From the inland forests of Viti Levu to the “Garden Island” of Taveuni, there’s a huge list of places to see birds in Fiji. In terms of guided bird watching experiences, Nautilus Tours offers inland bird watching tours departing from Denarau and Nadi. Otherwise, travellers to Fiji will find that simply staying on islands, such as Kadavu and Taveuni are satisfactory to see healthy populations of birds in native forests.
Learn more about where to see birds in the 10 Best Places to See Birds in Fiji.
© Captain Cook CruisesNational Parks and Conservation Areas
Fiji has a number of national parks, marine reserves and other conservation areas providing some of the best conditions and habitats for watching wildlife.
Koroyanitu National Heritage Park
The most easily accessible national park in Fiji, the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park sits in the western interior of Viti Levu. The mountains of the national park make up the “Sleeping Giant” that you can see from Nadi. The park was created in 1992 to preserve the natural forests and birdlife here. Birds can be seen on the walking trails of the national park, as outlined in 5 Best Walks in Nadi.
Bouma National Heritage Park
Protecting 40,000ha of natural forest on the island of Taveuni, the Bouma National Heritage Park is Fiji’s largest national park. The park is home to a wide array of rare plants and around 100 species of birds, which can be admired on the hiking trails which are run by local villages. Check out the 9 Best Walks on Taveuni for more information.
Marine Reserves in Fiji
There are a number of established marine reserves in Fiji where fishing and touching any form of marine life is prohibited. That way, the life here thrives, in turn, making for exceptional places to snorkel and scuba dive. Marine reserves and marine protected areas (MPAs) are added to the list often, but some include:
- Namena Marine Reserve, Vanua Levu
- Shark Reef Marine Reserve, Pacific Harbour, Viti Levu
- Kiuva “Koula-Mai-Wai” Marine Reserve, Suva, Viti Levu
- Marine Reserve, Kadavu
- Waitabu Marine Park, Taveuni
Resorts with Marine Protected Areas
The reefs and lagoons around these resorts are also protected from fishing.
- Treasure Island Resort
- Beachcomber Island Resort
- Navini Island Resort
- Castaway Island Resort
- Matamanoa Island Resort
- Mana Island Resort
- Malolo Island Resort
- Likuliku Lagoon Resort
- Tokoriki Island Resort
- Wadigi Island Resort
A full list of MPAs in Fiji can be found on the Atlas of Marine Protection website.
More About Where to See Wildlife in Fiji
