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We offer a wide variety of adventure activities and cultural interaction during our expeditions.
Below is a summary of some of our favorite activities, sorted by different island destinations.
Savusavu Bay, Vanua Levu
Yanawai River Kayaking
Make sure you arrive in time for the morning boarding as you don’t want to
miss the Yanawai River Kayak Excursion. The Tui Tai will sail a short
distance across Savusavu Bay and anchor in front of the mouth of the Yanawai
River. We will take a zodiac part way upriver to our departure point. From
there, board your kayak and begin paddling through the dramatic rainforest
surroundings. The river is calm and easy to navigate. The scenery will
change from enormous tropical mangroves to lush green rainforest. Within
the rainforest you will see a variety of different birds flying overhead or
even barking in the distance.
Dive Site: “Golden Nuggets”
The nuggets are two coral
heads. One is a myriad of soft corals surrounded by schools of purple and
orange anthias, masked banner fish, leaf fish, with jacks and barracuda
circling. The second is covered in golden soft corals. Lionfish, scorpion
fish, trigger fish and moray eels are abundant.
Guided Snorkeling “The
Lighthouse”
Savusavu Bay is known for great snorkeling and this site lies just at the reef
point facing the mouth of the bay. Expect good visibility, hard corals,
colorful crinoids, lionfish, soldierfish and triggerfish. |
Kioa Island
Salia Village Visit
A guided tour of the only
village on the island of Kioa. The people of this village are originally from the island nation of
Tuvalu. They are a Polynesian
people with a culture, language and heritage distinct from the rest of
Fiji. The people of Tuvalu were faced with an overpopulation problem due to
rising seas eroding away their already small island. Following WWII, Tuvalu
received money from the US and Great Britain for assistance in the battle of
the Coral Sea. Using this money, they purchased the island of Kioa from the Fiji Colonial Government and relocated many of their
people. The village tour will begin with some words from the Village
Council Chairman, providing a more detailed history of how the people
learned to adjust to a new island environment and the new neighbors they
found in Fiji. You will proceed
to walk through the village and see homes, the school, church and the
community center. At the end of the tour you can buy locally made
handicrafts direct from the artisans. The people of Tuvalu/Kioa are famous
for making the best handicrafts in the South Pacific and prices are very
reasonable.
Hibiscus Highway Safari
Explore the off-roads of lush
island of Vanua Levu and take a trip
through history. The route follows the scenic Hibiscus Highway through the
mountainous jungle enroute to the Tunuloa Peninsula and Buca Bay. The rule of the Hibiscus
Highway is “always wave” so wave and say “Bula!” to all the people you pass
along the way.
Watch for working copra and cattle plantations, villages, and turquoise
lagoons. The safari takes about 2 hours and you’ll enjoy the comfort of an
air-conditioned van.
Guided Snorkeling “The Farm”
Near the southwest point of
the island we will drop in and snorkel the site known as “The Farm.” Here a
slight current brings in clear water and nutrients to feed a lush garden of
colorful corals. The different colors, shapes and sizes of corals are
amazing and in fantastic health. There are nice shallow snorkel areas where
you get a very close look at the myriad of small organisms that inhabit this
precious ecosystem. There is also a reef wall that will allow you to free
dive and see more variety of fish and other marine life.
Dive Site: “Rainbow Passage”
One of our favorite Rainbow
Reef dives in Somosomo Straits. Two bommies are wrapped by fresh currents
from the Strait provided a staggering cover of lush soft-corals (purple,
yellow, white, red and more). Swarms of anthias and small fish will be all
around you as you drift along. White-tip reef sharks cruise along and often
sleep near the edge on the sea floor. Several large camouflage groupers and
maori wrasses make their homes here.
Dive Site: “The Great White Wall”
Renowned as one of Fiji’s top
dive sites. Prepare to be awestruck by a steep wall that descends endlessly
to the bottom, completely smothered in lush white soft coral. Off the deep
edge of the wall you will find some pelagics. Often schools of batfish stop
by to greet us while we drift along the wall. At the end of the dive is a
deep swim-through cavern providing an exciting exit to an amazing dive.
Sea Kayaking: Kioa’s inner coastline
Paddle around the calm waters of Kioa’s protected coastline facing the
remote eastern side of Vanua Levu. White-sand beaches, black-rock and
limestone cliffs, tall mangroves and dense green trees decorate Kioa’s
coastline. Wave to the local Kioans you see paddling their traditional
outrigger canoes as they venture out to catch fish. Enjoy the views of Rabi
Island, the Ringgold Islands and Taveuni. |
Taveuni Island
Bouma National Heritage Park
Bouma Heritage Park is Fiji's conservation success story. Here four small villages have developed community-managed sustainable tourism trips based on the preservation of their natural resources. These trips were developed as an alternative to logging and other destructive income generating schemes, so every time you visit one, you are actively contributing to environmental conservation, and providing income for local community improvement.
Starting at Navakacoa Harbor, set out on your mountain bike along the northwest coast of Taveuni. You will have several magnificent views from the hillside of the surrouding islands (Qamea, Matagi, Laucala and the Ringolds). You will also cross over several streams and may see waving villages having a swim. The bike ride is approximately 10 kilometres (7 miles) with some moderate to strenuous hills. You will pass the villages of Waitabu, Vidawa and Korovou on the way. At the entrance the Bouma National Heritage Park, you can visit the visitor center. Here you will leave the bikes and proceed along the trail on foot.
Bouma Heritage Park - Tavoro Falls
There are three sets of "Tavoro Waterfalls" in the park. The trail to the first waterfall is very flat and easy to walk taking about 10 miutes to arrive at the falls. Each set of waterfalls offers a refreshing swimming pool to cool off and get a closer look at the cascades. The trails to the second and third waterfalls take about 45 minutes each in succession. These trails get a bit more steep and the hike can be strenuous. You will be rewarded by amazing views of the sea and sweeping views of the rainforest that earned the island the nickname "The Garden Island of Fiji." You can see parrots, lorikeets and other colorful birds. Guides will point out naturally growing fruits, vegetables, medicines and other interesting plants. Listen carefully to hear the pigeon that barks like a dog!
Bouma Heritage Park - Lavena Coastal Walk
This is also contained within the Bouma National Heritage Park. On your bike, you will continue past the Bouma visitor center for 5 kilometres (3 miles) to the Lavena Lodge which has its own visitors' center. The coastal walk is relatively flat but follows the beautiful coastline south of Lavena Village. You will see some beautiful white sand beaches as well as the lush rainforest. You will cross over Wainisairi Creek using a suspension bridge. Further along you will reach a trail that follows Wainibau Creek. The trail ends at a long pool surrounded by majestic smooth volcanic rock. From here, you can take a short swim to reach a mystic pool fed by waterfalls on 3 different sides. Thick rainforest surrounds the pool above the smooth volcanic rock sides. One of the waterfalls provides a short, natural waterslide that you can climb and slide into the pool.
Bouma Heritage Park - Waitabu Marine Park
The newest attraction in the Bouma Park is the Waitabu Village Marine Park. Since 1998 the community has protected an area of reef top 1km long as a no-fishing sanctuary, where you can snorkel in a channel now stocked with large schools of parrotfish, snappers, and spot-fin barracuda. The really unique part of this experience is how unafraid the fish are now that spear-fishing no longer takes place. Float quietly in the water and you will soon start to wonder who is there to watch whom! Local guides will be on hand to tell the story of the Park, show you the breeding stock of Giant Clams, and the coral restoration project.
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Cobia Island, Ringgold Island Atolls
Hike to Rara-Ni-Tiqa Island Summit
Rara-Ni-Tiqa Island is a volcanic and lush atoll. Our hike follows a path
from a beautiful white sand beach through coconut trees. There are several nice
views of the other small islands that make up the Ringgold Island Atolls. The
final climb to the top involves a natural ladder made of old, sturdy tree
roots. The view from the summit is worth the effort. In the old days, the
island top was used to ritually send and receive messages from distant islands
Laucala and Qamea. There is now a burial ground for a famous warrior on the
island top.
Kayaking the Ringgolds and Cobia Island Crater
The kayaks will put in near the South end of Cobia Island at the wide, sandy
beach. Paddling over crystal clear waters that shimmer the color of emeralds
and sapphires, you will follow the volcanic coastline of Cobia. Making your
approach to the open end of the crater, you may want to jump in for a view of
the pristine coral beds below the surface. Inside the crater, you will discover
a surreal, calm lagoon of deep blue water.
Dive Site: “Kokoda Point”
Kokoda Point is one of our best wall dives. Crystal clear visibility and a
dramatic dropoff make for a prime spot to meet pelagics: barracuda, tuna, eagle
rays, sharks and more. The wall is decorated in soft corals, crinoids and large
fans. One patch of the wall is covered in sea grapes, for which the site has
earned its name. The wall is teaming with fish life and macro creatures.
Dive Site: “Wall Street”
The wall just off the reef wall took us a couple tries to find it, but it
was worth the search. Pinnacles emerge from the depths, covered in soft corals
and clouded by orange and purple anthias. This has been a great site for
nudibranchs, flatworms and lionfish.
Other activities:
The Ringgold Island Atolls have some of the most beautiful beaches in the
South Pacifc. These islands are breeding grounds for several unique sea-bird
species as well as turtles. The maze of small islands is paradise for
sea-kayaking; calm, crystal-clear waters are perfect for long sea-kayak
excursions.
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Koro Island
Hiking: “Witness the sacred calling of the turtles”
To the people of Nacamaki Village in Koro Island, turtles are their sacred
ancestral god. There is one group of family descendents that perform a special
ritual to summon the turtles to the surface. We will hike through the
rainforest to a hilltop overlooking the sea. The designated village person will
make the ceremonial calling ritual for the turtles to surface.
Guided Snorkeling: “Turtle Lagoon”
The turtles are sacred to the people of Koro Island, so you can expect to
see a few while snorkeling. You will also see a maze of boulder-like corals
decorated with christmas tree worms. Look for parrotfish, rays, sea-snakes and
more.
Dive Site: “Shark-fin Point”
This is a great pelagic site. Shark-fin Point is a reef point the gets a
strong cross current from the depths of the Koro Sea, drawing in a number of
biggies: tuna, barracuda, rays, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks and more.
Turtles tend to be buzzing around near the reef shallows. If you can take your
eyes off the big fish and the deep blue, you will notice a stunning array of
soft corals and fans decorating the reef wall.
Divesite: “Washdown”
Our favorite dive site for fish of all sizes, shapes and colors. A gentle
slope off a shallow reef wall faces the deep blue of the Koro Sea. Expect
swarms of several types of fusiliers, schools of barracuda, jacks, surgeonfish
and more.
Island Night at Nacamaki Village
Generally we are invited to join the villagers of Nacamaki Village for a
fun, social event known as “gunu sede.” This is the traditional way for the
village to raise funds for projects such as school supplies, medical clinic
supplies, youth sports programs, and other community needs. This event is a
regular part of the village lifestyle and we are fortunate to be invited and
welcomed in the traditional manner. During the island night, you will get to
sit amongst the locals and enjoy the village style entertainment. Bowls of kava
will fly around, music and dancing, and a general fun spirit will fill the air.
This is your chance to experience the social life of a real Fijian village. |
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