Northern Islands

The two principal islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni along with dozens of smaller islands make up the Northern Group of Fiji. In addition, there are prolific dive sites that has helped gain the north an international reputation as a ‘go to area’ for the scuba set.

The region is home to more than a dozen resorts that are easily accessible by air or local ferry. Most are intimate boutique properties and offer the type of vacation difficult to find anywhere else in the world.

On Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second principal island, roads criss-cross the island, the scenery is varied and the people are quite friendly. Geographically, two long peninsulas jutting from out in a northeasterly direction, form Natewa Bay, the longest such bay in the South Pacific. The Great Sea Reef off the northern coast is the fourth largest continuous reef in the world.

The mountain ranges, which tend to be toward the southern side of the island, rise up to about 3,000 ft. (1,000 meters). The interior of Vanua Levu is drier than on Viti Levu. Yet a drive across the island will be one of scenic splendor with many vista points along the way. It takes about 7 hours to drive from Savusavu northward to Labasa via Natewa Bay.

Taveuni, the cigar shaped island across the Somosomo Strait, is Fiji’s third largest. Yet it is only 27 miles by 9 miles wide. So after Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the size of the islands drops dramatically. In its middle, Des Voeux Peak soars to over 3,600 ft. (1,200 m). There is a road up the mountain to the radio tower which offers a glimpse of the crater formed Lake Tagimaucia and panoramic views over Vanua Levu.

Aside from its notable flora, the island is free from predators so many species of birds and animals thrive. Birders especially find samples of rare species only on Taveuni.