Pacific Harbour, Suva, Lomaviti Islands

At the eastern end of the Coral Coast sits Pacific Harbour. Although the area was originally developed as a residential subdivision, alongside Fiji’s first major golf course, it’s now been dubbed the “Adventure Capital of Fiji.”

Pacific Harbour is your portal to Beqa (pronounced Ben-ga) Lagoon. The fringing reef makes the waters a haven for scuba divers, sport fishermen and surfers. One of the prime attractions is Beqa Adventure Diver’s Open Water Shark Dive. The Shark Reef has been designated a Marine Reserve and is noted worldwide for its sustainable and eco-tourism efforts. You will see the handlers feed different species of sharks, as well as view over 400 species of reef fish.

The largest of the islands in the lagoon, is aptly Beqa Island home to Beqa Island Resort (geared for divers) and the boutique Lalati Resort. It is also home to the Beqa Firewalkers, who perform their legendary feat at venues from Denarau to Pacific Harbour. Also within the lagoon sits the very upscale Royal Davui Resort, named one of the top 10 hotels for romance in the world by Trip Advisor.

Back on land, Pacific Harbour is the headquarters for ZipFiji and Rivers Fiji. Zip offers 200m (600 ft) of canopy zip lines through the dense rainforest nearby. You'll fly from one treetop platform to another, zooming at up to 36 mph an hour up to 90 ft. off the ground. And if that’s not enough adrenalin, you can have a go at horse boarding - balancing on a boogieboard while being towed through the edge of the surf tethered behind a horse – thus generating one horsepower.

But the premier adventure and culture activity is with Rivers Fiji. From Pacific Harbour you journey up to the Namosi Highlands where you board inflatable kayaks and paddle the Luva River. While on the trip you visit a village for a traditional kava ceremony with the chief, travel the river by kayak, take a short hike to the tallest waterfall in the Namosi Province and finish with an exhilarating ‘punt’ ride through the lower Navua Canyon.

Accommodations at Pacific Harbour include the popular Uprising and Fiji Pearl Resorts.

It’s just an hour’s drive through rolling farmland and Fiji’s first cattle ranch to the capital city Suva. Although not particularly on the tourist radar, if you’re in the Pacific Harbour area, then we can set up day trip to the capital city.

At the south-eastern corner of Viti Levu, lies Suva, the focal point of the South Pacific for transportation, education and politics. It is a city of contrasts, with modern buildings alongside colonial structures. The main part of the city is eminently walkable starting at the large, two-story marketplace through to the Fiji Museum and Thurston Gardens. Suva has a variety of restaurants serving international cuisines, smart shops and a pulsing nightlife of drinking and dancing establishments. There is also a movie theatre complex and a trendy coffee house culture has taken hold (but as yet no Starbucks).

North from Suva on the banks of the Rewa River, is Nausori, site of the island’s eastern airport hub and connecting point for the Lomaviti Islands. The island group, referred to as central Fiji, is distinguished by two properties – the very upscale Wakaya Club and the lovely 10-bure Toberua Island Resort.

Levuka on Ovalau Island, has special significance as being the first capital of a unified Fijian confederacy before the shift to Suva in 1882. A tour can be arranged to this town where time stood still.