Western Viti Levu is where most Fiji trips begin. It sits in the rain shadow of the central mountains, so it gets more sunshine than Suva. The international airport at Nadi is a short drive from Port Denarau, where boats leave for the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands. From Nadi, the Queens Road runs south to the resorts and reef breaks of the Coral Coast. The Kings Road heads the other way, north through Lautoka and Ba to Rakiraki and the soft-coral reefs of Bligh Water.
Islands, reefs and highlands
Ba takes in Nadi and Lautoka, and offshore the Yasawa group, a chain of steep volcanic islands with sheltered bays for kayaking and manta rays that feed off Naviti from about May to October. Above Lautoka, the Koroyanitu park is the best day of hiking on this side of the island. Nadroga and Navosa holds the Coral Coast and the Mamanuca islands, where boats run out to Cloudbreak and Restaurants off Tavarua for surfing. On the north coast, Ra faces Bligh Water, where scuba divers drift past soft-coral pinnacles. A few kilometres offshore, the trade wind brings kitesurfers to Nananu-i-Ra.
Getting around and how long to stay
Catamarans leave Port Denarau daily, calling at the nearer Mamanucas in under an hour and working up the Yasawa chain over several hours. By road, Sigatoka is a little over an hour from Nadi, and Rakiraki is two and a half to three hours. A week lets you split your time between an island and the Coral Coast, which suits most first trips. With ten days, add Rakiraki for Bligh Water, or carry on along the Queens Road to Pacific Harbour for the shark dive before heading back to Nadi.
Booking on adventuro
Trips in the west run from snorkel days out of Port Denarau to surf coaching on the Coral Coast and guided walks from Abaca village. Use the Book here tab to see live dates and prices, and check each meeting point against your island transfers.
