Things to do in Ba

Overview

Ba is Fiji's most populous province, covering the northwest of Viti Levu from Nadi up through Lautoka, Ba town and Tavua. Nadi is where you land. Hotels line Wailoaloa beach and Denarau island, and Port Denarau is where the boats leave for the islands. Lautoka, about half an hour north, is the sugar city, with its mill and a busy market. Offshore, the Yasawa group runs north in a chain of steep volcanic islands with white-sand bays, small resorts and villages.

What to do in Ba

The Yasawas are made for sea kayaking and snorkelling straight off the beach. From about May to October, manta rays feed in the channel between Drawaqa and Naviti, though sightings depend on the day. Further north, you can swim into the limestone caves of Sawa-i-Lau. On the mainland, the Koroyanitu park begins at Abaca village, in the hills inland from Lautoka. A guided hike climbs Mount Batilamu for views over the Mamanucas and Yasawas, and shorter trails lead to waterfalls with pools to swim in. From Tavua, a rough road climbs through Nadarivatu to Navai, the village at the foot of Mount Tomanivi, Fiji's highest peak. Inland from Ba town, Navala keeps more than 200 thatched bure, and visitors are welcome for a small fee.

Booking on adventuro

Snorkel trips, island days and guided hikes around Nadi and Lautoka are the main trips here, and Ba is the natural starting point for Western Viti Levu. Use the Book here tab to check live dates and meeting points.

FAQs

A catamaran leaves Port Denarau each morning and works its way up the chain, stopping off each resort, where a small boat comes out to meet it. The southern islands are a couple of hours away, and the northern ones take several hours. Seaplanes also fly from Nadi if you'd rather see the reefs from the air on the way in.

The climb up Mount Batilamu takes about four hours there and back, with steep, hot sections and long grass near the top. Waterfall walks are shorter, at around two hours. The dirt road up to Abaca can get rough after rain, so arrange a 4WD or a driver who knows the route. Bring a sulu to wear in the village and a small bundle of yaqona for your hosts.

From about May to October, when plankton is funnelled through the channel between Drawaqa and Naviti. Sightings tend to peak from June to September. The mantas come most days in season, but not all, so stay at least three nights nearby to give yourself a good chance. The current in the channel is brisk, and guides run the swims from a boat with lifejackets on hand.

Overview