Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu, Fiji: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Taveuni is Fiji’s third-largest island, east of Vanua Levu, and is known as the Garden Island because of the rainforest that covers its volcanic mountains and the fertile soil of its plantations. The island is long and narrow, with a road following the west and north coasts, and much of the land is protected in Bouma National Heritage Park, with waterfalls, trails and a coast with few roads.

The island is crossed by the 180° meridian, the line opposite Greenwich: near Waiyevo, a marker shows the place where you can stand with one foot on each side. Fiji’s date is the same on both sides of the line because the International Date Line bends around the country.

The Somosomo Strait, between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, is one of the best-known dive spots in the South Pacific. Currents feed the soft corals of the Rainbow Reef and the Great White Wall, colorful and teeming with fish. On the other side of the strait, Savusavu is a small town on the bay of the same name in Vanua Levu, with a marina, hot springs that rise in the town center, and nearby forest and reef reserves.

The area is for those who want nature, diving and a relaxed pace. It’s reached by plane from Nadi and Suva, and the two islands are linked by boat, allowing you to combine Taveuni and Savusavu on the same trip.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Matei, Waiyevo, Bouma, Savusavu.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu is

Boundaries: Pacific Data Hub / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

✈ Aeroporto de Matei (Taveuni) (TVU), in Matei · 1 km to Matei

Confirm before you buy. From Nadi and from Nausori there are domestic flights to Matei, on Taveuni, and to Savusavu. There are also boats from Suva to Savusavu and Taveuni, and a boat crossing between the two islands.

Suggested arrival point: Matei

Cakaudrove · Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu Suggested arrival point

Matei

Matei is in the north of Taveuni, where the island’s airport is located, with sandy and coral beaches, beachfront accommodation and views of the islands Qamea and Laucala. It is the most convenient base for the Tavoro waterfalls and the Lavena coast in Bouma National Heritage Park to the east.

Cakaudrove · Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

Waiyevo

Waiyevo is in the middle of Taveuni’s west coast, near Somosomo, the island’s largest village. It concentrates services, the pier where boats arrive, and the best-known spots on that coast: the 180° meridian marker, the Waitavala natural slide, the trail to Tagimaucia Lake, and diving at the Rainbow Reef.

Cakaudrove · Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

Bouma

Bouma lies on Taveuni’s east coast and gives its name to Bouma National Heritage Park, which protects much of the island’s forest. There are the three Tavoro waterfalls, the Lavena coastal trail to Wainibau Falls, and village-managed marine reserves along a stretch of coast with few roads.

Cakaudrove · Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu Capital

Savusavu

Savusavu is a small town on the bay of the same name, in southern Vanua Levu, and the administrative center of Cakaudrove Province. It has a main street along the bay, a marina with sailing yachts that cross the Pacific, hot springs that emerge in the town center and, nearby, the Waisali forest reserve and the Namena marine reserve, one of the country's diving spots.

The local experience

Things to do in Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

Bouma · Cakaudrove · Waterfall

Cachoeiras de Tavoro (Tavoro Waterfalls)

Three waterfalls in sequence in the forest of Bouma National Heritage Park, linked by trail, with pools for bathing; the first is about 10 minutes from the visitors' center.

Savusavu · Cakaudrove · Hot spring

Fontes termais de Nakama (Nakama Hot Springs)

Hot springs that emerge in Savusavu’s center, near the main street, with water close to 100 °C used by locals to cook food.

Waiyevo · Cakaudrove · Marker

Marco do Meridiano de 180° (180th Meridian)

Plaque near Waiyevo at the spot where the 180° meridian passes, the line opposite Greenwich, where you can stand with one foot in the western hemisphere and the other in the eastern.

Matei · Cakaudrove · Beach

Prince Charles Beach

A light-sand beach lined with tropical trees, south of Matei Airport in north Taveuni. It has calm water for swimming and a reef for snorkeling close to the shore.

See 7 more places in Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

Matei · Cakaudrove · Beach

Beverly Beach

A small beach shaded by trees leaning over the sand, on Taveuni’s north coast near Matei. It has calm water for swimming and a reef for snorkeling.

Savusavu · Cakaudrove · Nature reserve

Reserva Florestal de Waisali (Waisali Rainforest Reserve)

A reserve of about 120 hectares of tropical forest roughly 20 km from Savusavu, maintained by the National Trust, with a trail to a waterfall and native birds such as the orange dove.

Waiyevo · Cakaudrove · River

Tobogã natural de Waitavala (Waitavala Waterslide)

Stretch of the Waitavala River, near Waiyevo, where water runs over smooth rocks forming a natural slide of about 50 meters, used by locals and visitors.

Bouma · Cakaudrove · Trail

Trilha Costeira de Lavena (Lavena Coastal Walk)

About a 5 km coastal trail on Taveuni’s east coast, starting from the village of Lavena, passing beaches, forest and cliffs, and ending at Wainibau waterfall, which is reached by swimming through a canyon.

Waiyevo · Cakaudrove · Diving

Rainbow Reef (Rainbow Reef)

Reef in the Somosomo Strait, between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, known for colorful soft corals fed by the currents, with sites such as the Great White Wall.

Savusavu · Cakaudrove · Diving

Reserva Marinha de Namena (Namena Marine Reserve)

A marine reserve around Namenalala Island, about 25 km from Savusavu, with coral reefs protected by local villages, visited on dive and snorkel trips.

Waiyevo · Cakaudrove · Lake

Lago Tagimaucia (Lake Tagimaucia)

Lake in a crater about 800 metres above sea level in the mountains of Taveuni, reached by a long muddy trail, where the tagimaucia — Fiji’s national flower — grows.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to October days are usually drier and cooler, good for hiking and diving. From November to April it is hotter, rains are heavier and it is cyclone season; the tagimaucia flower typically blooms from October to February in the mountains of Taveuni.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four to six days allow you to combine Taveuni, with the Bouma waterfalls and a dive on the Rainbow Reef, and Savusavu, with its bay and hot springs. Divers often stay for a week.

Which city to stay in

On Taveuni, Matei, near the airport, hosts most beach accommodations and is close to Bouma; Waiyevo and Somosomo, midway along the west coast, are near the meridian, the lake trail, and the diving sites in the strait. In Savusavu, the town center and the peninsula west of town concentrate bayfront lodging and the marina.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

Why is Taveuni called the Garden Island?

Because of the rainforest that covers the volcanic mountains and the fertile soil of the plantations. Much of the island is protected within Bouma National Heritage Park.

Does the 180° meridian really pass through Taveuni?

Yes. Near Waiyevo there is a marker at the spot where the meridian passes. The International Date Line bends around Fiji, and the date is the same on both sides.

How do you get to Taveuni?

By plane, with domestic flights from Nadi and from Nausori to Matei, or by boat from Suva and from Savusavu.

Where do you dive in Taveuni?

In the Somosomo Strait, between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, with the soft corals of the Rainbow Reef and the Great White Wall.

Is it worth including Savusavu?

It is worth it for those who want a small town on the bay, with a marina, hot springs in town, and forest and reef reserves nearby. It is a boat crossing from Taveuni.

Taveuni and Savusavu; Matei; Waiyevo; Bouma; Savusavu

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip