Province · Ilhas do Leste

Lomaiviti

Lomaiviti is the group of islands in central Fiji: Ovalau, with Levuka, the first capital and a UNESCO heritage site, and islands such as Gau, Koro, Wakaya and Leleuvia.

In the photo: Montanhas de Ovalau sobre Levuka (Lomaiviti)

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Lomaiviti

The province of Lomaiviti, whose name means central Fiji, brings together the islands in the middle of the country, east of Viti Levu: Ovalau, Gau, Koro, Moturiki, Wakaya, Naigani, Leleuvia and other smaller ones. Ovalau is a volcanic island with steep mountains, with the town of Levuka on the east coast.

Levuka was Fiji’s first capital. In the 19th century it was settled by traders, whalers and missionaries, and in 1874 the cession of Fiji to the United Kingdom was signed in Nasova. The capital moved to Suva in 1882, and the wooden colonial seafront buildings remained: the Levuka Historic Port is the country’s only UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the interior of Ovalau, the village of Lovoni lies inside an ancient crater, surrounded by mountains, and is visited with a guide. A road circles the island, linking the coastal villages.

The other islands have villages and small resorts: Leleuvia and Naigani welcome visitors for beach days, and the larger Gau and Koro have forest and traditional villages. Wakaya is an island with a private resort.

Destinations

1 destination in Lomaiviti

1 city

Levuka and Ovalau

Cities

1 cities in Lomaiviti in the guide

Lomaiviti Capital

Levuka

Levuka, on Ovalau, was the first European port and the first capital of Fiji until 1882, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beach Street preserves 19th-century facades facing the harbour, and the town retains the Marist Sacred Heart church, the Nasova site where Fiji was ceded to Great Britain, and stairways up to viewpoints over the sea.

When to go

For boat crossings and hikes in Levuka and Lovoni, choose the dry season, from May to October. The months from November to April are hotter, wetter and coincide with cyclone season.

Getting there

Ovalau has an airstrip at Bureta, with short flights from Nausori airport near Suva; from there a transfer takes you to Levuka. Ferries with bus service depart Suva and cross from Natovi to Buresala on Ovalau. Gau and Koro have weekly flights and boats from Suva. Confirm schedules before booking.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Lomaiviti

How to get from Suva to Levuka?

By plane, on a short flight from Nausori airport to the Bureta airstrip on Ovalau, with a transfer to Levuka; or by bus and ferry, from Suva to Natovi and from Natovi to Buresala on Ovalau. Confirm schedules as they vary by day.

How many days should you set aside for Levuka?

One to two days are enough for the historic center, the Nasova cession site and the village of Lovoni. With more time you can add a beach day on Leleuvia.

Why is Levuka a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Because it preserves the 19th-century colonial port, with wooden houses and warehouses, churches and the city layout of Fiji’s first capital. UNESCO inscribed it in 2013.

Can you visit the village of Lovoni?

Yes, with a guide from Levuka. Lovoni lies in an ancient crater in central Ovalau, and the visit usually includes the kava ceremony; wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: Pacific Data Hub / geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.