Levuka, Ovalau

Ovalau is a beautiful island with its rugged landscape, lovely beaches and towering peaks. The main town on Ovalau is Levuka, which was the former capital of colonial Fiji. Once a notorious trade port for whalers and sailors, Levuka today is one of Fiji’s most charming and picturesque towns. Located on the eastern coast of Ovalau, Levuka sits along the seashore with a gorgeous backdrop of lush green peaks behind it. Home to a diverse population, accommodations and hotels are excellent here with plenty of good food available to satisfy the hungry traveler.

An amazing blend of old and new Fiji, Levuka was built in the beginning of the 1800’s as a sandalwood trade port. By 1830 many traders started to settle in this beautiful city, and slowly but surely Levuka began to become a strategic stopping port for merchants and suppliers in the region. By the mid-19th century Levuka reached its peak, after which this wonderful city slowly started to decline in stature, becoming a rowdy drunken town filled with cheap hotels and violence. After Fiji was ceded to the British in 1874 conditions in Levuka had gotten so poor that the capital of Fiji was then shifted to Suva.

Today, much of Levuka’s architecture speaks of its colonial past, with several monuments, churches and museums that are definitely worth exploring. Most of the people who live here now are mixed descendants of Fijians and Europeans, with a small expat community found here as well. Charming and pleasant, the way of life in Levuka is slow and easy, with Beach Street acting as the center of activity in town. Lined with many old historic shops, a couple of banks, the post office and the Levuka Hospital can also be found here as well. Easy to explore on foot some important sights in town include the Fiji Museum, the Navoka Methodist Church, the Sacred Heart Church and the Royal Hotel, the oldest hotel in Fiji.