Nabouwalu & the Offshore Islands

Located in the southwestern region of Vanua Levu, Nabouwalu is a tiny settlement some 127 km west of Savusavu. Nowadays mainly used as a ferry landing point for travelers, Nabouwalu in the 19th century was an important port for European traders who exported sandalwood from this area. Only accessible from the bus via Labasa, you cannot reach Nabouwalu from Savusavu. To travel from here to Savusavu you will need a four-wheel drive as the road is nearly impassable in some places.

From Nabouwalu, you can also reach the tiny offshore island of Yadua Tabu, Fiji’s first wildlife reserve. Created in 1980, this island protects a large population of the rare and endangered crested iguanas. Nabouwalu has only a few administrative offices in town along with a market, post office and store; not much else is found here. If you wish to stay in Nabouwalu overnight there is a government guesthouse where you can stopover at.

Vanua Levu Offshore Islands

The three important Vanua Levu offshore islands are Kioa, Rabi and Nukubati.

Kioa

Kioa is a privately owned island that lies just off the Tunuloa Peninsula. Easily accessible from Buca Bay, you cannot land here unless you have been invited by one of the local villagers. Just 25 sq km in size, Kioa is actually inhabited by Polynesians, who were originally from the island of Vaitupu in Tuvalu.

Purchased by the people of Vaitupu in 1947, today, over 650 people live on the island. The locals here are warm and friendly and live together in a large village that is very colorful and well maintained. Known for their woven crafts, if you wish to visit Kioa the Tui Tai Adventure Cruise makes a stop over here as it tours the region.

Rabi

Located close to Kioa and north of the Tunuloa Peninsula, Rabi is a large island populated by Micronesians originally from the island of Banaba in Kiribati. Privately owned, you need permission from the island council if you are interested in visiting Rabi. There is a guesthouse on the island with dorm style accommodations for a nominal fee.

Nukubati

Some 40 km west of Labasa, Nukubati is actually two small islands linked together by mangroves. Located just off the northern coast of Vanua Levu, this privately owned island is home to an exclusive resort, the Nukubati Island Resort. An amazing getaway, this resort is for couples only and is situated on a gorgeous white sandy beach. Bookings here start from $7000 a night, with a range of activities to enjoy from diving and sailing to tennis, windsurfing and fishing.