Pacific Island Paradises

Savusavu Savusavu is located on Vanua Levu, the second largest island in the Fiji Group, 160 kilometres northeast of Suva. This picturesque small town lies on the shores of a large, beautiful deepwater harbour opposite Nawi Island. Here you will find spectacular views to the mountains of southwestern Vanua Levu and down the coast to Nambouwalu. Savusavu was originally established as a centre for the sailing ships plying the coastline with cargoes of sandalwood and beche de mer, and later became the centre of the cotton boom. Europeans established coconut plantations in the 1860s and their descendants, who mixed with the local Fijian villagers, still supply copra to Savusavu's mill. The township's economy relies heavily on copra, and it is the regional centre for the major coconut producing area of Fiji, as well as Vanua Levu's main port. Savusavu Bay is popular with cruise ships and yachts, as the surrounding mountains make it a well-protected hurricane refuge. Nakama, the 'town' proper, stretches a 60 www.paradisesonline.com half kilometre along the waterfront and its character has changed little since its heyday. The main street has some Indian and Chinese shops and the Copra Shed Marina on the waterfront, the oldest building in Savusavu, has been lovingly restored and now houses restaurants, boutiques, and service outlets, as well as providing amenities for yachts. Accommodation ranges from budget to upmarket resorts, but some of the best action for local entertainment is at the Planter's Club. The township's surrounds have an agricultural ambience. Major attractions in the area include the thermal springs at Nakama—they boil out from fractured coral and, while it is not possible to bathe in them, local residents use them to cook their native vegetables. Also worth a visit are the blowholes at Namale, the Savarekareka Mission, 10 kilometres north of Savusavu, and Lesiatheva Point which is the beginning of Nukumbalavu Beach. Options for getting around include taxis, buses, and guided tours—don't miss taking a tour of a working copra plantation. Other activities include bay cruises, fishing, reef and beach activities, and shopping for locally woven or carved handicrafts. Travel the Hibiscus Highway up the coast for some of the finest and most unspoiled scenery in the South Pacific, while the road to the main town of Labasa offers breathtaking views and indigenous rainforest. Savusavu can be reached via direct flights from Suva, or alternatively via Taveuni, the third largest island, by taking the ferry for an hour and a half across the Somosomo Strait and then travelling on the Hibiscus Highway to Savusavu. Another alternative is to fly to Labasa and travel one-and-a-half hours by road using rental car, taxi or bus. With growing numbers of scuba divers, yachties, and other marine enthusiasts being attracted to the area, new developments in Savusavu are bringing world-class facilities without detracting from its unspoiled beauty.

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