Vanua
Levu (Great Land of the People) is the second largest of Fiji's
333 islands and seldom visited by travellers. However, Vanua Levu
has a lot to offer, particularly if you want to discover the 'real'
Fiji, away from the tourist resorts of Viti Levu and the Mamanuca
and Yasawa island groups. Vanua Levu is largely a cane growing
area with around 20% of Fiji's population. The island has quite
good transport services which make it a fairly easy island to
visit.
Vanua Levu has an area of about 2,140 square miles. It is divided
along its length by a mountain range with peaks rising to more
than 3,000 feet. The main towns are Labasa on the north coast
and Savu Savu in the south. Savu Savu is a charming town surrounded
by copra plantations and is famous worldwide for its diving. Situated
on the shores of a large picturesque, deep water harbour, it was
originally established as ort for sailing ships plying the north-eastern
regions of Fiji. Although Labasa is the larger of the two, Savu
Savu is more popular with travellers as it is a popular transit
point for ferries and flights to other islands. |