Tavoro Falls
White water in a green pool.
User:Doron — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Barry Peters` — CC BY 2.0 · Priyankara Parana Li… — CC BY 3.0 · Barry Peters` — CC BY 2.0 · Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US — CC BY-SA 2.0
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, nicknamed the «Garden Island» for its thick greenery. It is a cigar-shaped volcanic island 42 km long, with rainforest rising among waterfalls and a lake in an old crater. It is the best choice for those who prefer walking and nature to the beach resorts of the western islands. It covers 434 sq km and is the top of a dormant shield volcano rising from the ocean floor, dotted with about 150 volcanic cones. Its highest peak, Uluigalau, reaches 1,241 m, the second highest in Fiji. There have been at least 58 eruptions since people settled here, the latest around 1550, when lava spilled into the sea at the southern tip. Its best-known sight is Tavoro Falls in Bouma National Heritage Park, three waterfalls, the first reached in a 10-minute walk and the farthest in an hour and a half. Lake Tagimaucia lies in a crater at 800 m and is home to a rare flower. In the south are black rocks and blowholes, and birdwatchers look for colourful parrots. It lies 6.5 km from Vanua Levu across the Somosomo Strait, reached by air to Matei or by ferry, so ask about times. One source says Bouma park takes no cards and has no ATM, so carry cash. Bring walking shoes, insect repellent and a light raincoat. Cyclone season runs from November to April, so check the weather before you travel.
White water in a green pool.
An old crater and rare flower.
Colourful parrots.
East of Vanua Levu, Cakaudrove Province, Fiji
Two to three days are enough for the falls and walks, as the island moves slowly.
No, according to one source. The park takes no cards, so carry Fijian cash.