Taveuni Dive Resort
Designed for divers by divers, family owned Taveuni Dive Resort is the best Resort-to-Reef experience on Taveuni. This sustainable resort is focused on providing comfort, service and being the best gateway to the authentic dive and nature adventures. For 14 years, the resort has been the preferred choice for diving on the island of Taveuni. The resort is sustainable as the design, construction, and operation of the business meets strict environmental, economic, and social objectives.
Taveuni Dive Resort's 8 bures are far more comfortable than traditional bures. Each spacious room includes a lounge area that includes a small refrigerator, a lounge/couch that converts to a bed, side table, and chairs that most guests move back and forth between the patio and the interior of the bure. In the middle of the bure is the sleeping area, with a king size bed and benches along the wall to store your gear or baggage. At the rear of the bure are the shower, twin sinks, and water closet. Each bure can comfortably hold two people, with a third person or children sleeping in the lounge area. They can adjust the bedding to accommodate different sleeping arrangements.
The Salty Fox is the open-air restaurant at the resort. It’s spacious and right next to an incredibly infinity pool with a nice view of the Somosomo Strait. Whether you are hanging by the pool after a day of diving or fixing to get married, this is the place to be as it’s a favorite among locals and expats. The restaurant offers a mix of modern, local, Fijian dishes alongside your favorites. The Taveuni Dive Resort is the only accommodation on the island located adjacent to the island’s nine-hole golf course. A pool is available at the resort for practicing confined water skills or just relaxing. The tour desk is happy to arrange a full array of water activities and shore excursions for guests not participating in the day’s diving.
Bouma National Heritage Park & Tavoro Falls
In 1990, The Bouma National Heritage Park was established as a community-managed area. Sitting on the eastern side of Taveuni Island, it protects 1,417 hectares and is one of three parks planned for consolidation into a single Taveuni National Park of 16,685 hectares (64 square miles) that will protect 39% of Taveuni’s land. When you arrive at the Heritage Park your driver or guide will point out the entrance trail and the lodge. Check in at the lodge and pay the entrance fee. The walk will lead you through rainforests, across rivers and up to the waterfalls. Along the way you will hear the sound of the many birds of Taveuni including the Collared Lory and Orange Breasted Dove, along with other tropical birds. There are many varieties of island plants to enjoy along with hearing the waterfalls cascading through the rainforest.
Tavoro Falls are in the park, and they are actually a set of three separate waterfalls. The first waterfall is about a 10-minute walk along a flat cultivated path along the river’s right bank. The falls drop 20 meters (65 feet). The second and third waterfalls are more difficult to reach so make sure you are up for walking on uneven terrain. It is slippery when raining, so it is recommended for people capable of moderate activity. The track is quite steep in places but has steps, handrails and lookout spots to rest. The second waterfall is 30 – 40 minutes along, is a bit smaller the first waterfall, but it has a good plunge pool great for swimming. The third set of falls is another 30 – 40 minutes but it’s so worth the effort. The views are outstanding.
Civa Pearl Farm
Fijian pearls are world-famous for their beautiful and extraordinary colors. Most of this production is currently exported to Europe, with a small amount retained and available from partnering resorts here in Fiji.
This is a chance of a lifetime to see a pearl farm in operation. Claude and Danielle began their own production in 2007, with their first harvest in 2010. This working farm is situated on the windward side of the Taveuni. Spread over 55 hectares in the pristine environment of Wailoa Lagoon, the farm enjoys a constant flow of pure water from the South Pacific to produce these incredible gems of the sea.
Once you arrive at the farm, you will learn about how pearls are grown, and get the change to snorkel in the beautiful lagoon. You will also have the opportunity to look at a selection of pearls, and if you choose, buy pearls at an attractive price.
Des Voeux Peak
Take an awesome four-wheel drive ride to the top of the Taveuni, and explore the panoramic view around the Island’s second highest peak, with an elevation of 1,195meters (3,920feet). There is a great view of the rift valley that holds Lake Tagimoucia (if there are no clouds). Please note there is no lake access from this area. To make this an all-day excursion, there is a 2.5-hour hike to Lake Aselemo, which takes you through a tropical rain forest with an amazing view of a gorge with abundant wildlife. If you are visiting between October and January, you may see the Famous Tagimoucia flower. This famous flower is one of most rare flowers in the world, and is the floral emblem of Fiji. These flowers grow at altitudes greater than 600 meters, and include long hanging clusters of red and white flowers.
Holy Cross Church
This Catholic Church was built in the early 1900's to honor a French missionary who advised Taveuni's warriors how to defeat invading Tongans. The imposing stone construction was done in the Roman style, with stained-glass windows. Customary in Fiji, the only seating is on floor mats. The beautiful a cappella singing by Fijians attending services are fantastic. Experience Sunday Mass at Holy Cross Church. Services are at 7AM, 9AM, and 11AM. This is a wonderful way to hear hymns sung in Fijian.
Horse Trekking
Horse trekking is a wonderful way to take in some spectacular scenery at a leisurely pace in southern Taveuni. The half-day adventure winds up into volcanic craters for outstanding views, or along the shoreline if you wish.
The full day tour progresses into the mountain region of the volcanic craters, winding by local farm adjacent to the craters. From this area, you see both sides of southern Taveuni. For your enjoyment, along on the trek guides will pick fresh fruit.
Lavena Coastal Walk
lso within the Bouma National Heritage Park, this is a beautiful walk along the furthest east point of Taveuni. The Coastal Walk is mostly flat so most people can walk with relative ease – there are some areas where the footing is uneven. As you make your way up the trail, you cross streams, go through villages, and wind up at a beautiful set of double waterfalls that you can slide down, or jump into the pools below. A narrow suspension bridge crosses Wainisairi Creek, which drains from Lake Tagimoucia.
The walk takes about 1.5 hours each way, but you should plan some time to play in the water at the end of the trail (we normally plan 4 hours for this hike). To reach the waterfalls and plunge pool, you need to swim 100 meters up a narrow channel (in places you cannot touch the bottom). Be sure to take a swimsuit and waterproof camera. Good hiking shoes are recommended, but they will get wet. Finally, make sure you take a lunch or snacks because there are no cafes along the walk.
Another option is to sea kayak up to the end of the trail, and then walk back (or vice versa, as the tides allow). This option provides two perspectives of this beautiful area.
A third option is to book a scenic boat trip down the Southern shoreline of Taveuni, where you will see waterfalls that cascade directly into the sea, then you are taken back to the end of the Lavena Coastal Walk to play at the beautiful double waterfalls. Afterwards, you will hike back to the trailhead, returning to the village for a relaxing cup of lemon tea and pastries.
Nabogiono (Bobby's Farm)
Nabogiono Farm is a family owned heritage property with close links to the National Trust of Fiji. Just over 40 hectares (98 acres), it was initially used for coconut/copra farming until 1978. The farm has since been conserved by the owning family as a natural habitat for wildlife, while continuing to be run as a farm. The colonial designed home which the owning family resides, is over 70 years old, and is made from timber and concrete. The property comprises of 400 meters of sea frontage, 10 hectares (25 acres) of jungle re-growth around the homestead, a rich natural habitat for the birds, and approximately 17 hectares (42 acres) of integrated farming area. A large section of the holding is native rainforest.
Bobby Shankaran is renowned for his knowledge of traditional herbal medicines, local flora and bird life. This tour includes an educational tour of nature on Bobby’s Farm. The combination of lush tropical forest, unique birds, tropical fruits, Fijian medicinal plants and the natural tropical aquarium of the marine reserve makes Na Bogi Ono farms a unique experience on Taveuni.
International Date Line
Taveuni is one of the only pieces of dry land that is crossed by the 180th meridian. During the plantation days, having the dateline cross the island caused all sorts of confusion. Since then, the date line was moved east of the island. This is a fun adventure because it’s the only place in Fiji where you can have one foot in today and one foot in yesterday. Bring your camera and show your family and friends how you were in two different days at the same time!
After visiting the 180th meridian monument, visit the natural Waitavala waterslide. The waterslide is a natural flume carved from water running over the bare volcanic rock. Afternoons are a great time to go and see the local children surf down the waterslide barefoot. If you are adventurous, you can give it a try yourself. We suggest beginners slide on your backside. Make sure you take water shoes, insect repellent.
Village Cultural Experience
A visit to one of Taveuni’s villages is a popular glimpse into the Fijian culture and everyday life. You can eat tasty food, drink Kava, listen to the singing, and watch a meke. Fijians are the friendliest people on earth, so take a moment to talk to the villagers you meet. Also remember they want to hear about you too!
Vuna Blowhole
The Vuna blowhole at the southern end of Taveuni is quite spectacular to watch in action and makes a great extra stop when visiting southern Taveuni.
Carl and Muriel Fox acquired Taveuni Dive in 2002 with the mission to provide the safest, most reliable access to the incredible locations around Taveuni, Fiji. They hired experienced, local divemasters to assure you enjoy the wonders of the Rainbow Reef. They also provide well-maintained, up to date equipment, and instruct PADI courses with their talented instructors. Your safety is paramount. Carl has 40 years of experience in the dive industry and has been a PADI professional for more than 30 years. Feel free to bring your own gear, but if you are traveling light or just starting out, the shop offers a full range of the latest well-maintained rental equipment. TDR is a Gold Palm 5-star IDC facility, offering a full range of courses — whether you want Discover Scuba or to become a Dive Instructor — they'll teach you; a great way to be trained is through PADI e-learning.
Diving the Rainbow Reef
Fiji’s coral reefs are justifiably renowned worldwide and are among the more diverse and intact in the Pacific Ocean. A multitude of species make their home in the rich and diverse waters surrounding the Fiji Islands, including giant clams, sharks, groupers, tuna, barracuda, and colorful soft and hard corals. Fiji has more than 10,000 km2 of pristine coral reefs. Most of these reefs are fringing reefs that border nearby shores, while there are some flat-topped platform and barrier reefs. These reefs have spectacular biodiversity, with 467 species of mollusks, 298 species of hard coral, and around 1,200 species of reef fish. Fiji’s conservation traditions, coupled with the fact that oceanfront villages have traditional rights to both coastal waters and adjacent land, have paved the way for integrated conservation efforts addressing both land- and sea-based environmental threats. While these conservation projects are in their infancy, promising progress is being made. The diving in Fiji is amazing.
Dive Guide
The dive sites are divided into 3 categories: Wall, sloping reef with pinnacles and sloping reefs. Likely the most popular dive site in the Rainbow Reef is the Great White Wall (a perpendicular wall covered in ice colored soft coral, below 15m/45ft). Due to tidal conditions, we dive the Great White Wall only a few days each month, so check the schedule). Other popular wall dives are the Purple Wall, the Zoo and the Fish Factory. A map of our most popular dives is shown below.
Dives with sloping reef with pinnacles (bommies) include the famous Annie’s Bommies and the Mini White Wall. Well-known slopping reefs are Jerry’s Jelly, Sam’s Point, Fish Factory, and Rainbows End.
Many of the dive sites make ideal snorkel sites and we often get lucky and have slow, gentle drift snorkeling! Our favorite sites for snorkeling are Nuku Reef, Fish Factory, and Cabbage Patch. Due to the rich flow of nutrents, the amount of reef life you see on every dive or snorkel will amaze you! The most common reef fish we see include butterfly and angelfish, trigger and parrotfish, fusiliers, anthias, wrasses, groupers and of course plenty of clownfish. Remember –– fish families have many different species. We typically see 3 or 4 different species include clown fish. Other interesting sea life we see include giant clams, eels, nudibranchs, flatworms, dolphins, octopus, turtles, sharks, and rays.
Fiji is serviced with flights from USA, New Zealand, Australia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Korea. Fiji Airways codeshares with Qantas and American, while Air New Zealand codeshares with United. Both fly into Nadi airport with almost daily connections. Once at Nadi you get a domestic flight to Taveuni (Matei airport) – a flight time of approximately 60 minutes. From the Matei airport, it’s a pretty 30-minute drive to the resort.
