Farming and coastal connections in Vanuavou

FTA kava is grown and cared for on organic soil inland in Vanuavou. This gives the place a clear agricultural focus. At the same time, the coast near Vanuavou Village lies on Natewa Bay. For orientation, these are two distinct connections to the area: farming inland and the coast around the bay. Those considering Vanuavou as a travel destination will find a specific connection to local agriculture alongside its coastal setting.

At Vanuavou Farm, dalo and uvi were harvested as short-term crops. In July 2020, the farm harvested its first delivery of yaqona and sent it to Suva for the local market. Together, the carefully tended FTA kava crop, the dated yaqona delivery, and the dalo and uvi harvests represent different aspects of farming. Travelers interested in agriculture will find a clear point of interest to help them choose the area.

Experiences in the wider destination of Northern Division

At the level of the wider destination of Northern Division, additional cultural and nature themes come into view. On Vanua Levu, local village communities offer tours combining cultural experiences with nature exploration. There are ecotourism offerings in the forests of the Natewa Peninsula, and remote villages in the wider region. This makes it possible to distinguish between Vanuavou’s agricultural focus and regional tours or forest experiences when planning.

Natewa Bay is the largest bay in the South Pacific. It is home to two large groups of spinner dolphins; guided tours on the water can follow them, but sightings are not guaranteed. The bay’s shallow reefs feature vibrant coral gardens with numerous hard corals, large colorful sea fans, and thousands of Christmas tree worms. Dolphin tours and coral life offer two distinct ways to experience nature in the same bay.

Protected areas also shape the nature themes of Northern Division. Established in 1997, Namena Marine Reserve is Fiji’s largest no-take protected area. Its reef is distinguished by exceptionally high species diversity and is home to more than 1,000 fish species. On Taveuni, Waitabu Marine Reserve is a reef dedicated to snorkelling tourism and environmental education. Waitabu Marine Park covers 27 hectares and provides a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Waisali Rainforest Reserve is one of the few remaining unspoiled forest areas on Vanua Levu in Northern Division. Together, these examples offer different nature themes: marine reserves, reefs, and rainforest.

Another regional option with a culinary connection is KokoMana’s tree-to-bar chocolate tour. It lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and shows the production process, from processing the cocoa beans to grinding them. It concludes with a tasting of chocolate made on site at the factory in the forest. The duration is a specific point to consider when including this tour in your regional travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Qamea, Vatutandova, Fiji, Pagai, Matei, Tavuki, Naidi, Natuvu

Return to the wider travel overview: Northern Division.