Here the sun shines almost every day, coconut palms sway in the ocean breeze and R&R is taken very seriously. But there’s another side to this place, and a driving tour will take you away from the deck chairs and into the heart of the real Fiji.
Driving in Fiji is easy. If you are over 21 years old and have an Australian licence you can hire a car. The roads are in great condition, and as in Australia, cars travel on the left hand side of the road. Most visitors to Fiji arrive at Nadi on Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu. From here you can hire a 4WD with prices starting from $92 a day.
A 20 minute drive from Nadi will take you to your first port of call - Lautoka. Known as the sugar city, Lautoka boasts the largest sugar mill in the Southern Hemisphere, and also has a lively fresh food market. The markets are a melting pot showing just how culturally diverse Fiji is.
Many people from around the world call Fiji home, among them Indians, Chinese, Melanesians and Polynesians. Apart from Fijian fruit, the markets sell plenty of other goods including handicrafts and Indian spices.
Leaving Lautoka, take in the scenery along the road. The Fijian countryside is rich in plantations.
Just before Ba theres a turn off to Navala, a village considered to be Fiji’s most picturesque. Navala is set on the sloping banks of the Ba River, and all the houses are made in traditional Bure.
Navala locals are very friendly and welcoming, but it’s important to remember your manners when visiting the village. If you wish to take photos, it is polite to ask permission first. Also, don’t wear a hat because it is considered an insult, and remember to bring a gift for your hosts. Visiting a town like Navala is a great way to learn some fascinating things about the local culture and traditional practices.
A little further down the road from Navala you can learn about cannibalism. A visit to the tomb of Udre Udre tells the story of a man whose legendary status came from eating his enemies for revenge. Each one of the 99 stones around the tomb represents one of his victims.
If that attraction has put you off your food, sample Fiji's famous world-class water. Fiji Water is the name of the Fijian bottled water popular amongst Hollywood celebrities. Taken from an aquifer in the Yaqara Valley and bottled on site, the water tastes fresh and pure.
