Planning a Trip

Getting There

Air Fiji (tel. 877/247-3454 in the U.S., or 672 2251 in Nadi; www.airfiji.com.fj) has early-morning and late-afternoon flights to Ovalau's unpaved airstrip at Bureta, on the island's west coast. The round-trip fare from Suva is about F$128 (US$83/£43). Levuka is halfway around Ovalau on the east coast.

Patterson Shipping Services (tel. 331 5644; patterson@connect.com.fj) has bus-ferry connections from Suva to Buresala Landing, north of the airstrip.

The airstrip and ferry landing are at least 45-minute rides from Levuka via the very rough road that circles Ovalau; nevertheless, the ride to Levuka, on the other side of the island, is a sightseeing excursion in its own right. Bus fare from the airstrip or ferry landing into town is F$7 (US$4.50/£2.30); taxis cost about F$25 (US$16/£8.30).

Don't Leave Home Without It -- You can see the prime sites in old Levuka in a day. The airstrip on Ovalau is not lighted, however, and rainy weather or delays can cause the one late afternoon flight to be canceled. If you do come over here on a day trip, bring your toothbrush and a change of clothes. If the flight doesn't come, Air Fiji will put you up at the Royal Hotel.

Getting Around

Levuka is a small town, and you can get to most places in 25 minutes by foot. Numerous taxis congregate on Beach Street; be sure you and the driver agree on a fare before departing.

Given the poor condition of Ovalau's roads, four-wheel-drive trucks with seats in the back -- called "carriers" here -- serve as the local bus service. They don't run after dark, so find out from the driver when -- and whether -- he returns to Levuka at the end of the day.

Ovalau Watersports (tel. 344 0166) and the Royal Hotel (tel. 344 0024) both rent bicycles for F$15 (US$9.70/£5) a day. The road around the southern part of the island is flat, but the north side is hilly.