Pacific Harbour was begun in the early 1970s as a recreation-oriented, luxury residential community and resort (translated: a real estate development). A number of expatriates have built homes here and have their own tourist information website at www.pacificharbour-fiji.com. Given the heat, humidity, and amount of rain it gets, Pacific Harbour is not the place to come for a typical beach vacation. On the other hand, it does have an excellent golf course, fine deep-sea fishing, fabulous scuba diving out in the Beqa Lagoon, and rafting trips on the nearby Navua River. In fact, local promoters aren't far wrong when they describe Pacific Harbour as "The Adventure Capital of Fiji."
It's also my favorite place to experience Fijian culture without visiting a village. Formerly known as the Pacific Harbour Cultural Centre & Market Place but now the Arts Village, a shopping center on the Queen's Road serves both tourists and residents of the real estate development. It consists of colonial-style clapboard buildings joined by covered walkways. In addition to restaurants, a grocery store, ice cream and massage parlors, boutiques, handicraft shops, and a swimming pool, it is home to Fiji's best cultural center .
Offshore, rugged Beqa Island is nearly cut in two by a long bay, making it one of Fiji's more scenic spots. Most of Fiji's famous fire walkers come from Dakuibeqa, Naceva, and Ruka villages on Beqa. The island is surrounded by Beqa Lagoon, where more than a dozen dive sites feature both soft and hard corals. Among them is Frigate Passage, which has both a 48-meter (158-foot) wall for divers and huge waves for surfers.
