Fiji’s Cultural Heartland: Touring the Coral Coast

The Coral Coast of Fiji is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Fiji Islands. Most of the resorts are located right on the beachfront, including prominent worldwide hotel brands such as Shangri La, Outrigger Warwick, and many more.

The Coral Coast of Fiji begins 15 kilometers south of Nadi Town, with stunning scenery of sugarcane fields, pine trees, and breathtaking vistas of the South Pacific Ocean.

The coastline consists of coves, beaches, rocky outcrops, and mangrove forests, from which steep slopes ascend rapidly into the adjacent mountain ranges.

Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park

Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is located on the Fijian island of Viti Levu, near the mouth of the Sigatoka River. At 0.68 square miles (1.77 square kilometers), it is one of the world’s smallest national parks.

The parabolic sand dunes reach heights of 65.6 to 196.85 feet (20 to 60 meters). This sand dune habitat was produced by hinterland erosion and traditional coastal dune formation. The dunes are thousands of years old, and the park also acts as an archaeological site, with several discoveries. Pottery fragments and stone tools were discovered beside human remains.

The dunes are thin greyish-brown silt, which differs from the conventional fine sandy tan dunes in most places. In addition, vines and plants cover much of the dunes.

Fiji’s first national park, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, is widely regarded as one of the country’s natural wonders.

Nauva Village Tours

If you can visit the traditional Fijian village of Navala, take advantage of it. This is the last village on Viti Levu that still follows a traditional lifestyle, replete with thatched bures and an ambiance unlike any other.

The thatched bures in the village were not intended for tourists. They are where people live every day, constructed with traditional materials and methods, with everyone working together to create new homes.
So come explore Navala with me as we meet some residents and schoolchildren and learn about life in the Ba highlands.

Nadi/Denarau to Lautoka takes about 30 minutes. It takes one hour to get from Lautoka to Ba and another hour to get to Navala. At a slow driving speed, you may save some time if you don’t dawdle.

The relatively uninteresting countryside near Nadi is replaced by rolling hills, charming villages, and breathtaking ocean vistas from the Yasawa islands.

Kula Eco Park

Kula Eco Park is the South Pacific’s environmental showcase on Fiji’s Coral Coast Tours, directly across from Outrigger on the Lagoon Resort and about 6 kilometres east of Sigatoka Town. Kula Eco Park is:

• The sole breeding facility for endangered Fijian fauna.
• The only free hands-on environmental education center for Fijian schoolchildren
• Entrance receipts entirely fund the park.

Ecotrax Fiji

Ecotrax offers the world’s only rail-mounted electric assisted pushbike carriages (velocipedes), making for a one-of-a-kind and breathtakingly gorgeous journey for everyone.

You can go at your own pace or pedal (or use your accelerator) along the train tracks, admiring the gorgeous forest, rock cuttings, Fijian villages, and fields, where a Bula smile awaits you around every corner.

This trip includes a distant beach location where you may eat wonderful indigenous fruits and drink refreshing coconut water, as well as swim and snorkel in the turquoise clear waters.

Momi Battery Historic Park

For history devotees, Momi Bay Historical Park, also known as the Momi Gun Site, should be on your must-see list. Located on the western side of Viti Levu, the site is one of six gun batteries built during WWII to protect Fiji against a potential Japanese invasion.

The position offers breathtaking views of the Malolo Barrier Reef and the Mamanuca Islands, as well as the Navula Channel. The region was protected during World War II since it was near one of the few deep water routes and access sites into western Fiji.

Wrapping It Up

Touring Fiji’s Coral Coast provides an exciting glimpse into the core of the country’s rich cultural heritage. From vivid traditional events to immersive village experiences, guests are exposed to a tapestry of sights, sounds, and flavours that capture the spirit of Fijian culture.