2 Best Sights in Taveuni, Fiji

Taveuni got the nickname "Garden Island of Fiji" for this multifaceted park covering almost 259 square km (100 square miles), or nearly a third of the island. The park's four villages offer guided walks, waterfall visits, snorkeling off traditional rafts, a hike, and bird-watching through the virgin rain forest and along the pristine coast. The Lavena Coastal Walk is a scenic walk past rain forest and traditional gardens of cassava, papaya, kava, and other crops, over a river to pristine waterfalls and a swimming hole. The trail begins at Lavena village, 6 km (3.7 miles) south of the park entrance, and passes great swimming and snorkeling spots as it traces the coast. It's a four-hour walk round-trip, but makes an enjoyable half-day or longer. Groups of four or more can also take a three-hour boat tour to seven waterfalls inaccessible on foot and walk back along the coast, if they so choose.

The first of the Tavoro Waterfalls, or Bouma Falls, is a 15-minute stroll through manicured gardens along the Tavoro River from its visitor center. It's one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Fiji and was featured in the movie Return to the Blue Lagoon. The second and third waterfalls are successively farther away and are accessible via well-maintained paths. They have smaller swimming pools, but the views on the way are well worth the walk.