Namuamua Village, Navua River

Namuamua village on the Navua River, upstream from Navua town on Viti Levu, Fiji, has long been a daytrip destination for visitors staying at Fiji’s Coral Coast resorts. Trips from Navua organized by Discover Fiji Tours and Wilderness Ethnic Adventure Fiji include a long boat ride past towering cliffs and plummeting waterfalls to Namuamua or a nearby village for a kava ceremony welcome and a real Fijian lunch. The more adventurous book exciting whitewater rafting trips on the river above Navua organized by Rivers Fiji at Pacific Harbour. There are also kayaking and canoe tours on the waters around Namuamua. This whole upland area is also a paradise for hikers with numerous bush trails leading to gardens and even over the mountains.

Several Namuamua locals offer room and board in traditional Fiji bure. The guest bure pictured here (both photos courtesy of Ron Smith) is the newest place to stay in Namuamua, operated by the elected village mayor Adre Sunika. Adre offers innerspring and foam mattresses in the cottage at $20 person, plus three meals a day served on eating mats on the floor at $25. Groups of up to a dozen can be accommodated. It’s only a 30-minute walk upstream to a sensational waterfall (pictured above) for swimming and other activities include bilibili raft riding and local fishing. Horseback riding is around $20 per person and guided hikes $10, depending on the distance of the ride. Boat fares from Navua to Namuamua are $40 per person return (all prices in Fiji dollars).