Culture of Vanua Levu Island. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Vanua Levu became a tourist centre not so long ago, and its area is still not very developed. There are no global attractions and museums, but there are still a few places to visit. Be sure to go to Waisali Rainforest Reserve. This is untouched wildlife and a real rainforest, where you can find rare animals and plants that grow only here. There are good conditions for bird watching, there are many different birds on the island. You should definitely visit Mount Nasorolevu. This is a traditional tourist site, the top of the mount provides a magnificent view of almost the entire island. You will pass through the tropical jungle here.

An unusual natural object can be seen on the lake near the large city of Labasa. It's a floating island. It moves freely on the surface of the reservoir and you can watch this phenomenon. Unfortunately, no explanation for this phenomenon has been found, but the island attracts a lot of tourists and the small island is a symbol of Labasa. Labasa town is also famous for the archaeological excavations of ancient settlements and the black hills of volcanic sand near Vanika village.

In Savusavu, the capital of the island, there is a building preserved from colonial times, the so-called farmer's House. The house is preserved in its original form and it is one of the few historical sites on Vanua Levu. It is located directly in the historic centre of the city. It is easy to find the building, as there is only one street in Savusavu. It is worth visiting the temple of the Snake. This is not quite a temple in the usual sense. But it is a sacred place where the natives offer sacrifices such as spices, incense and coconut milk. The structure is surrounded by a small mountain formation, shaped like a cobra-this symbol is the object of worship of the local population. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Another natural attraction is the hot springs. There are quite a lot of them here, which is explained by the volcanic origin of the island. You will have no desire to swim here because of the hot weather, but it is highly recommended to look at the unusual phenomenon. A must-visit place is an oyster farm where pearls are grown. On the tour you will be told in detail about the features and history of the fishery on the island; how to distinguish good pearls; how to grow shellfish and, of course, you can buy pearls and pearl jewellery in a small shop belonging to the farm.

There is the small Taveuni island, located very close to Vanua Levu, which you should definitely visit. The most popular attraction of the island is the Bouma waterfalls. They are located on the territory of the nature reserve of the same name. Today they are open to tourists, you can safely admire the magnificent views and even have a picnic nearby this amazing natural attraction.Amateur ornithologists will be happy to visit Taveuni. There are very rare species of birds, which you can admire near Waiyevo town on the slopes of the mountains.

The 180th Meridian passes through Taveuni. This is a date changing line, so you can stand with one foot in today and the other in yesterday or tomorrow. Perhaps it is not so spectacular, but unusual and you should definitely come here and make a memorable photo. If you love puzzles, you necessarily have to see the mysterious stones in Laconia village. Scientists and cryptographers have not yet managed to unravel what are the mysterious inscriptions that cover the stones mean. If you want to get to know the local culture and people better, you can go hiking on the Nateva Peninsula. There are several small villages and plantations of local copra plants.

You can also walk to one of the fishing villages. The way of life here does not change for centuries. It's a great way to see aboriginal life up close. The main thing when meeting with the local population-try to follow the rules of conduct. Be sure to visit the market in Savusavu. The entrance is guarded by majestic statues of lions, and the market sells giant vegetables grown on the island. Where else can you see cucumbers of the size of a large zucchini or asparagus beans half a meter long?

First of all, Vanua Levu is magnificent wildlife and one of the must-visit places is «Flora Tropica Gardens». It is located very close to Savusavu and it is more than 5 acres of forest, where different paths are laid. It offers magnificent views of the bay and the hilly scenery of the island. Moreover, you can see more than 200 species of different palms here. There are rare specimens from around the world, a lot of tropical flowers and fruit trees in the collection of the garden.