Page 57 - Melanesia

arden of the Sleeping Giant - For panoramic summits. south from March to October. Fiji’s waves
typically break on coral reefs. Most of the
G peace and tranquility, the Garden of S igatoka sand dunes - One of Fiji’s well-known spots are off Viti Levu and can
natural highlights, the dunes near the often only be reached by boat.
the Sleeping Giant on the road between
Nadi and Lautoka, at the foot of the Sabeto T he Fiji Museum - Located in the heart
of Suva’s botanical gardens, the Fiji Mu-
mountains is the place to go. Formally a shoreline of the Sigatoka River have been seum houses an extensive archaeological
collection dating back 3,700 years, includ-
private orchid garden now open to the pub- forming for millions of years. Windblown ing cultural objects representing both Fiji’s
indigenous inhabitants and other commu-
lic, beautiful orchids and flowering plants and rugged, these dunes are a far cry from nities that have settled in the island group
over the past 100 years. Of particular note
abound here. those of the Sahara – the sand is grey- is the rudder of the HMS Bounty of mutiny
fame.
N aihehe Sacred Caves - Situated deep in brown in color and covered with vines and
the Sigatoka Valley, the caves are pop- shrubs. The dunes are also one of the larg- T rekking in Taveuni - Taveuni has a
est burial sites in the Pacific. number of popular trekking trails found
all over the island. The Lavena Coastal Walk
ular with tourists and locals alike. Once a S ri Siva Subramaniya Temple - A must- and Tavoro Falls offer some wonderful
fortress of Fiji’s last pagan tribes, the caves see for culture vultures, Nadi’s Sri Siva hiking opportunities with well signposted
contain a priest chamber, sacred pond and tracks to follow. For those who are serious,
the Vidawa Forest Walk, the trek up to Lake
great Cathedral Chamber. The caves are Subramaniya Temple is the largest Hindu Tagimaucia and the Des Voeux ascent are
particularly challenging climbs.
still considered sacred today and locals still temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Illus-

frequent to pay tribute to their ancestors. trating the architectural diversity for which

S caling Mount Batilamu - Fiji boasts Fiji is well known, the three-part temple
spectacular vistas aplenty, however, is dedicated to the deity Murugan whose
statue, specially carved in India, is housed

for unparalleled views, take a day trip from in the main temple.

Nadi or Lautoka to scale the ‘sleeping giant’, S urfing in Viti Levu - A growing number
of surfing camps are off southern and
Mount Batilamu. The ascent takes hikers
through the Koroyanitu National Heritage

Park past tempting waterholes, through western Viti Levu. There’s surf throughout

small villages, and up to green-swathed, the year with the best swells out of the