One of the most pleasant places in the Suva region, Colo-i-Suva Forest National Park is a beautiful spot about 20 minutes north of the city centre. The protected rainforest is home to a multitude of birdlife (easier to hear than to see), hiking trails, and refreshing swimming spots.

Access is from Princess Road, with a reassuring security gate before a pleasant 2km gravel road that leads to the main car park. There have been a number of incidents in the park, but things have improved with security here, and at the car park.

There are basically two loops that can be walked, though one wasn’t accessible (Bid Dakua Track) due to track closure for repairs. I explored the forest park in the opposite direction to usual, starting from the lower pools, heading up to Waisila Falls, and finishing at the upper pool, only a few minutes walk from the car park. This saved a longer, uphill walk from the lower pool after swimming, but these are the best pools it turns out, so would be the best place to finish in the park. Next time I’ll walk it in the other direction…

From the car park it was an easy downhill walk to the lower pools.

The main pool is a pretty special spot, with the water a cool but refreshing temperature. I visited early on a Saturday morning and had the place to myself.

There’s about half a dozen pools above the main one, which are smaller, but would be just as good for a refreshing dip.

There is a reasonable amount of boardwalk and infrastructure along the track, though in variable states.

Turning off onto the Waisila Track it was rougher, but more enjoyable in someways, though care needs to be taken.

There were a few more small pools of water.

Before reaching Waisila Falls, the largest waterfall in the park, which even toward the end of the dry season, still had some water flowing, though it’d be a lot more impressive after a decent rain.

I returned to the car park via the upper pool, which was pretty decent but felt less natural, and the water wasn’t as clear as the lower pools.