Fiji’s third largest island, Taveuni, is known as the ‘Garden Island of Fiji’. I spent a long weekend there in October 2025, mainly snorkelling, as the weather wasn’t favourable for hiking. It is an incredibly green and lush island, due to a lot of rain!
It was a scenic flight from Suva-Nausori Airport, passing over a number of islands and reefs, to land in Matei, at the northern end of Taveuni.
I stayed at the nearby Maravu Taveuni Lodge, a lovely relaxed and low-key place.
It was a short walk down to Sunset Beach for my first snorkel.
25 minutes drive south, on the west coast of the island, is the International Date Line, though Fiji is on one time zone. It was slightly unexpected to find the sign at the end of a sports field next to a colourful church.
Nearby was a highly enjoyable natural waterslide, with smooth rocks leading into a number of pools.
The next day I headed out to Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait, which is known as the soft coral capital of the world. First we snorkelled the Nuku site, finishing in the rain.
Before crossing the strait for some food and a break on Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island.
We returned to the reef to snorkel Cabbage Patch, home to distinctive serpentine salad coral.
My favourite snorkel of the trip though was on our final morning, heading out to Honeymoon Island, not far off the coast. It was just a couple of rocks in the ocean but surrounded by colourful reef, viewed up close.
As a final bonus a large pod of spinner dolphins accompanied us back toward shore.
