In 1643 Abel Tasman sights Vanua Levu, then known as Sandalwood Island.  He sailed on past without landing.

On May 6, 1789 Captain Bligh and his men sailed south of Vanua Levu on their voyage to Tofua to Timor in the Bounty’s lifeboat.

Vanua Levu, as with other Fiji islands was inundated with Europeans, a motley mixture of sailors and escaped criminals from Australia.

Sandalwood traders put in at Bua Bay. The sandlewood trade flourished for years until over exploitation saw its demise.

The subsequent years saw the copra industry flourish and fail in the 1930’s and it wasn’t until until sugar cane was eventually planted with the Labasa Sugar Mill opening in 1894 that Vanua Levu had an industry that looked long term. In front of the Copra Shed Marina is a stone dated 1880 which is said to be from Fiji’s first copra mill.

Vanua Levu today is still harvesting sugar cane but the good news is that it is slowly being developed as a tourist destination for those who like things natural.