The European discoverer Abel Tasman sighted Des Voeux Peak on the night of February 5, 1643.

Taveuni, although conveying an air of tranquility and peace was not without its violent periods. Looking across at Western Taveuni and across Somosomo Strait, a famous 19th-century naval battle occurred when Taveuni warriors turned back a large Tongan invasion force with much of the fighting done from canoes. The defeated Tongans ended up as Fijian barbeque and the French priest who was the Fijian chief’s advisor was given labourers to assist in building his mission.

Southern Taveuni was the site of the Bilyard Sugar Mill (1874-1896) one of Fiji’s first. In the 1860’s European planters tried to grow cotton but changed to sugar when the cotton market failed.  Remains of the old sugar mill are still evident in the form of a tall chimney, boilers and other equipment scattered around.

Tagimaucia Legend

Once upon a time, a princess was about to be forced by her father to marry a man she did not love - an arranged marriage. This greatly distressed the young girl, as she was in love with another man - a young boy in the village. In an act of desperation, she ran from the village into the mountains above the village where, finally exhausted, she fell asleep on the edge of the lake. While she was sleeping she cried and when her father and his followers found her the next morning, they saw that the tears had trickled down over her cheeks and turned into the beautiful red flowers. The father - out of love for his daughter - allowed her to marry the man of her choice. Tagimaucia means "to cry in your sleep".