Fiji Islands Travel Guide |Discover the Islands

Suva City

Looking for a blend of the past and the present?.

Well Suva City has just the right mix that will see you experiencing the past without you having to miss out on modern perks. Suva is often referred to as the most cosmopolitan city in the Oceania region.

Suva sits on a hilly peninsula between Lucile Bay and Suva Harbour in the southeast corner of Viti Levu.

This capital city of Fiji has managed to retain the magic and character of the Colonial era and at the same time develop over the years offering visitors sites and attractions that will definitely make their stay memorable.

Suva is the largest city in the region and is an important centre for many regional bodies which bring with them a diverse mixture of races and people. This has seen a growing expat community and also half of the country’s population calling Suva home. It is also the home of the government of the day, foreign embassies and consulates and educational as well as financial institutions which includes the University of the South Pacific, Fiji Institute of Technology, ANZ Banking Group, Westpac Banking Corporation, Colonial National Bank and the Bank of the South Pacific and the newly established University of Fiji.

Suva - a perfect blend of colonial charm and modern facilities

A wide selection of restaurants offers different types of cuisine to suit any fussy eater’s palate with bars and entertainment within walking distance of each other.

Highlights of the Region

Majestic buildings from the Colonial era are now integrated with modern high-rises that give a unique mix to Suva.

Government House, the Presidential Mansion, Fintel Building, the Carnegie library and the Government buildings are just a small sample of this past era. The old Grand Pacific Hotel has been vacant for years waiting to be restored to its former grandeur. Take a walk into history and tour these buildings many of which are now protected by the National Trust.

Suva Highlights

Victoria Parade

See the nightlife light up whilst walking along Suva’s Victoria Parade. Come Happy Hour – 5pm to 7pm and you will be guaranteed to find a bar or club of your liking. Locals refer to it as their version of Sydney’s Kings Cross where you can find artists performing or even a chance to demonstrate your vocal or dancing skills at one of the karaoke outlets. Locals, the expat community and visitors are guaranteed a good time on Victoria Parade at the many bars, restaurants and dance halls situated in central Suva.

Shopping

Shopping is a bonanza in Suva particularly for Fijian artefacts which are in abundance at the Suva Handicraft Centre and shops in Cumming Street , running east from the park by the bridge over Nabukalou Creek.

See weavers making magic as they display their skills at the Handicraft Centre. Or if you are in search for some fresh farm or seafood produce visit the Suva Market.

Cumming Street has served both locals and tourists alike since the early 1960s. Suva has a variety of retail shops that sell clothes, jewellery and souvenirs at bargain prices. Other major outlets include Jacks of Fiji, Prouds, Tappoos and Mid-City Mall.

Fiji Museum

Located in the heart of Suva's botanical gardens, the Fiji Museum holds a remarkable historical and cultural collection which includes archaeological material dating back 3,700 years and cultural objects representing both Fiji's indigenous inhabitants and other communities that have settled in the island group over the past 100 years.

Thurston Gardens

Experience the flora of Fiji and see a variety of palms, gingers, water lilies and other local flora at the gardens. Originally called the Botanical Gardens, its name was changed to Thurston Gardens in honour of the fifth Governor of Fiji, Sir John Bates Thurston, who was Governor from February 1888 to March 1897. Thurston Gardens is located in central Suva, between Albert Park and the Government House.

It is built on the original site of the town of Suva that was burnt in 1843 in one of the bloodiest fights in Fiji's history. Many of the inhabitants were killed and eaten by the people of Rewa. In 1879, Sir John Thurston invited and asked John Horne (Botanist), the Director of Forests and Botanic Gardens in Mauritius to visit and make recommendations for a Botanical Garden.

Albert Park

The main facade of Government Buildings faces Albert Park where aviator Charles Kingsford Smith landed his trimotor Fokker VII-3M on June 6, 1928 after arriving from Hawaii on the first-ever flight from California to Australia.

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