We spent a week on Fuji’s main island (Viti Levu) as part of a 3 month round the world tour. As it was sandwiched between some hard core sightseeing in California and New Zealand, we were mainly there for some R&R. We did, however, manage to drag ourselves from our sunloungers by our private pool at Wellesley Resort to spend a day in the capital of Suva. As our accommodation was is a remote location, we opted for a hire car. It’s not the most exciting of capital cities, but the main (Queens) road hugs the coast, so it’s worth a visit for the drive alone. It is easy to see everything in Suva on foot, but you are highly likely to get wet at some point!

Itinerary

Day 1

Drive to Suva Picnic in Thurston Gardens Fiji Museum Holy Trinity Cathedral Sacred Heart Cathedral Walk along the esplanade at Stinson Parade

Attractions

1	Thurston Gardens
2	Fiji Museum
3	Holy Trinity Cathedral
4	Sacred Heart Cathedral
5	Stinson Parade

Drive to Suva

Today we brave driving up the hotel’s 3 mile dirt track-come-river and visit the capital, Suva. It’s a further 50 miles along the Queen’s Road, the main road which circumnavigates the island. The road condition plus speed bumps in the villages mean it’s a 2 hour drive each way. We stop en route at a supermarket in Pacific Harbour to buy provisions.

The road hugs the ocean for much of the drive. Scenic to start with, but the closer we get to Suva, the more polluted it becomes with bottles, tyres and all sorts of junk floating along the shore line.

Suva has a population of 85,000. It’s weird to think of a capital city less than half the size of Bournemouth. Maybe Dorset should become a republic?

Picnic in Thurston Gardens

We park up at the Fiji Museum and have a picnic brunch under a tree in Thurston Gardens before visiting the museum.

The gardens are also home to a 100 year old clock tower and bandstand, built to commemorate the first mayor of Suva.

Fiji Museum

The museum has some interesting exhibits; the rudder from The Bounty (the ship made infamous for the mutiny led by Mel Gibson, aka Fletcher Christian) and the sole of the shoe of a Methodist missionary – the only bit of him the islanders didn’t eat!

My personal favourite that essential fashion accessory – the puffer fish hat.

Once we have finished in the museum, we have a drink in the cafe then follow Lonely Planet’s suggested walking tour of Fiji past various buildings of note. It’s not a huge distance; only a couple of miles of walking, but we decide to split the route into two and drive in between. This means that we’re not too far from the car when the inevitable cloudburst occurs.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

We start with a visit the Anglican Holy Trinity Cathedral. It’s a hive of activity – the big boss is in town (not God – the Archbishop of Canterbury).

According to my guide book, the cathedral has a unique boat-shaped interior. To be honest, it just looks like the inside of a church.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Next, the Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral. Built in 1902, it is one of Suva’s oldest and most prominent buildings.

Growing in the cathedral grounds is the Tree of Knowledge. How this differs from any other tree, I don’t know. Maybe the Tree of Knowledge could tell me?

We round off our Suva perambulation with a stroll along the esplanade next to the harbour. There are some trees and gardens and souvenir vendors. I purchase the obligatory fridge magnet and we drive back to our resort through a few downpours, but make it back before the mother load hits.

Trip Taken: March 2018

Updated: October 2022