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Ovalau & the

LomaivitiPOP 12,065 Group

Includes  Why Go? ...... 140 Despite its proximity to , the Lomaiviti Group is ...... 140 often overlooked as a tourist destination, which is a shame. ...... 146 It was in Levuka, the capital of the main island Ovalau, that Rukuruku...... 146 the first Europeans settled and eventually made this the country’s first capital. Its wild and immoral colonial days are Arovudi & Silana. . . 147 long over but you’ll be seduced by its charms and welcoming ...... 147 atmosphere – not forgetting its historic centre that won ’s Lailai. . . . .148 first World Heritage site listing in 2013. ...... 148 The tiny coral islands of and Caqalai have sandy Caqalai...... 148 beaches, good snorkelling and simple budget resorts. To the north is Koro with its fantastic diving, family-oriented Leleuvia...... 148 Naigani and the luxury resort of . Hawksbill Wakaya...... 149 turtles visit to lay their eggs, and a pod of humpback whales Koro ...... 149 passes the east coast of Ovalau on their annual migration between May and September. Unfortunately Ovalau and the were badly damaged by 2016’s . Best Sights ¨¨Levuka (p143) ¨¨Snake Island (p148) When to Go ¨¨Lovoni village (p140) Levuka ¨¨Niubasaga (p148) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 16/400 ¨¨Nadelaiovalau Peak (p140) 12/300 30/86

8/200 Best Places to 20/68 Stay 4/100 ¨¨Levuka Homestay (p145) 10/50 0 J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨¨Bobo’s Farm (p147) ¨¨Caqalai Island Resort Feb–Mar Calmest Aug Often the May–Oct Trade (p148) and warmest coolest month winds keep days months with of the year when dry and nights ¨¨Leleuvia Island Resort temperatures temperatures can cool. Whales can (p148) hovering around dip below 20°C. be spotted off the 30°C. coast. # Ù

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a 3 S ( D e ). a g a l r d 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 n . The Passage Waitovu at cellent hard coral from town minutes by boat Pipeline, two is for experienced divers Levukaat Passage, waste from the Pafco the fishy Here only. giant groupers, eagle tuna plant attracts and bull sharks. The E6 in the famous rays Channel pinnacle with is a huge Vatu-i-Ra of big pelagics. Nigalisoft and plenty corals is a narrow channel off Passage off Caqalai, in the Moturiki Channel, and ex Caqalai, in the Moturiki off e a f i i l e e r R a e i

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, off Wakaya Island, is Island, Wakaya , off ing trips. Blue Ridge famous for its bright-blue ribbon eels. There , just Island is stunning Snake soft at coral The Lomaiviti waters offer some wonderful,The Lomaiviti offer waters can en you sites where dive little-visited hammerheads, turtles,counter manta rays, but atwhite-tip reef sharks and lion fish, div the time of writing few resorts offered 2 Snorkelling & Diving #\

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