Tag: sustainable tourism

River adventure in a tube (donut) Book here!

Boat ride up the scenic and pristine Navua River, through meandering rapids, passing cascading waterfalls, tropical rainforest and deep gorge. Waterfall swim, riverside lunch and tubing downriver interspersed with gentle rapids.

One of the best ways to beat the heat and have fun is to float down a scenic river in an inner tube.

The Navua River flows languidly down from the highlands, where family-owned River Tubing Fiji is ready to introduce you to your new favourite happy place.

River Tubing Fiji has its roots firmly established in the rich history and culture of the Namosi Highlands. Founder and owner William Rock Danford is a direct descendant of John Humphrey Danford, the lone Englishman who lived in the Namosi Highlands amongst the cannibal hill tribes in the 1800s. During his time, the pioneering Danford led many foreigners on expeditions up the Navua River. Today William follows his great-great-great grandfather’s footsteps.

With River Tubing Fiji, you do much more than just float your day away in a river donut. The Danford family and their crew will take you on an adventure where you also get to see locals going about their everyday life.

“Visitors to our part of Fiji get to witness the real Fiji,” said William.

“Villagers washing, spearfishing, hunting, cooking, farming, ladies weaving, children along the river playing, fishing, collecting firewood, swimming, etc. This is our idea of sustainable tourism where we maximize the benefits and reduce the impacts of tourism on these remote villagers,” he explained.

The day tour takes you from tiny Navua town on a longboat ride up the picturesque and pristine Navua River through meandering rapids, passing cascading waterfalls, tropical rainforests, deep gorge and breathtaking canyons. A visit to an iTaukei village in the Namosi Highlands is where you can observe life as it is for the villagers, without shows for the benefit of tourists. Heading back downstream on the longboat, enjoy a refreshing swim at an amazing waterfall pool. There is a compulsory safety briefing by guides before you tube down the river interspersed with gentle rapids.

While soaking up the natural setting and some Fijian sunshine, you get to travel down the waterway just fast enough to keep things interesting but not so quickly that it’s dangerous.

The tour is topped off with a delicious riverside lunch that includes meat, vegetables, fruits, and a sampling of traditional dishes with beverages.

River Tubing Fiji
Navua.
Mobile: 9212748
www.rivertubingfiji.com

Book Now

Compiled by EXPLORE Fiji. Photos supplied by River Tubing Fiji.

#SupportLocalBusiness #EXPLOREFijiLocal #sustainabletourism #rivertubing #NavuaRiver #NamosiHighlands #villages

December 31, 2024
Fiji boasts largest rescue reef of its kind in history

Can you guess what’s the largest word ever written under the sea?

And try guessing without the assistance of ChatGPT or Amazon’s Alexa. 🙂

The answer lies firmly beneath the waters off Lomani Island Resort and Plantation Island Resort on Malolo Lailai, the second largest island in the majestic Mamanuca group.

The word is BULA (a ubiquitous Fijian greeting also meaning ‘life’) and has been immortalised beneath the idyllic waters.

The largest rescue reef of its kind in history, BULA Reef is an ambitious coral nursery created to combat coral bleaching. Crafted from over a thousand colonies of heat-resistant corals, BULA Reef was launched on World Ocean Day on June 8th this year. The incredible initiative, developed by Corals for Conservation (C4C) and endorsed by UNESCO, is a key commitment to marine conservation and sustainability.

BULA Reef.

Lee Pearce, chief executive officer of Plantation Island Resort’s owning company, Raffe Hotels and Resorts said the importance of BULA Reef is recognised by his entire team, with the launch considered a milestone moment for the resort and the company overall.

While the conservation project is expected to become a significant tourist attraction, it is unlike other reef projects. BULA Reef will “not become a free for all”, with public snorkelling to be carefully controlled and guided to protect the baby corals.

Compiled by EXPLORE Fiji with information from Lomani Island Resort and The Ocean Decade.
Photos: Tourism Fiji & Lomani Island Resort.

August 5, 2024
Sea Turtle Nesting Paradise

By Katy Fatiaki, Director – Vatuvara Foundation

Many of the islands we have explored in Fiji’s northern Lau remain much as they were during
the days of early discovery – untouched and unparalleled in beauty.

Four out of seven of the world’s marine turtle species have been documented in Fiji waters,
the critically endangered hawksbill turtles and endangered green turtles are the most
prevalent to nest and forage in the country.

Green sea turtle found in northern Lau. ©ZoomFiji

From October to April, sea turtles make their way back to beaches on these remote islands where they were born to lay their eggs. Sea turtles typically lay multiple clutches each season containing an average of 120 eggs, depending on the species. Hatchlings will emerge from their nests after an incubation period of six to eight weeks; then head to the ocean. On average only one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings make it to adulthood.

Vatuvara Foundation team conducting surveys. ©ZoomFiji

Our survey boat glides over the clear lagoonal waters, on board our trained Vatuvara
Foundation turtle team on their way to conduct nesting beach patrols along the coral sand
beaches. Since 2022, the Vatuvara Foundation funded by Irish Aid, in partnership with the
Yacata Island community, along with Ika Bula Consultants and Amanzi-wai, has been
actively carrying out sea turtle population assessments in northern Lau. Determining the
presence of sea turtle nests and collecting population data can improve an understanding
of population size and conservation measures for management in Fiji.

The first assessments of northern Lau sites have confirmed nesting grounds for both green
and hawksbill turtles. The high number of nests recorded during the two consecutive
seasons, shows how important these nesting grounds are for Fiji’s sea turtle population. If
continued to be monitored and protected, it will contribute towards population recovery of
both species.

Hawksbill hatchlings found during the first nesting season.
©Vatuvara Foundation

The Vatuvara Foundation was founded in 2017 as a local charitable trust in northern Lau, our
conservation efforts include scientific research, education, awareness, community
capacity building, marine monitoring, vulnerable species protection, restoration
programmes, sustainable tourism activities, building climate resiliency and natural disaster
management. Working in partnership with Vatuvara Private Islands , an exclusive resort
located on Kaibu Island in northern Lau, demonstrates a sustainable model for how
conservation and tourism can unite to support research, environment and community.

Pristine waters of northern Lau. ©ZoomFiji

We identified these Lauan beaches as major nesting sites years ago, and we continue to
prioritise their monitoring for habitat protection. Nesting beach surveys are the most widely
implemented monitoring tool to assess and monitor the status of sea turtle populations. Our
local survey team monitor nesting beaches day and night during the season to identify
tracks, mark nests, encounter hatchlings and nesting females, and examine nests.

Know Your Sea Turtles (Vonu)

The Vatuvara Foundation team has created an informative ‘Know Your Sea Turtles’ poster that highlights the species of Fiji, its life cycle, current regulations, threats to the species and solutions. Available in English and the iTaukei language, the poster provides sea turtle conservation awareness and is available for distribution to communities, schools, and youth groups.

Vatuvara Foundation

www.vatuvara.org

August 3, 2024