Suva Shore Tours

[Brushtail]

Has anyone been on any shore tours in Suva? What can you recommend?

 

I know this is a broad question, but I have no idea what Suva is like.

 

Thanks heaps :D

[cheznandy]

Jenny,

 

I havent been to Suva for a long time and I assume much has changed. Our last landbased holiday to Fiji was on an island and some time in Nadi.

 

My memories are of a large wharf, a band was playing as we disembarked!!

We had an overnight stay there so I did a day snorkelling tour to an outer island then at night did the firewalking tour/show, which I think was at the now Warwick Resort on the Coral Coast.

 

Suva has a very large Indian population, you are usually hassled when getting off the ship!! I have been doing a bit of reading and research as we stop there in June, I believe it is still a good Duty free port and has a few markets. There is a good walking tour in the Lonely Planet Guide which Geri and I will probably do, taking in the markets, museums, parks etc.

 

I think most of the tours are 1 -2 hours drive away, ie to get to the Coral Coast etc. I got this website from the Pacific Islands board www.victory.com.fj it was recommended for private tours.

 

If you find out any more info, let us know! Perhaps Lorraine may be able to help if she has been there recently and Jenny (Aussiegal).

 

Chez

xx

[Skyrules]

Do the full day one that gets you completely out of Suva. I wish we'd done this instead of the one we did, I wasn't really impressed with Suva at all. There are some nice markets close to the ship, but you have to brave the pushy souvenier sellers and the drug dealers to get to them.

 

 

My memories are of a large wharf, a band was playing as we disembarked!!

 

No bands on the wharf when we arrived, that was in Vila.

 

My parents did the Pacific Harbour Cultural Extravaganza (the fire walking) tour and they enjoyed themselves.

[Anissa72]

I would recommend the full day out of Suva as Suva is very dirty and not much to do. You will be bothered by the indian people but compared to when I went to Suva (plane trip) many years ago they are no longer allowed to haggle like they used to. We took the trip by bus to a little long boat out to an island (will need to find the name) and we it had a school and a church "church of the nallaliili" or something like that and it was so beautiful. We went into the church and the school kids sang for us and we went into their school and they danced and got us all up to dance and we had some morning tea. Just loved it so much! Had a ball and our 3 kids were a hit with the kids especially the 2 blonde girls (daughters)boys had them up dancing and all you could hear was "ohhh" lol....it was a memorable day thats for sure. It took all day and worth every penny. I will find the name and be right back..If they still have it on their shore lists.

 

ok, It was called the Rewa Delta tour and visit to the Naililil church SUV-H

We still had time to have a look around in Suva as well. Depends on what you like to do and what you are interested in. Hope this helps

[Charlie Girl]

Hi Anissa Do you remember how much it cost? Thanks Gail

[Lucyloo]

Hi Jenny,

 

We were in Suva last June. We had heard Suva is a dirty place and some people don't feel safe in the main town centre. Having never been to Suva before and only being in port for one day, travelling with 10yo daughter and 64yo mother - trying to find something that suited everyone was difficult.

 

We did the Navua River Cruise & Namuamua Village tour (P & O Tour ID - SUV-D - Cost $145.00 AUD per person) We had a great day, despite it raining for a fair bit. We saw lots of the country side, had an experience (described in P & O brochure as "exhilarating cruise") in a motorized boat, experienced a wonderful welcome, kava ceremony and cultural entertainment in a village out in the country side.

 

Such beautiful people. We got to purchase some beautiful locally produced art works carvings etc - at very reasonable prices (compared to what we heard about in the markets).

 

I guess the choice is personal and for us depended on the other ports we were visiting (we didn't want to do the same thing in every port ie snorkelling, visit local market etc), so we tried to balance shore tours out.:cool: Hope that make sense to you.

 

Throughly enjoyed this tour and highly recommend it.

 

Cheers Donna:)

[Kazza1]

We got to purchase some beautiful locally produced art works carvings etc - at very reasonable prices (compared to what we heard about in the markets).

Cheers Donna:)

 

Donna

Can I ask what sort of wood carvings you purchased in Suva and did you have any trouble with customs?

 

Thank you

Karen

[ChrisBNE]

We did the full day tour called "The Jewel of Fiji", 1 hour or so by Bus, then 45 min River Canoe u pthe river (fantastic) then head to the waterfall (you have to go all the way up the valley, its worth it!) then onto the village for the kava ceremony, it was $185.00pp and was brilliant.

 

Thoroughly recommend it. Their website is here http://www.discoverfijitours.com/jewel_fiji.html

[cheznandy]

We did the full day tour called "The Jewel of Fiji", 1 hour or so by Bus, then 45 min River Canoe u pthe river (fantastic) then head to the waterfall (you have to go all the way up the valley, its worth it!) then onto the village for the kava ceremony, it was $185.00pp and was brilliant.

 

Thoroughly recommend it. Their website is here http://www.discoverfijitours.com/jewel_fiji.html

 

Thanks Chris! Will check it out, Havent seen you on for a while, hope all is ok,

 

Chez

xx

[ChrisBNE]

Hi there,

 

been very busy, just moved to a new agency in the city, specialising in cruises, which is alot of fun!

 

thanks for the hello!

[cheznandy]

Hi there,

 

been very busy, just moved to a new agency in the city, specialising in cruises, which is alot of fun!

 

thanks for the hello!

 

Lucky you! now that would be my dream job:p

 

Chez

xx

[Brushtail]

Thanks heaps everyone. You have helped enormously. I get the impression that it is a good idea to get out of Suva on the nearest bus. :eek:

Is 8 hours too long for a shore tour? It seems daunting.

 

We are considering the 4 hour Rewa Delta Tour recommended by Anissa and the Navua River Cruise by LucyLoo.

 

We have done the Ekasup tour in Vila and you can have too much of a cultural thing......:o

 

There doesn't seem to be much else on offer.

 

Thanks again. :)

[Lucyloo]

Hi Karen

 

I purchased a wooden kava bowl, a beautiful turtle that the back lifts off and a couple of other bowls. All are carved out of a dark coloured wood.

 

My Mum got some shell type jewellery, a couple of small turtles, cannibal sticks, and some woven bags.

 

We were told by someone (can't remember who) not to buy anything made from light coloured wood. Apparently, the light coloured wood is softer than the dark and is therefore more attractive to wood borers. Not sure if this is true - but it is what we were told.

 

Some of Mum's things were carved from light wood.

 

We have a good look at the pieces we want to buy to make sure there are no borer holes or any insects (dead or alive) crawling on or in them before we make our purchases and ALWAYS declare to customs.

 

I even purchased a woven wall hanging in Nuku'Alofa and we had no trouble with Customs at all.

 

Cheers Donna

[Kazza1]

Hi Karen

 

I purchased a wooden kava bowl, a beautiful turtle that the back lifts off and a couple of other bowls. All are carved out of a dark coloured wood.

 

My Mum got some shell type jewellery, a couple of small turtles, cannibal sticks, and some woven bags.

 

We were told by someone (can't remember who) not to buy anything made from light coloured wood. Apparently, the light coloured wood is softer than the dark and is therefore more attractive to wood borers. Not sure if this is true - but it is what we were told.

 

Some of Mum's things were carved from light wood.

 

We have a good look at the pieces we want to buy to make sure there are no borer holes or any insects (dead or alive) crawling on or in them before we make our purchases and ALWAYS declare to customs.

 

I even purchased a woven wall hanging in Nuku'Alofa and we had no trouble with Customs at all.

 

Cheers Donna

 

Thanks Donna

Im always interested to see what carved timber and woven purchases make it through customs.

If you are going to post your cruise photos - I would love to see what the woven wall hanging looks like.:D Please :D

 

Karen