Discover Fiji by car: 5 top driving routes

With more than 300 islands, Fiji is often thought to be best explored by boat. However, having your own vehicle allows you to uncover breathtaking scenery and a lifestyle around the islands that few experience when traveling solely by sea or air.

During your Fiji road trip, you’ll encounter trails leading to waterfalls, roadside stalls overflowing with tropical fruits and vibrant flower arrangements, villages with stunning gardens, sandy beaches, and snorkeling and diving spots featuring pristine corals. Unlike organized tours or bus trips with strict timetables, you can take your time at any favorite discovery along the way.

To rent a car, ensure you have a valid driver’s license in English or an international driving permit. While driving in Fiji, it's best to travel during daylight hours as roads outside the main towns may not be well-lit. Drive cautiously and be aware of potholes, pedestrians, and animals that may cross your path. Here are some prime driving routes to enhance your Fiji experience.

Travel along Viti Levu's Coral Coast

Ideal road trip for families

Start – Nadi; End – Suva; Distance – 190km (118 miles); allow three days

The Coral Coast road trip links Nadi, where Fiji’s main airport is located, to Suva, the capital city, via Queens Road. Although the drive can be completed in just four hours if you speed through, you could easily spend a week enjoying all the attractions along the way.

Begin your trip in Nadi with a visit to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, a lush park featuring over 30 varieties of orchids, serene lily ponds, and a shaded walking path. For an adrenaline rush, soar above the tropical treetops with Zip Fiji. Alternatively, take in the stunning views of the Mamanuca islands from Momi Battery Historical Park. Spend your evening near Natadola Beach, a stunning crescent of white sand perfect for beginners to surf—kids will love it.

Along the coast, you'll find numerous snorkeling spots where vibrant coral reefs teem with colorful fish, truly showcasing the Coral Coast's name. Explore the soft sand dunes at Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park and enjoy a ride on a former sugar cane railway at Ecotrax Fiji.

Starting from Pacific Harbour, spend a day at the beach or book an adventure with Rivers Fiji to raft through the highlands on the Navua River. Relax in the waterfalls and swimming holes of Colo-I-Suva Forest Park. The road trip culminates in Suva, where you can visit the Fiji Museum, explore Thurston Gardens, check out the largest municipal market in the country, enjoy Albert Park, savor Indian-Fijian cuisine, and catch a rugby match.

Get away from the hustle and bustle with a scenic drive along Viti Levu's Suncoast

The ultimate road trip for breathtaking views

Start – Suva; End – Lautoka; Distance – 265km (164 miles); allow two days

Leave the city behind as you head east from Suva along Kings Road, sticking to the coastal paths that lead to Viti Levu’s untamed Suncoast. Enjoy sweeping views of grasslands, rugged hills, towering banyan trees, palm groves, and the mesmerizing sea in shades from turquoise to deep blue. Take your time passing through villages, stopping at stalls offering freshly picked fruits or beautifully cultivated plants.

The Vatu-I-Ra Passage, also known as Bligh Water, is a protected marine area accessible from Volivoli with Ra Divers. With over 50 dive sites, it's one of the top spots for observing marine life including soft and hard corals, clownfish, sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks.

To the west of Rakiraki, from Tavua to Lautoka, you’ll find the center of Fiji’s sugarcane industry, with a few factories along your route. Venture into the wild at Koroyanitu National Heritage Park, where trails lead to some of the nation’s highest peaks. To complete a loop around Viti Levu, connect this journey with the Coral Coast road trip, extending your travels from Lautoka to Nadi.

Experience the freedom of exploring Taveuni by road

Ideal road trip for waterfall lovers

Start – Kanacea; End – Bouma; Distance – 75km (46 miles); allow three days

While many visitors choose to explore Taveuni through organized day trips, nothing compares to the liberating experience of discovering its sights and trails without a set return schedule. The island’s breathtaking scenery is nurtured by frequent rainfall, so allow for extra time to navigate around rain showers. It’s advisable to spend your nights on both the eastern and western sides of Taveuni.

At the southern tip of Taveuni, watch as saltwater sprays up from volcanic rocks at the blowhole. As you head east, travel along the rugged northern coast where dive resorts like Paradise Dive Resort and Taveuni Dive Resort offer snorkeling and scuba diving adventures around the vibrant Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait, a paradise for colorful soft and hard corals, as well as pelagic species like manta rays, sharks, and barracudas.

On land, take a moment to appreciate the stained-glass windows of Wairiki Catholic Mission Church, which welcomes visitors to its Sunday services. Although the International Date Line technically doesn’t pass through Taveuni, there’s a fun sign in town where you can stand over the 180th meridian. To cool off, slide from rock pool to rock pool down the natural rockslide of Waitavala.

Traveling past the quiet town of Matei and Taveuni’s airport, head south to enter Bouma National Heritage Park, where trails lead to some of Fiji’s finest waterfalls. The Tavoro Waterfall trail features three major cascades, with the most impressive being just a 10-minute walk along a flat path. Also, don't miss the Lavena Coastal Walk, which concludes at a swimming hole enhanced by a waterfall.

Travel along the Hibiscus Highway on Vanua Levu

Ideal road trip for unique experiences

Start – Labasa; End – Savusavu area; Distance – 155km (96 miles); allocate three days

Begin your adventure in Labasa, the most vibrant town on Vanua Levu, shaped by its rich Indo-Fijian culture. Explore the Labasa Market for fresh produce and spices, admire the colorful and intricately embroidered fabrics at local shops, and savor curry rotis prepared with a unique Fijian twist.

Along the Cross Island Road, take a brief detour to Vuadomo Waterfall, where you can explore the village and enjoy a swim beneath the falls after presenting a donation or a gift known as sevusevu.

The Hibiscus Highway leads you to the serene town of Savusavu, where you can watch root crops bubbling in the town's natural hot springs, with steam rising from the peaceful shoreline at low tide like a whimsical cloud machine. As the sun sets, enjoy a drink at Copra Shed Marina, mingling with local residents and visiting sailors. KokoMana Farm offers delightful chocolate tastings and crafting workshops. Dive trips depart from here to the Somosomo Strait, renowned as one of Fiji's premier marine parks, while Liquidstate Freediving provides an opportunity to explore Savusavu Bay's depths using only your breath. The calm waters in this area are perfect for swimming, kayaking, or paddleboarding.

Traffic is scarce on Ovalau, allowing for a relaxed pace.

Perfect road trip for history enthusiasts

Levuka round-trip; Distance – 50km (31 miles); set aside one to two days

Enjoy a leisurely drive around Ovalau, a tranquil island with minimal traffic and a laid-back atmosphere. With your windows down, you'll likely hear children cheerfully shouting “Bula!” and waving as you pass by, making you feel like a novelty outside the main thoroughfare.

Spend a day exploring Levuka, Fiji’s historic former capital and a 19th-century port town that welcomed American, European, and Asian traders to its shores. The architecture reflects the charm of America’s Old West, featuring false fronts and swinging doors nestled among coconut and papaya trees. Visit the Levuka Community Center, which houses a small museum showcasing handicrafts and weapons, and enjoy a meal or drink along Beach Street, the best dining spot in town.

Just north of Levuka, you'll find the shipwreck of Sinu-I-Wasa Tolu emerging from the sea. Stop by Rukuruku Bay for swimming and snorkeling, and discover various trailheads leading into Ovalau’s lush interior—hiring a guide is advisable due to the damage caused by Cyclone Winston in 2016.