Nausori Highlands, Rural area in Viti Levu, Fiji.
The Nausori Highlands are a highland rural area in the interior of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, made up of steep valleys, forested ridges, and open grassland. The terrain sits at considerable elevation, making the climate noticeably cooler and the landscape quite different from the coastal lowlands nearby.
Fijian communities had settled in this inland region long before European contact in the 19th century, living largely apart from coastal groups. Christian missionaries later reached these remote highland villages and brought significant changes to daily life and local customs.
Navala is one of the few villages in Fiji where traditional bure houses, built from wood and thatch, are still used as everyday homes. Visitors who arrange a village visit are often welcomed with a kava ceremony, which is a customary way of showing respect between host and guest.
Roads through this area are mostly unpaved and can become difficult to manage during rainy periods, so a four-wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended. Guided tours departing from larger towns are a practical option for those who want support when moving through this remote area.
Some parts of the Highlands contain dry mountain rainforest zones where native orchids grow that are rarely found elsewhere on the island. The valleys are also home to wild horses descended from animals brought by earlier settlers, which still roam freely through the area today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
