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"Locals nicknamed it the "Garden of Fiji". Where is it exactly & how to get to Taveuni Island? Depending on your transportation choices, you will either need a couple of hours or two entire days to reach the promised island. Your international flight is most likely to land in Nadi, which will be the starting point of your adventure. 🛫 By plane: Nadi and Suva are the only two airports connecting Taveuni's small one runway. Make sure to seat on the right side of the plane to have the best views of the island. 🚌 By bus and boat: you will need to catch a public bus running from Nadi's central bus station to Suva seaport. Buses drive fast for a cheap US$10, departing every hour (from 7 am) except between 12 - 2 pm when lunch time hits drivers' stomachs. Once arrived at Suva's seaport, you will need to catch the only ferry to complete your journey; the glorious Lomaiviti Princess. The ferry leaves Suva every Monday and Friday at 6 pm (boarding time at 4 pm) and arrives the following day at 1 pm in Taveuni. What to do in Taveuni Island? The Garden of Fiji is a place for relaxation and outdoor adventures. The island is packed with natural wonders and a couple of small villages with welcoming communities. The biggest town is Somosomo where you will find basics to cook, fix and dress yourself if needed. There is only one bus line going from Lavena to Navakawau twice a day, so make sure you know its timetable or get ready to hitchhike your way... Go Hiking The best hike is also the hardest, climbing to the summit of Mount Uluigalau is one of the most rewarding things you can do on the island. Allow a good 7 h return to complete and plenty of water as you will not find any shops along the way. The hike starts from Wairiki town where you will have to follow the only dirt road going towards the mountain. Starting from sea level, you will be climbing the 1,241 m in tropical conditions so make sure to check the weather ahead as it can get quite rough in no time. The mountain also welcomes Pacific's rarest plant, the Tagimoucia. Mount Uluigalau is the only known place where it grows as temperatures can drop to 10C overnight which is quite unusual in this part of the world. Meet Locals ! Fijians are among the friendliest people you will ever encounter. Naturally chill and positive thinkers, you will find in them joy and a genuine commitment to share their knowledge and resources. Here are a few places you will find them doing their thing: the beach at sunset the church on Sunday mornings the markets Travel in time! Taveuni is one of the three places on Earth you can actually travel in time. The island, along with the Russian Eastern Peninsula and Antarctica is located on the 180th Meridian line (also called antimeridian). The line is the World's International Date Line where West is today and East is yesterday, stand above it and you're "now". Don't get it? We neither at the beginning but to put into context; if you step on West side of the line at lets say 8 am on the 21/02/20, it will be 8 am of the 20/02/20 on the East side of this line. Now Taveuni, like all of Fiji runs on a unique timezone and this is only symbolic but cool enough to get a photo like this one.. 💡 You will find it near the Meridian line location, an old theatre that can easily be added to your "travel in time" journey. Taveuni used to accommodate a cinema (180 Meridian Cinema) back in 1951 projecting 16mm movies for locals. Today, it remains one of the longest standing buildings of its type in the Pacific. You will find it near the Meridian line location so it can easily be added to your "travel in time" journey.