THE big waves crash on to the beach at Vatukarasa Village and although stepping into the beautiful blue water would be dangerous, one can also be content just standing on the beach looking at and taking in the beauty of nature. This is the type of surreal sights and sounds along the Coral Coast.
This week, the Coral Coast stretch between Namatakula Village and Sigatoka Town is being put under the spotlight. It is the road most travelled but how often do people take the time to explore that bit?
In fact, the Coral Coast is an 80km stretch of beaches and bays along the Queens Rd between Nadi and Suva. Our focus, however, will be on the portion between Namatakula and Sigatoka.
This place is a well-established tourist destination and offers both the full resort experience and a chance to visit the real Fiji in the many villages along the way. There are many things you will find to do and this includes, golf, beach life, diving, snorkelling or just plain old sightseeing.
And if you are not one for the hotel type stay then there are many villages which operate home stays promising an authentic Fiji experience. This would be great for many of the city slickers out there.
You can catch a fisherman selling his day’s catch on the roadside, tasting the freshly boiled corn to bargaining with a local at the Sigatoka market, true island life is here.
There is scenery all along this place, from the hills to the beach side.
History
This is an interesting bit of information; Korolevu, on the Coral Coast, is the birthplace of Fiji tourism. A brilliant stretch of white beach dotted by copious lush vegetation, popular back-packers, hotels and resorts still line its beautiful shore.
The place that started it all is the Korolevu Beach Hotel. Built in the 1950s by pioneer hotelier Bill Clarke on 76 acres of prime real estate, it was an immediate hit with the colonial expatriates of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Korolevu is believed to be the first place where individual bungalow-style units were later on termed bure.
Accommodation
From five-star to just backpackers or home stay, all are available.
List of hotels along the way:
? The Warwick;
? The Naviti;
? Outrigger on the Lagoon;
? Tabua Sands;
? Hideaway;
? Crow’s Nest;
? Casablanca;
? Serenity Point;
? Berdarra Beach Inn;
? Cocomo Beach; and
? Tubakula Beach Resort.
It is better to check the local listings and do your booking in advance. You can opt for an all-out hotel experience or check into a place where you can cook and enjoy fun time with friends and family.
Things to do
Explore the Sigatoka Valley — you can either take a tour bus or make your own adventure, head inland along the west bank of the Sigatoka River. See Fiji’s Salad Bowl.
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park – this is past Sigatoka but nonetheless is a trip worth taking if your stay on the Coral Coast is longer than a day.
Kula Eco Park – This is definitely a place to go. Located just off the Queen’s Rd opposite the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, Kula Eco Park is Fiji’s only wildlife park.
And if you’re staying in the top notch hotels, then the hotels have their own set of activities which you can indulge in.
Transport
Pacific Transport and Sunbeam Transport buses run continuously along this portion of the Queens Rd along with the many stopping buses, carriers and minibuses. That is if you are looking for transport.
Take your own vehicle but be responsible.
Discover Fiji and try this portion of the Coral Coast. You never know, you might come back there every year.
