FIJI’S first bamboo park has officially opened in Namosi, offering guided forest trails and community-run ecotourism experiences that have already drawn positive feedback from overseas visitors.
The Dakuinaroba Bamboo Park, located in Navunibau Village and managed by the Mataqali Namara Trust, was developed with support from the Ministry of Forestry and is being run entirely by the landowning unit.
Vice chairman of the trust, Paulo Rauto, said the project aimed to preserve natural resources while creating sustainable income opportunities for families in the highlands.
“Our ancestors depended mainly on subsistence farming such as yaqona and dalo,” Mr Rauto said.
“This project allows us to protect our forest and at the same time uplift the economic standard of our families.”
The park features guided nature trails, picnic areas, a swimming pool, and a lookout hike, with plans for ziplining, abseiling and rock climbing.
Mr Rauto said the idea began as a small picnic area concept developed by university students and village elders before being formalised through partnerships with Indigenous Took Airlines and the First Nations Fiji Foundation.
A deed of trust was later established, followed by the development of strategic and business plans with assistance from Maximize Consultancy, funded by the Tourism Trade Fiji Board.
Construction and development were fully funded by the Ministry of Forestry, with the park identified as part of Fiji’s broader conservation and sustainable development efforts.
Twenty local tour guides have been trained by the Ministry of Forestry and certified in basic first aid to lead visitors through areas showcasing traditional trees, medicinal plants, and food crops.
Among the first visitors were German tourists Emily Weiss and Leonie Wittenstein, who described the experience as challenging but rewarding.
“The trail was adventurous and slippery because of the rain, but the view was really beautiful,” Ms Wittenstein said.
“It’s very nice because it gives employment to the people and it’s sustainable. You can enjoy the forest and still protect the fauna and flora.”
The park’s trails are named after ancestors of the mataqali reflecting the community’s responsibility to manage and protect the land for future generations.
