Joske's Thumb

Joske's Thumb is the eroded core of an old volcano standing above the hills west of Suva, a near-vertical plug visible from much of the city. Reaching the base is a walk through village land and forest; going to the top is a proper scramble on rock and roots and is not something to do alone. Permission from the landowning village is required, and the correct approach is a sevusevu, the presentation of kava to the village elders before setting out.

The landscape

• The plug - a near-vertical volcanic core standing above the surrounding hills.
• The forest approach - a walk up through village land and rainforest.
• The summit view - the Suva peninsula, the coast and the interior ranges.
• The village protocol - the sevusevu that opens the way onto the land.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and the only sensible time; the rock is dangerous when wet. Early starts avoid the afternoon rain. Suva's climate means rain is possible in any month.

Before you go

This is a scramble with real exposure near the top. A guide from the village is not optional, both for the route and for the protocol. The land is owned and permission is required rather than a courtesy.

Nearby

Lami is at the foot, and Suva is a short drive east.

Key facts