Labasa

Labasa sits on the northern side of Vanua Levu in flat cane country, and it is the commercial centre of the island: a sugar mill on the edge of town, cane trains, a large market and a population that is largely Indo-Fijian, descended from the indentured labourers brought to work the plantations. The town has temples and mosques, a busy main street, and very little tourism, which makes it one of the more ordinary and unvarnished places in Fiji.

Background

No town on Vanua Levu is larger than Labasa, in Macuata Province in the island's north-east, which had 28,500 people at the 2010 census. Three rivers meet in the delta where it stands: the Qawa, the Wailevu and the Labasa, after which the town is named. Unlike in the past, the town now depends less on sugar. Its farmers' market sells seasonal produce and seafood, while family shops, supermarkets and restaurants keep the main street busy on foot.

Source: Wikipedia, "Labasa"

The main sights

• The sugar mill - the plant the town runs on, with cane trains serving it.
• The market - a large produce and kava market, busiest on Saturdays.
• The temples - Hindu temples serving the Indo-Fijian community.
• The cane country - flat fields running out from the town in every direction.

When to go

May to October is the drier season. The crushing season from roughly June to November is when the mill and trains are working. Saturday is the big market day.

Practical notes

Labasa is a working town with essentially no tourist infrastructure and few visitors. The heat on the northern plain is heavy. Most travellers pass through on the way somewhere else.

Nearby

Naag Mandir temple is a short drive north, and Savusavu is across the island.

Key facts