Labasa
The largest town in Vanua Levu, a sugar centre with a predominantly Indo-Fijian population and a mill in the middle.
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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.
What you actually see
- 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.
Honest expectations
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.
What to pack for Labasa
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
