Taveuni and the Bouma Falls

Taveuni, known as the Garden Island for its lush, fertile rainforest, is Fiji's third-largest island and one of its most beautiful and unspoilt, a place of dense jungle, rare birds and tropical flowers. Its highlight on land is the Bouma National Heritage Park, where the Tavoro Waterfalls tumble in three tiers through the forest to inviting swimming pools, reached on a scenic walk. Offshore, the Somosomo Strait cradles the Rainbow Reef, celebrated among divers worldwide as one of the finest soft-coral dive sites on earth.

What you actually see

• The Tavoro (Bouma) Falls - the three-tiered waterfalls and pools.
• The Rainbow Reef - the world-class soft-coral diving offshore.
• The rainforest walks - the coastal and jungle trails.
• The Waitavala natural slides - the rock waterslides in the forest.

When to go

May to October, the drier season, for the best walking, waterfalls and diving conditions and the calmest seas; the wetter months bring heavier rain and a cyclone risk. The falls flow year-round but paths can be muddy after rain.

Honest expectations

Taveuni is remote and rustic, reached by a small flight or ferry, with modest accommodation and limited services, so it suits nature lovers and divers rather than those seeking resort polish or nightlife. The famous diving is a highlight but weather-dependent. Its lush rainforest, waterfalls and world-class soft coral, though, reward the effort with a wilder, greener, more authentic Fiji.

Nearby

The neighbouring island of Vanua Levu and its dive resorts are close by.