Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu1/10This is out over the Western edge of Viti Levu, taken on a cloudy day from a wind-rocked Cessna. In the mist is Cloudbreak, a famous, highly advanced surf spot known round the world. It is famous for having one of the best left-hand barrels on the planet, breaking at heights of up to 20 feet. If you stay over here, check out Namotu Island Resort.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu2/10This private island belongs to the Nanuku Auberge Resort, and is just 20 minutes away by boat from Viti Levu. The drone shot gives you an idea of the life surrounding the islet; it’s teeming with starfish, Moorish Idols, and, even, baby black-tipped reef sharks. Across a deep channel you will find Beqa Island (pronounced “Benga,”) which has one of those aforementioned lagoons. Someone on the boat even said: “It’s like Jurassic Park.” You don’t see anything man-made or industrial; it’s pure, wild nature.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu3/10This is a sea snake named Bui that lives on Nanuku’s island. Sea snakes are common in Fiji, and, while highly poisonous, are docile. To get bitten, your hand would need to be in the back of the snake’s throat, which is unlikely, as they are terribly nearsighted. In the distance is Beqa Island.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu4/10It was the last day of school vacation for these youngsters; they’d found a tide pool in the coral to spend the afternoon. Much of the Coral Coast is just that—coral. It’s not common to find sandy strips in this area (be forewarned—I did speak to a woman who was disappointed by this). There are beaches on Viti Levu, they just aren’t usually the white-sand, clear-water types. These are found on other islands.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu5/10A young woman stopped by the shore on her way home from church. Flowers—whether real or faux or as patterns or motifs—comprise a significant portion of Fijian dress.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu6/10A detail shot of the fantastic Grand Pacific Hotel, located in Suva. It is over 100 years old, but it only recently reopened after the property fell into disrepair in recent decades (at one point, it was used as a military barracks). Queen Elizabeth has visited the property twice (and there is much fanfare to prove it, with a whole cabinet full of memorabilia). In fact, the throughway around the Southern edge of Viti Levu is called the “Queen’s Road.” On the Northern edge, it’s called the “King’s Road.” This is because when Elizabeth and her husband Philip first came to Fiji, they said, “See you on the other side!” One went north and the other went south. Or so urban-island legend has it.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu7/10Colorful, unmistakable “bula” shirts as seen on Suva’s busy streets. To note: Suva is the largest city of the South Pacific’s islands, clocking in with around 75,000 residents.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu8/10Suva, despite the cruise ships that bring tourists for the day, is a predominantly local city. Here, a young man listens to music on an open-air bus, frequently spotted throughout Viti Levu.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu9/10A young girl waves “bula!” in the rural seaside village of Wainiyabia.
Photo: Courtesy of Marco Bochicchio of Viti Levu10/10Lush and rugged, Viti Levu’s mountains slide into the Coral Coast’s sea.
