Fiji Travel, Driving on Viti Levu
A Guide to Road and Traffic Conditions on Fiji’s Largest Island
Viti Levu is a circular shaped island of 10,400 sq km (4,015 sq m) with a rugged mountainous interior and a narrow coastal plain. The interior is sparsely inhabited and the vast majority of the population lives on the coastal plan. The three largest cities are Suva, Fiji’s capital, in the south east, Lautoka on the west coast and Nadi 32 km (20 m) south of Lautoka.
Despite challenging road conditions, visitors will find driving a rewarding way to explore Viti Levu. Having your own vehicle allows you to manage your own itinerary and pace of travel, and to visit places not easily accessible by public transport, such as the Nausori Highlands, Natadola Beach and Northern Viti Levu. Self-drive also provides greater opportunities for interaction with locals.
Major Roads
Viti Levu is circumnavigated by a single, mainly coastal, road. From Suva clockwise to Lautoka this is called the Queen’s Road. From Suva anti-clockwise to Lautoka it is called the King’s Road.
Although the Queen’s/King’s Road is Viti Levu’s major road, it is not by any stretch of the imagination a highway. In most cases it is a single carriageway in each direction, with the very occasional passing lane, and the even more occasional stretch of double carriageway between Suva and Lautoka.
The Queen’s/King’s Road frequently passes directly through the middle of villages where serious speed humps require motorists to drop their speed to as a low as 20 kph. On some stretches cows, goats, horses and poultry wander untethered by the side of, and occasionally, on the road.
Minor Roads
Apart from the Queen’s/King’s Road and outside major towns, few roads are sealed. Many of the main attractions are only accessible by unsealed tracks. There is little evidence of regular grading and many unsealed tracks can be extremely rough going. They often consist of bare rock surfaces, randomly distributed loose rocks and frequent potholes, relieved by the occasional stretch of mud.
Road Conditions
All roads are dotted with potholes, some extremely large. This is equally true of the Queen’s/King’s Road, major roads in large towns and cities, and minor roads. Because of the need to avoid potholes, driving on Viti Levu can be like negotiating a slalom course. If hiring a car, the best choice is a 4 wheel drive.
Speed Limits
The national maximum speed limit is 80 kph, but even where this is available there is little danger of exceeding it, because of the frequency of speed humps and the ubiquitous potholes.
Traffic Conditions
Probably because they are used to negotiating poor road conditions themselves, Fijian drivers are tolerant of other drivers and generally courteous, often pulling over to let you use their side of the road to avoid potholes or puddles.
Traffic is generally light. The only traffic jams you are likely to encounter will be in towns at the end of the school day when narrow streets can become choked with school buses.
Driving at Night
It is best to avoid driving at night. Street lighting is poor and a lack of footpaths means that many roads have a large amount of pedestrian traffic.
Weather Conditions
When the rain arrives in Fiji it comes down quickly and heavily. Visibility can be close to non-existent, so it is advisable to pull over and wait out the rain.
Useful Information about Driving in Fiji
- Cars are driven on the left of the road in Fiji.
- Fiji recognises driving licenses from English speaking countries. Drivers from other countries need an international driving permit.
- Petrol costs about 2 FJD (1.3 USD) a litre, but as distances are not great on Viti Levu fuel consumption is low.
- Hire cars from international and local firms are readily available at reasonable prices from Nadi international airport and in major towns.
Momi, Viti Levu, Fiji
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