Best Way from Savusavu to Taveuni, Fiji?

[ACHiPo]

How reliable is the ferry from Savusavu to Taveuni? Where can I find a schedule? Would we be better flying than taking the ferry?

 

[cetacean]

How reliable is the ferry from Savusavu to Taveuni? Where can I find a schedule? Would we be better flying than taking the ferry?

@ACHiPo

Unfortunately you have to take the ferry if you want to travel directly between these Fijian towns.

There used to be a flight from Savusavu to Taveuni (actually a flight from Nadi to Taveuni that stoppex in Savusavu) but now you have to return back to Suva or Nadi to fly to Taveuni.

For ferry service, you have a choice:
Goundar Shipping goes between Savusavu to Taveui twice a week (takes about 6 hours)
or
Take a bus from Savusavu to Natuvu, catch the smaller ferry that usually goes daily to Taveuni (2 hour bus ride, 90 minute ferry).

If you have the $ and the time, I would travel back to Suva or Nadi, and then fly. The flights to/from Suva are 45 min, and the flights to Nadi are about an hour. Just be aware the flight schedules vary throughout the week, so you need to plan your transfers.

Out of curiosity, where are you planning on diving around Savusavu? Namena is world class (the best diving in Fiji), but most of the resorts only go once or twice a week (the dive resort on Namena still hasn't opened back up after the cyclone several years ago, or that would be where to stay). The other diving around Savusavu is average, but not as good as around Taveuni.

 

[ACHiPo]

@ACHiPo

Unfortunately you have to take the ferry if you want to travel directly between these Fijian towns.

There used to be a flight from Savusavu to Taveuni (actually a flight from Nadi to Taveuni that stoppex in Savusavu) but now you have to return back to Suva or Nadi to fly to Taveuni.

For ferry service, you have a choice:
Goundar Shipping goes between Savusavu to Taveui twice a week (takes about 6 hours)
or
Take a bus from Savusavu to Natuvu, catch the smaller ferry that usually goes daily to Taveuni (2 hour bus ride, 90 minute ferry).

If you have the $ and the time, I would travel back to Suva or Nadi, and then fly. The flights to/from Suva are 45 min, and the flights to Nadi are about an hour. Just be aware the flight schedules vary throughout the week, so you need to plan your transfers.

Out of curiosity, where are you planning on diving around Savusavu? Namena is world class (the best diving in Fiji), but most of the resorts only go once or twice a week (the dive resort on Namena still hasn't opened back up after the cyclone several years ago, or that would be where to stay). The other diving around Savusavu is average, but not as good as around Taveuni.

Thanks! This is just the feedback I was looking for!

We will be in Savusavu for 3 days before boarding a catamaran with friends for a 7 day cruise. Not sure where we will stay in Savusavu—probably Cousteau (no A/C) or Namale (A/C), although we’re open to other options. My wife does not dive and has limited mobility so it’s important that the environs are pleasant and relatively easy to get around. I spoke with Namale and was told they don’t typically go to Namena for diving because it’s too far. (Seems sketchy, but?). Unfortunately diving from the cat requires going through a land dive center, so that doesn’t help. I’ll reach out to Cousteau and see what they say about diving Namena—thru do advertise it on their website.

It might be fun to take a bus or taxi from Savusavu to Natuvu and then the ferry to Taveuni as we won’t have any pressing commitments in Taveuni. I like the idea of flying from Taveuni to Nadi to minimize the risk of missing our flight back to SFO. If we do the I’ll need to change our return and cancel the flight from Savusavu to Nadi.

 

[runsongas]

cousteau will do namena if the weather permits and the guests they have are suitably experienced

another option is to stay at daku who have an arrangement with the cousteau resort to dive with them. not as nice but a lot cheaper.

 

[cetacean]

Thanks! This is just the feedback I was looking for!

We will be in Savusavu for 3 days before boarding a catamaran with friends for a 7 day cruise. Not sure where we will stay in Savusavu—probably Cousteau (no A/C) or Namale (A/C), although we’re open to other options. My wife does not dive and has limited mobility so it’s important that the environs are pleasant and relatively easy to get around. I spoke with Namale and was told they don’t typically go to Namena for diving because it’s too far. (Seems sketchy, but?). Unfortunately diving from the cat requires going through a land dive center, so that doesn’t help. I’ll reach out to Cousteau and see what they say about diving Namena—thru do advertise it on their website.

It might be fun to take a bus or taxi from Savusavu to Natuvu and then the ferry to Taveuni as we won’t have any pressing commitments in Taveuni. I like the idea of flying from Taveuni to Nadi to minimize the risk of missing our flight back to SFO. If we do the I’ll need to change our return and cancel the flight from Savusavu to Nadi.

Having stayed and dived both at Cousteau and Namale, Cousteau is very well run, but that may be just me reflecting on not being a big Tony Robbins fan ( Namale is owned by Tony, and he still uses it occasionally for his events). You may also get a lot of honeymooners at Namale.

Namale (like Cousteau) does dive Namena, and may be more flexible on making sure it works on your schedule. BTW - the AC thing is overblown...it's definitely not needed at Namale (usually has a quite nice sea breeze throughout the resort), and we didn't miss AC at Cousteau.

As for location -pull both up on Google maps. Neither are your ideal south pacific island resorts. Cousteau is located on the inside of Savusavu Bay - it is beachfront, but there's not too much to see inside the bay. Namale is located outside the bay, in a tidal area, so the life just off the beach is only slightly better.

Taveuni is closer to what most people expect when they think South Pacific, however it can get very rainy during the wet season.

One other thought - instead of staying in Savusavu, have you thought about staying a few days on the other side of Taveuni? There are a couple of resorts on the islands just to the east on Taveuni... having stayed at both Matangi Island Resort (multiple times) and Laucala, they are both much prettier, and much closer to "authentic Fiji." The diving on this side is also very (very) good... The benefit you would gain is that they do transfers to Taveuni all the time as that's where they drop off and pick up guests as they fly in from Nadi. This might save you some time.

 

[ACHiPo]

cousteau will do namena if the weather permits and the guests they have are suitably experienced

another option is to stay at daku who have an arrangement with the cousteau resort to dive with them. not as nice but a lot cheaper.

Thanks. Is Cousteau the only dive operator around Savusavu that routinely dives the Namena site?

Edit: never mind--my question is answered above.

 

[ACHiPo]

Having stayed and dived both at Cousteau and Namale, Cousteau is very well run, but that may be just me reflecting on not being a big Tony Robbins fan ( Namale is owned by Tony, and he still uses it occasionally for his events). You may also get a lot of honeymooners at Namale.

Namale (like Cousteau) does dive Namena, and may be more flexible on making sure it works on your schedule. BTW - the AC thing is overblown...it's definitely not needed at Namale (usually has a quite nice sea breeze throughout the resort), and we didn't miss AC at Cousteau.

As for location -pull both up on Google maps. Neither are your ideal south pacific island resorts. Cousteau is located on the inside of Savusavu Bay - it is beachfront, but there's not too much to see inside the bay. Namale is located outside the bay, in a tidal area, so the life just off the beach is only slightly better.

Taveuni is closer to what most people expect when they think South Pacific, however it can get very rainy during the wet season.

One other thought - instead of staying in Savusavu, have you thought about staying a few days on the other side of Taveuni? There are a couple of resorts on the islands just to the east on Taveuni... having stayed at both Matangi Island Resort (multiple times) and Laucala, they are both much prettier, and much closer to "authentic Fiji." The diving on this side is also very (very) good... The benefit you would gain is that they do transfers to Taveuni all the time as that's where they drop off and pick up guests as they fly in from Nadi. This might save you some time.

Thanks. I share your concerns about Namale and good to know that AC is not a big deal in May.

We will be in Taveuni for 5 nights after the cruise, so we're just looking for a decent place to hang and dive in Savusavu before we get on the catamaran. Not sure it makes sense to go up to Taveuni and back given we only have 3 days before we embark?

We also may do a couple dives from the cat, but won't know where or if until we get closer to departure.

We are leaning toward Paradise Taveuni in Taveuni as its house reef snorkling should keep my wife happy while I'm out diving . I will check out Matangi and Laucala.

 

[cetacean]

Thanks. I share your concerns about Namale and good to know that AC is not a big deal in May.

We will be in Taveuni for 5 nights after the cruise, so we're just looking for a decent place to hang and dive in Savusavu before we get on the catamaran. Not sure it makes sense to go up to Taveuni and back given we only have 3 days before we embark?

We also may do a couple dives from the cat, but won't know where or if until we get closer to departure.

We are leaning toward Paradise Taveuni in Taveuni as its house reef snorkling should keep my wife happy while I'm out diving . I will check out Matangi and Laucala.

Paradise Taveuni is good... just be aware there is not a white sand beach at the resort. Snorkeling from the dock is good...