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Albert Park
Charles Kingsford Smith was the first aviator to cross the Pacific, flying in his little Fokker trimotor, The Southern Cross, from California to Australia. The longest leg of the flight was the 34-hour trip from Hawaii to Fiji. Suva's Albert Park, with its hill at one end and the Grand Pacific Hotel at the other, was made into a makeshift landing strip for his arrival. Trees were still being cleared after Smith had already left Hawaii.
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Centenary Methodist Church
For a rousing chorus of song on a Sunday morning, head to the Centenary Methodist Church; the pitch is more invigorating than dulcet and it often fills the surrounding streets.
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Colo-i-Suva Forest Park
This lush rainforest park, pronounced tholo-ee-s oo -va, is a 2.5-sq-km oasis teeming with vivid and melodic birdlife and tropical flora. The 6.5km of walking trails navigate clear natural pools and gorgeous vistas, with just a touch of Indiana Jones in the rope swings over water and stone steps across streams. Sitting at an altitude of 120m to 180m, it's a cool and peaceful respite from Suva's urban hubbub.
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Fiji Museum
This excellent museum captivates visitors with a journey into Fiji's archaeological, political, cultural and linguistic evolution. Original examples of musical instruments, cooking apparatus, jewellery - including chiefs' whale tooth necklaces - and a daunting array of Fijian war clubs and cannibal utensils offer a vivid insight into traditional life.
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Holy Trinity Cathedral
Holy Trinity Cathedral, with its unique boat-shaped interior, interesting Fijian tapestries and wood-beamed ceiling is a peaceful retreat. The gigantic tree in front of the church is a showcase of Pacific plants with cacti and ferns making themselves at home in its branches.
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Mariamma Temple
The South Indian fire-walking festival is held here during July or August. Of all Fiji's cultural rituals, the extraordinary art of fire walking is perhaps the most impressive. Watching men display the poise of a lead ballerina while they traverse a pit of blazing embers without combusting is truly baffling. Even more mystifying is the fact that, originally, this ritual was practised in Fiji only on the tiny island of Beqa, and by two neighbouring and disparate cultures - Indigenous Fijian and Hindu - for completely different reasons.
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National Stadium
Fijians are fanatical about their rugby and, even if you aren't that keen on the game, it's worth going to a match. The season lasts from April to September and teams tough it here at the National Stadium. The atmosphere is huge. Ask at the Fiji Visitors Bureau if there will be a match during your stay. You can also catch players training hard at Albert Park during the week.
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Parliament of Fiji
Opened in June 1992, the Parliament Complex must be one of the world's most striking political hubs. Designed in post-1987-atmosphere, the aim of maintaining indigenous-Fijian values is apparent through the open-air corridors, traditional arts and structures and masi cloths throughout. The main building, vale ne bose lawa (parliament house), takes its form from the traditional vale (family house) and has a ceremonial access from Ratu Sukuna Rd.
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Roman Catholic Cathedral
The 1902 Roman Catholic Cathedral, at the corner of Murray and Pratt Sts is built of sandstone imported from Sydney and is one of Suva's most prominent landmarks; unfortunately, it's most often locked.
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Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple
Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple is just east of downtown and coloured bright orange and blue. There is generally a caretaker around to let you in for a look.
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Thurston Gardens
After visiting the museum, ponder on your new found knowledge with a wander through these compact but beautiful gardens ( M032A). The dense conglomeration of native flora and surrounding lawns are less manicured and more scattered haphazardly but heavy landscaping would detract from the tropical element. The colourful vegetation will generate appreciative murmurs from the casual visitor and much of the vegetation is also labelled for the benefit of avid horticulturalists.
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University of the South Pacific
With beautiful lawns and excellent facilities, the USP's Laucala Campus offers some picturesque strolling and fascinating people watching. The campus includes a small botanical garden and the Oceania Centre for Arts & Culture. This is the biggest of USP's campuses, and with more than 11,000 students it attracts attendees and staff from all over the South Pacific as well as the USA, New Zealand and Australia.
Showing 1-12 of 12 results
