A day in SUVA for $200
If you’re lucky enough to be in Suva on a Saturday, Suva Municipal Market is the place to be. Seek out a sticky rice parcel with fatty pork, egg and beans steamed in a banana leaf. Perfect for a quick breakfast or snack while exploring the visual feast of a market. Bring your camera and don’t forget to try the fresh pineapple juice stands. Set aside $10. Bula!
Need a coffee? Bulaccino (with three locations in Fiji) has great coffee and food made possible by their farm in Nadi, the source of their Fiji-made honey and guava jelly. Expect to pay
$10 for a coffee and a freshly baked treat.
Colo-i-Suva (“tholo-ee-soo-va”) is a lush rainforest park teeming with tropical plants and vivid and bird life. The 6.5km of walking trails navigate clear natural pools and gorgeous vistas, great for swimming and hiking. It has a large rope to swing into the deepest pool, if you’re brave! If you come on a good day you will see some of the local acrobats somersaulting into the water from the trees. Sitting at an altitude of 120m to 180m, Colo-i-Suva is a cool and peaceful place to be adventurous — or take it easy.
Roti wrap stalls can be found all around Fiji and are perfect for a cheap bite to eat. Chef Oliver Scarf of Nanuku Auberge Resort, in Fiji’s Pacific Harbour, recommends a stall at the Total Service Station in Lami, on Queens Rd just before you get into Suva. “Double wrapped to stop leakage and nicely seasoned, they have three options: chicken, lamb or vegetarian. Take at least three otherwise you’ll end up coming back for more!” If you get lucky with your timing, they will also have butter chicken pies. Set aside $5. Alternatively, Singh’s Curry House on the corner of Gordon St and Victoria Parade is fantastic. Great for a quick lunch, with mains starting at only around $8. Bhikhabhai in Damodar City Centre makes a nice chai tea that is the perfect addition to their Indian sweets.
Suva is a great place to make your money go further. Get a massage in the afternoon at the highly recommended U-Sabai Thai Traditional Massage and Spa on Denison Rd. $114 for 60 minutes.
Lovo is a traditional Fijian meal cooked in an underground oven, similar to our own hangi. Meats such as chicken and fish are wrapped in banana leaves in the lovo pit with root vegetables layered above. You can try lovo in Denararu at the Sofitel’s Lagoon Restaurant. There’s a wide array of cuisines you’ll have trouble keeping track of, including a huge selection of desserts to choose from. A lovely outlook over the lily pond and well priced at about $50.
TOTAL: $197