Colo-i-Suva suggestions

Malcolm and Jill Pease Eltham, New Zealand

As mid-aged visitors from New Zealand, with a strong interest in National Parks, we decided in travelling to Fiji to especially visit Colo-iSuva Forest – so we booked into the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Resort. On the second day we decided to do a walking tour of the Park as advertised, but we were rather disappointed to find it NOT as we, as overseas visitors, had expected.

From the beginning, we would like to make some observations to help your department to make visits to your great park much safer and inviting.

1. The SIGNAGE – in particular the sign at the H.Q. entrance was very dirty, we drove right past and did not know where the office was until we arrived at the main gates and an office attendant came across to redirect us up the very busy road.

2. SIGNING IN – especially as we were older than the average walker, we should have had an ‘Intentions' book to sign – which tracks we planned to walk etc. and most importantly what time we would hope to be back at the office to ‘Sign Out'. If we had an accident, no-one would have known to come and look for us. The office attendant DID NOT inform us that we could have hired a guide.

3. Compared with the map later supplied to us by the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco resort, the green map of the tracks was almost completely unreadable and therefore of little use to us especially as there were very few clearly marked signs of which track to follow, how long it would take and how hard it might be.

4. Sign poles had no sings ‘where are we'? Fortunately for us one local man kindly stopped, pointed out the correct route and even helped us over some rough patches.

5. Very poorly maintained tracks in places. We did not expect perfect footpaths, but many of the steps, side support timbers were slippery, rotten and some had rusted nails which nearly snagged our feet.

While we accept that this is an ‘adventure' type experience, there are various other aspects that need attention. We would urge that your department takes immediate steps, and we would suggest also in consultation with the managers of the Rainforest Eco Resort, to seriously and urgently upgrade this magnificent asset to this area of Fiji – those visitors who use it are the eons who will spread the word world-wide as to just how good (or poor) it is.

Finally, please accept this letter as an observation, not a criticism.