Hiking
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Hiking opportunities abound throughout the islands of Kadavu. The region has very few roads and maybe 25 vehicles in total. The only ways to get around is by boat or on foot. All the local villages are connected by some sort of path, with numerous side trails to leading to gardens, plantations and food-gathering areas.
All Kadavu’s resorts offer their guests guided and un-guided hikes of various lengths and degrees of difficulty. Many of these hikes follow trails to panoramic viewpoints or waterfall pools. Papageno and Matana Beach resorts are close to the forest preserve at Tavuki Bay.
Some key hikes include the Kavala Bay waterfall trail, a 45-minute trek up a moderate hillside to a spectacular high waterfall with a natural swimming pool at its base. All resorts in north-east Kadavu and on Ono island can provide transportation to the trailhead. The best time to access this hike is when the tide is rising. This provides the easiest boat entry through a cut in the mangrove forest to a small settlement from where the trail heads up through the forest.
Naikorokoro Cascades is a spectacular series of waterfalls situated between Papageno and Matana Beach resorts. This trail is accessed through Naikorokoro village. A rigorous 1km hike leads to the first set of falls and pools. From the first pool you traverse a small cliff and rainforest section to reach the second and most spectacular waterfall. Both pools are great places to swim.
Vatalutu Trails is a network of paths around Vatulutu Island, near the north-eastern tip of Kadavu Island. This recently-completed project boasts some of the finest viewpoints in the entire archipelago, unusual rock formations and interesting sub-tropical forests. The closest resorts to Vatulutu Island are Matava and Tiliva. Ono Island’s resorts are not much further away. Choose either a 2-3 hour hike ending on the beach nearest the Great Astrolabe Reef or enjoy a day-long hike that circles the island with a mid-day stop at the beach for a relaxing lunch, swim or snorkel in the pristine blue waters. If you love to hike this is truly a ‘must do’ when visiting Kadavu.
It’s possible to walk from one end of Kadavu to the other along the village-to-village Kadavu Trail. This is a challenging hike of approximately 110 kms/70 miles. Expect rough, muddy, un-signed and unmaintained trails, with no accurate trail map available. Occasionally you’ll be able to overnight in resorts but usually you’ll need to either camp or request village accommodation. You’ll need to make friends with local people along the way, negotiate a fair price for meals, home-stay accommodation and local guides to walk with you. For groups wanting a local fixer to help make these arrangements, contact Kadavu-based sea-kayaking company Tamarillo Active Travel.
For more information on hiking in Kadavu ask your accommodation provider or activity operator.
