Bau Island Fiji
CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR(s)
HIGHLIGHTS - VIP small group

image credit kayla anderson

VOYAGE DAY TOUR
to her CHIEFLY ISLAND of BAU (Mbau)
"is at once
THE ATHENS and ROME OF FIJI."

see - Guest Reviews

tour(s) advance pay
transport pay direct

Estimated times
Bau Island 4 hours
(depart Nadi Intl Airport 8:30am | Return 8pm)

Naililili Cathedral 4 hours
INCLUDES Demonstrations
FOOD Taste & Clay Pots
(made for Rewa's High Chief)

Koro Island Turtle Calling
(from Monday 10am till Wednesday 6am)

Bau, a small island with a big name!
download share our FLYER !

see Guest Reviews

HIGHLIGHTS - VIP small group.

Off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu. Bau rose to prominence in the mid-1800s and became Fiji's dominant power; until its cession to Britain. In Fiji’s Old Days of War, Bau’s great Army her Warriors carry much power! To this day her village still has their own Killing Stone. The other Killing Stone on Bau belongs to Cakobau resides in her church. Bau has maintained its influence in politics and leadership right through to modern Fiji.

Bau a small island 22 acres with a big name!

Tourism, whether on land or from the sea, Fiji law applies to locals and visitors alike. You must have permission from someone who lives on Bau Island or from the Ministry of Fijain Affairs to venture anywhere near Bau! Fiji's political vortex in the 1850s, nexus of power was around Bau and Rewa. Fiji never conquered, ceded to Great Britain on 10th October 1874. Chief of Bau came to be known as the King of Fiji.

NADI GUESTS depart Nadi Intl Airport 8:30am - Return 8pm. Contact Bau Reservations Diana recommends local Fiji Travel Agent's best fare for Domestic Return flight to Nadi | Nadi Driver taxi one-way fare to & from Intl Nadi Airport/Denarau $20 (save $20! Denarau hotels charge $40 one way to deliver you to & from Intl Nadi Airport).

Bau's Driver picks you up 8am from your accommodation and/or pick-up 9am from Domestic Nausori Airport, drives you to nearby Bau Landing where your boat captain takes you on your voyage to Bau Island. All your belongs safe & secure with your personal Driver whose village is under Bau Tikina, choosen by Mata ni Tikina o Bau to be your Driver for the day for his wisdom & knowledge.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jetty of Bau
• Sevusevu. Significant and ancient in Fiji, the “sevusevu” also marks the time and place for visitors to seek acceptance into a Fijian village. Bau's Mata ni Tikina o Bau invites you to tour. There will be a formal greeting sevusevu followed by -- exclusive guided day tour, followed by hearty Lunch. This day tour will take approximately 4 hours (8:30am to 1pm) includes village donation for preserving Bau Island.
• Temple Vatanitawake at Bau is the bure kalou (spirithouse) of the Bauan chiefs, including Ratu Seru Cakobau. A remnant of Pre-Christian community gathering places. A place of much power, religious and secular, and played an important role in the religion and cannibalism in the years before Ratu Cakobau converted to Christianity.
• The Rara. Vatanitawake temple and the Ulu ni Vuaka meeting house, GCC-Great Council of Chiefs Hall, situated around the village green or rara
• Methodist Church on Bau built from the remains of the other 25 Burekalou established in the days before 1870. The stone walls of the church built from historic relics of Fiji’s pre-Christian past. The stone at the altar of her church, the original killing stone (Vatunibokola) now only holding holy water. This is the oldest Methodist Church in the country stands proudly on one end of the Rara and Vatnitawake (traditional meeting house) on the other end of the Rara.
• Vunivalu. Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy. Loosely translated the title means Warlord of Bau, or Root of War. The succession to the title does not follow primogeniture, but the candidate must be a high-ranking member of the Tui Kaba clan. The chiefly title has been vacant since 1989. The last Vunivalu of Bau was Ratu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau. He held the title for 30 years until his passing in 1989.
• Sau Tabu, a mausoleum beside the Vunivalu. The Mausoleum built for the home of Cakobau and his descendant’s children. Laid to rest Ratu Seru Cakobau, Governor General Ratu George Kadavulevu Cakobau, the turaga mai Naisogolaca, Ratu Edward Cakobau, his father Ratu Doviverata, and now Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.
• Roko Tui Bau House home of former vice-president Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (the end of an era). The Roko Tui Bau is technically a subordinate chief, the selection process is completely independent of the Vunivalu and his Tui Kaba clan. On 1st November 2017 the newly installed Roko Tui Bau Ratu Timoci Taniela Tavanavanua  carries out traditional duties, installs the Turaga Na Vunivalu of Bau and chief of the Kubuna Confederacy. Ratu Timoci waits for the Tui Kaba clan to nominate and unanimously agree on the new Vunivalu.
• Delalasakau, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II first Royal Visit in 1953, the opening ceremony of the Fiji Great Council of Chiefs meeting. Facing the sea is the Ulu ni Vuaka, GCC-Great Council of Chiefs Hall, Built in 1982 to accommodate Queen Elizabeth II during her 1982 ROYAL VISIT to Bau Island. Entry into this stunning building is not usually permitted although guests may walk onto its wide flagstone veranda.
• Soso, Natural spring on Bau Island. The main village on the island is Bau. Once integral to the power and economy of the chiefly village, the villages of Lasakau (traditional fishermen) and Soso (traditional carpenters) are also located on the twenty-two acre island which became the centre of traditional power throughout the Fiji Islands in the nineteenth century.
• see GUEST REVIEWS

OPTION. BEFORE Bau's Cultural Heritage Day Tour EXPAND your Day Tour.

• FIJI'S MACE Private viewing. Meet Fiji's Hero saves her Mace
• SUNSET CRUISE with Historian! Understand historical significance of Bau and her waters, nearby Islands & impact on all of Fiji
• enjoy BIRD WATCHING with Fiji expert birder Vilikesa Masibalavu author IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS IN FIJI

AFTER BAU ISLAND Day Tour 10am-2pm-ish enjoy,

• OPTION. Bau's Driver takes you to Nearby Natural Tropical Waterfall Pool COLO-I-SUVA Forest Park -- recently visited by Prince Harry October 2018.
• OPTION. Enjoy nearby Eco Lodge refreshments over looks tropical pool. All your belongings safe & secure with your personal Bau Driver whose village is under Bau Tikina, and choosen by Mata ni Tikina o Bau to be your Driver. OR
• OPTION Bau Driver takes you into Suva arrive 3pm-ish Fiji Museum arrangements in advance for historian/guided tour;
• OPTION. 3:45pm-ish visit nearby historic GPH Grand Pacific Hotel prior to departure 4:30ish (avoid Rush Hour) in time for Return flight to Nadi 7:30pm.

OPTION. Day Tour 10-11am close by historic NAILILILI CATHEDRAL (or EXPAND your Day Tour after BAU ISLAND Day Tour 2pm-ish)

• Built by French missionaries at the turn of the 20th century, an active church in a deteriorating condition your day tour helps Restore! The Catholics decided acceptance in Rewa as a rival religious group gives them a foot hold in the most politically active powerful area of Fiji. NAILILILI CATHEDRAL TOUR GUIDE LEBA has 26 years in the Teaching Field, still an active member of the church today, and in 2009 introduced the Tourism Program. Eight of those years your Tour Guide the President of the Catholic Woman's League at Naililili Church.
• INCLUDES 11:30am-12:30pm (or After Bau Day Tour 4-5pm) Guide Leba and your Bau Driver take you to Guide Leba's residence near Bau Landing for FOOD DEMONSTRATION & TASTE prepared by Nakaile Village women - Rou Rou Moci small prawns together with Taro Leaves (prepared for Rewa High Chief), and
• INCLUDES Kava Taste Ceremony and Fijian Lei Saulusalu
• INCLUDES 1-2:30pm (or after Baul Island Day Tour 5-7:30pm) Guide Leba introduces Naikaile Village members DEMONSTRATE the process of making CLAY POTs -- holds Rewa High Chief's Drinking Water. Clay Pots will also be available for purchase.
• INCLUDES time permitting 3pm-ish Bau's Driver takes you to Nearby Natural Tropical Waterfall Pool COLO-I-SUVA Forest Park -- recently visited by Prince Harry October 2019. OPTION refreshments at nearby Eco Lodge. Bau Driver returns you to your accommodation and/or Nausori Airport Return Flight to Nadi 7:30pm.
• Nadi 8pm Same Taxi Driver that dropped you in the morning at Nadi International Airport picks you up & returns you to your Nadi accommodation: one-way fare to & from Intl Nadi Airport/Denarau $20. Saves you $20! For example, Denarau hotels charge $40 one way to deliver you to & from Intl Nadi Airport. Our Private Driver fare $20 one way from Denarau to Intl Airport! $20 to return you to your Denarau accommodation!

EXPAND YOUR TOUR AGAIN KORO ISLAND TURTLE CALLING

• Legendary TURTLE CALLING on Koro Island! Fiji's domestic airport is near Bau. A 10am flight leaving on Mondays arrives Koro 11am. Your Koro guide Tevita born on Koro Island picks you up at the airport and transports you to his village for sevusevu & hearty lunch, OR transports you to your choice of Koro Island resorts when your plane lands. Whether you stay in the Guide's Village Nabuna or a Koro Island Resort on Monday, you may also enjoy your choice of ..
• MONDAY HIGHLIGHTS - activities. Teretereolo Waterfalls with natural tropical pool; horseback on Nukubalavu beach; snorkel or fishing, transport by Tevita's fiberglass boat 8-horse-power engine maximum 8 guests; OR relax by the river pool beside your Guide's village; OR relax at a Koro Island resort on Monday night; OR be the guest of your guide overnighting in Nabuna Village vacant home has nearby river pool. Guests of Nabuna enjoy hearty dinner and meke before retiring for the evening.
• WAKE UP TUESDAY to enjoy TURTLE CALLING in the morning. Nabuna village serves a hearty breakfast 8am till 9:30am; OR hearty breakfast at your choice of two Koro Island Resorts. Your Guide & Driver at 10:30am transport you to Nacamaki Village where sevusevu first followed by TURTLE CALLING altogether about an hour
• Guests still have time 11:30am after TURTLE CALLING to enjoy more HIGHLIGHTS activities -- refreshments at Teretereolo Waterfalls natural tropical pool, OR snorkeling, OR fishing, OR horseback riding on Nakubalavu Beach. Your Guide transports you back to Nabuna Village OR your resort to pack your bags & enjoy hearty lunch before your guide transports you latest 5pm to Koro Island's Jetty to catch your 6pm voyage by Gounder Shipping Company boat back to Suva downtown Walu Bay on Tuesdays arriving Suva 6am Wednesday morning.
• INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KORO ISLAND. In 1942, USA Navy trained on Koro Island before being transported to fight wwii in the Solomon Islands. Your Guide Tevita also tells me that famous Singer-Actor Jim Nabors visited Tevita's home inside Nabuna village enjoying a cup of Lemon-leaf tea & scones with Tevita. You can talk to your Guide Tevita more about this story and others!
• see GUEST REVIEWS
  
  Estimated times Bau Island 4 hours
  (depart Nadi Intl Airport 8:30am | Return 8pm)
  
  Naililili Cathedral 4 hours
  INCLUDES Food Demonstration & Taste
  (made for Rewa's High Chief)
  INCLUDES Clay Pots Demonstration
  (holds drinking water for Rewa's High Chief)
  Clay Pots available for purchase
  
  Koro Island Turtle Calling
  from Monday 10am till Wednesday 6am
  
  CONTACT:

EMAIL RESERVATIONS DIANA
Bau Island Fiji Cultural Heritage Day Tour(s) Reservations Diana
mobile, Viber, WhatsApp: 679 830 8446



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