Nadroga-Navosa Province - Land and People

Land and People

Nadroga is famous for its endless sunshine and white sandy beaches. Navosa still remains wild country, with the region being significantly less developed than Nadroga, however, it is also an area of rushing rivers, deep ravines and rugged mountains. The province of Nadroga-Navosa encompasses many contrasting landscapes. From the rugged and mountainous northern edges that creep towards Viti Levu's interior, Sand dunes and fertile floodplains, to rolling hills of its sun touched hinterland, roamed by the province's symbol - the wild horse. Nadroga's coast is world famous for its fine beaches and lagoons. The Mamanuca's, a chain of reef fringed islands of the Western coast off Viti Levu are popular tourist and surfing destinations. Nadroga's coastal belt is an integral part of Fiji's Coral Coast - containing Fiji's leading hotels and resorts such as the Shangri-La Fijian Resort, Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, Warwick Resort, Intercontinental Natadola Bay Resort, and others. Popular areas in Nadroga include Tavarua Island, Natadola Beach, the Coral Coast, Korotogo, Sigatoka, the Sand Dunes and the salad bowl of fiji(valley road).

The people of Nadroga are amongst the friendliest in Fiji, which has contributed to a vibrant and substantial tourism industry within the province. The iTaukei of Nadroga also speak their own language and possess their own material culture. Physically, in most parts, they are larger than the average Fijian. Culture has a strong hold in Nadroga, where the traditional art of pottery making is kept alive, brought by the Lapita, who made their first Fiji settlement in Nadroga. Masi or Tapa making flourishes on Vatulele and in other parts, traditional salt making persists.

Nadroga is also of immense historical and archaeological importance. The Lapita people made their settlements at various locations in the province, the first in the country being at Bourewa, Nadroga. Nadroga was also one of the larger states of Fiji in pre-colonial times. The Sigatoka Sand Dunes, a world heritage site and one of Fiji's principal archeological and historical locations is situated in the province, about half-a-mile from Sigatoka Town. In July 1989, the dunes were designated as Fiji's first National Park under the management of the National Trust of Fiji Islands. This distinct feature covers an area of 650 hectares and offers a rich combination of geomorphological, ecological, cultural and aesthetical attributes. The National Park is of great importance for educational and recreational use and is a milestone in Fiji's drive for environment.The Sigatoka valley is known as the salad bowl of Fiji. conservation. Other sites of great historical value are the 'Tavuni Hillfort' site (an ancient Tongan fortified-settlement in the Sigatoka Valley) and the 'Momi Gunsite' (the site of two long range cannons, and played sentry to Momi Bay during World War II).Furthermore, Kula Eco Park which is a centre for conserving and housing native flora and fauna adds to the steps made by Nadroga and indeed Fiji to safeguard the treasures of the islands.