Lautoka hotel and condition Kings Road

Hi knowledgeable people,
My husband and I are wiped out from driving around Australia so are headed to Fiji for the first time, booked at Octopus resort for 6 days and Raintree for 3. We plan to catch a bus from Lautoka to Suva and wondered about the possibility of going the unpopular way round, along the Kings Road, or is the road poorly maintained/unpassable or not well serviced. Then we could maybe hire a car and travel the Queens Road back to Nadi for flight home or catch a bus if we still don't want to drive. Only have 12 days in Fiji including flight days so don't want to spend time broken down or all day on a bus.
Chose Lautoka to stay at because that's where Octopus boat docks and bus departs next day, but haven't yet booked a hotel there. Want clean and reasonably quiet and not over FJD$150 so if anyone has recommendations would love to know.
Thanks for any help.

Graymare

We returned from Fiji 2 weeks ago... took both the Queens and Kings roads at different times.... the Kings was interesting, but the Queens was much more comfortable... hope the info helps.... marla

The northern road is not well maintained but a really interesting trip - I don't think you would regret doing it - but it is probably most of a day.If I'm reading the timetable I have right - express bus leaving Lautoka at 8.15am gets to Suva 2.40pm. (Email bus cmpany - info@sunbeamfiji.com) Probably safer in a bus than in a car.
When are you at Octopus? I'll be there from 27 September.

Thanks for the info. Leaving Sydney Sept.7 so will be too early for you. Perhaps after 6 days at Octopus we will not be put off by a long bumpy bus trip. Any need to book bus ahead of time do you think? In either direction?

After 6 days at Octopus you won't want to leave! But will be plenty rested for bus trip. We have booked ahead for local buses before but were told it wasn't really necessary. There are a number of buses per day but not all are express - others stop at every village which could be entertainment in itself. But if you'd like to keep to any particular timeframe I'd book.
You will enjoy Raintree too - although my abiding memory of there is the birds with loud ringing calls (crows?) which woke us every day at 3am to greet the dawn!

I lived in Fiji on and off for about 15 years and was always told to avoid Kings road if possible. I did travel on it a couple off times and it was pretty rough but interesting but the road has been done up in recent years thanks to the Chinese govt.If you are looking at catching a bus don't book from aus as you will pay tourist rates which are much higher than local rates, just go to bus depot and catch one. You will probably pay 20-25 dollars.If you want the name off a taxi driver for a lautoka-suva drive I can give you one and he lives in lautoka, charge $120?. If you are looking at staying in lautoka the lautoka hotel is good and only costs about $75 a night for a unit by the pool,they are the better ones. They also have a restaurant which is very cheap and the food is good otherwise just go into town there are plenty of places to eat.Hope this helps you in some way,enjoy fiji it's a great place to have a holiday.

Ferry for Octopus goes from Denerau . Im guessing that its quicker and more comfy than the Octopus boat.

Ferry is the "Yasawa Flyer".

Thank you everyone for all your help. I would be happy to have the contact details of the taxi driver, rotuma, just in case that becomes an option.
Just wondered:---Has anyone actually taken the octopus boat? The flyer crops up all the time.

Yes, I've been on the Octopus boat. It is quite safe but much smaller, and if the sea conditions are not smooth it can bounce around a lot. I get seasick easily and that is why I prefer the Flyer.

We took the Flyer out to Octopus so we could see the various islands on the way, but we returned on the resort boat to make our flight connection. The Flyer is definitely more a comfortable ride but the Octopus boat is not too bad an option. They took us to their airport in their shuttle - great service!

I'm thinking we will do the same. Thanks again ,everybody, for the information and advice.

Name of taxi driver. Tevita Ciri ph.6668493. Mobile 9910855. Very good driver and car is in good condition and will stop off where-ever you want.

Thanks Rotuma. We might use him on the 15th.

One last thing----Is it cold and windy on the octopus boat? I was taking only a very light fleece. Is it enough?

It will be windy and it can be cold, especially in the evening, but you can sit inside if feeling cold.

13...
It's enclosed for the first 4 rows of seats or so. If it's choppy the front rows are the worst because of the pounding. If you get sick you'll have to sit in the back in the open. I don't think you'll need anything more than a light fleece pullover, but this is coming from an Alaskan.

No, the internal section on the Yasawa flyer has seating of at least 15 rows , (with about 10 abreast) plus snack bar. Maybe =yiou rae thinking of the 1st class area which has only a few rows but was empty (except for the hostess!) both times Ive been on the Flyer

I guess I meant on the Octopus boat----I though the Flyer was enclosed. They said the octopus boat was covered, which is good for sunburn or rain, but is it also enclosed, or somewhat enclosed? Wind can make things very cold, especially if you are already damp from spray, but I don't want to be stuck with a jacket heavier than I need. Still, if it is only for a few hours you can probably put up with being a bit cold.

Pic of the Flyer here -
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ottoandfanny.com/uploads/21026/images/Yasawa_Flyer.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.ottoandfanny.com/30029/html/page.html&h=308&w=567&sz=66&tbnid=Rx1RTf9hHb0J::&tbnh=73&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyasawa%2Bflyer%2Bpicture&usg=__gJ8R7O9yRGVLT9qG3WZnj9Ysh_g=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=1

Nte that the Flyer has top deck (open), mid deck closed front (first class and open back, and liowe deck, basically enclosed seating (15 rows).

Hope that this clears any confusion.

To graymare re: your post 17...

My post 15 is accurate. The Octopus boat is covered with a hardtop cabin for the first 4-5 rows. There are canvas curtains on the sides with windows. They zip the curtains down in choppy or cool weather. You'll be out of the weather if you're in the first 4 rows. the rows hold 4 people ea or six in a pinch. It's around 28-30 ft long with a catamaran hull and will pound if the chop is over 3ft or so.

#18 - that's the "old" Flyer. The one they have used in the past couple of years has 3 levels, so even bigger.

Thanks again H2ooh and all you other helpful people. Leaving cold and rainy Sydney behind tomorrow and headed for sunny FIJI !!!!!!!! Should be BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!

Hi the condition of the Kings Road is worse..I do not think its a good experience for you for the few days..unlike the Queens Highway..where you travel with luxury on coaches or ordinary buses..the road is good..and can give you comfortable travelling experience.

In Lautoka there is also Tanoas Waterfront Hotel apart from Lautoka Hotel..its a choice you can make.At Waterfront the room is $128.00FJD per nite.

Thanks,