Yasawa Islands versus Savusavu and Taveuni

Hello,
Can you help us with a comparison of Yasawa Islands verus Savusavu or Taveuni? We are in our late thirties and new to Fiji but have travelled extensively in SE Asia. Want to stay on the coast, snorkel etc but also sample Fiji life and scenery.
Cheers,
Jude

Taveuni is one large island; the Yasawas are a chain of quite small islands; Savusavu is a town. Not easy to compare the three, and I'm not sure what the common element is that prompts you to place them all on the same list.

The general consensus is that the diving is better around the Savusavu strait; but quality of snorkelling varies a lot depending on specific shoreline access points. Also, even though you see the questions about the 'best' snorkelling etc., I can be satisfied with a very wide range of possibilities -- and I certainly am not able to discriminate 'best' from, say, 10th or 12th on a hypothetical rank order.

Taveuni is a good destination if you want to combine land-based activity with a shore resort. I personally did not like the isolationist resort ambience up around Matei, but the resorts themselves might be OK. I preferred places such as the Bouma national park, the 'local' west shore towns, and the south tip of Taveuni. This place gets good overall ratings. It's technically on Vanua Levu, and is probably a couple of hours' bus ride from Savusavu, but can more easily be reached from Taveuni.

The Yasawas are very small by comparison. It would be better to pick a resort rather than the island. You have to research the individual islands/resorts and pick the one that best suits what you want. I was satisfied with my choice of Waya island (hilly, some hiking, and a few local settlements -- ie, not just resorts).

Savusavu is a strange place, as it has a large expat yachting community (seasonal). Interesting in its own way, but not a place I'd go to just for Fijian culture. Also, the Indo-Fijian presence is larger there (as compared to Yasawas and Taveuni). There's less beach-resort tourism around there. I didn't go to any of the resorts so can't rate them.

A place not on your list, but worth considering, is the island of Ovalau. Certainly better than Savusavu or most of the Yasawas as a destination for local culture -- no mid- to top-end resorts, though, if that's what you're looking for. Only a couple of small places, such as Leleuvia , and Caqalai.

Be aware that a SE Asia (specifically Thai) sort of scene doesn't exist on Fiji. Different type of visitor for starters. Perhaps the Yasawas come closest to this, but even here most of the activity will be centered on just the one or two resorts that an island might have.

Edited by: oldpro

Ovalau is an excellent suggestion by oldpro. And here is a link, were you can get all info. www.levukafiji.com

Hi
I skipped the yasawas completely and got picked up at Nadi airport, from my flight arrival by Safari Lodge and stayed here for 3 nights - beautifl place, lovely snorkeling, beach etc. Diving was exceptional..Vatu-I-Ra is special! Then i went to caqulai island off ovalua..had a very basic night there...then onto Suva and back to Nadi...A fun one week trip....lovely islands first up, then some fijian culture on the coral coast on the way back to Nadi...
loved it!
Dave

Thanks guys. This is very helpful. Oldpro thanks for the great overview ... and for the Ovalau website bulabear. Ovalau sounds like the place for us and I like Dave's idea of travelling via Safari Lodge. Dave, I would like to get some more info from you about how long ago you went there / transfer costs & times / mode of tranfer (bus, car etc) ... and what you paid on caqulai if possible?