Fiji -- Nadi to Navala Day Trip By Car

mgtraveler01:52 UTC02 Sep 2009

I will be arriving in Fiji next Monday (Sept 7) and I am renting a car for the day before heading out to the Yasawas the next morning. My question is this: is it practical to drive a regular car (not 4WD) from Nadi to Navala? I'm thinking that going via Lautoka and Ba and then turning off at Ba to go to Navala, and returning the same way, might provide the best road. Is this doable or am I crazy to attempt it in a non-4WD (or is my rental car company likely to prohibit it)? Is the route from Nadi to Bukuya to Navala practical to do in a non-4WD, so that I could just do a complete "circle route" out of Nadi?

Also, regarding Navala, I understand that it is not really a problem to visit. Just ask to see the headman and pay him an admission fee of F $15 or so (plus observe routine village etiquette), correct?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Taimarilyn09:56 UTC02 Sep 2009

We did it some years back in a 'regular' car - had to get out & push a few times. Lots of deep ruts and if it rains you are really in trouble. I can't imagine that the road has got any better in the intervening years - and I suspect the rental companies have some kind of restriction in lease agreements. We did the complete circle but you could find yourself stranded and missing that boat to the Yasawas.

mgtraveler02:10 UTC26 Sep 2009

I'm back from Fiji and just wanted to report that we did drive from Nadi to Navala in a regular rental car and didn't have problems. Most persons advised us not to, although the locals closer to Navala said you could do it if you had good weather (ie, no rain/muddy roads). We didn't really have a problem, but I can see how it would be very dicey if it had recently rained and wouldn't recommend it at all in that case because you'll probably get stuck. One problem is that the non-4WD vehicles there have some of the least clearance I have EVER seen on a car. Whereas my car back home probably has about 1 foot of clearance, our rental car probably had no more than 6 inches. Almost looked like a "lowrider"! If you attempt it, definitely do the shorter route (on bad road) from Ba to Navala. "Only" about 12 miles of bad road.

Naval was great though, and one of the highlights of our trip.

Fiji -- Nadi to Navala Day Trip By Car Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
mgtraveler01:52 UTC02 Sep 2009	I will be arriving in Fiji next Monday (Sept 7) and I am renting a car for the day before heading out to the Yasawas the next morning. My question is this: is it practical to drive a regular car (not 4WD) from Nadi to Navala? I'm thinking that going via Lautoka and Ba and then turning off at Ba to go to Navala, and returning the same way, might provide the best road. Is this doable or am I crazy to attempt it in a non-4WD (or is my rental car company likely to prohibit it)? Is the route from Nadi to Bukuya to Navala practical to do in a non-4WD, so that I could just do a complete "circle route" out of Nadi? Also, regarding Navala, I understand that it is not really a problem to visit. Just ask to see the headman and pay him an admission fee of F $15 or so (plus observe routine village etiquette), correct? Thanks in advance for your help!
Taimarilyn09:56 UTC02 Sep 2009	We did it some years back in a 'regular' car - had to get out & push a few times. Lots of deep ruts and if it rains you are really in trouble. I can't imagine that the road has got any better in the intervening years - and I suspect the rental companies have some kind of restriction in lease agreements. We did the complete circle but you could find yourself stranded and missing that boat to the Yasawas.	1
mgtraveler02:10 UTC26 Sep 2009	I'm back from Fiji and just wanted to report that we did drive from Nadi to Navala in a regular rental car and didn't have problems. Most persons advised us not to, although the locals closer to Navala said you could do it if you had good weather (ie, no rain/muddy roads). We didn't really have a problem, but I can see how it would be very dicey if it had recently rained and wouldn't recommend it at all in that case because you'll probably get stuck. One problem is that the non-4WD vehicles there have some of the least clearance I have EVER seen on a car. Whereas my car back home probably has about 1 foot of clearance, our rental car probably had no more than 6 inches. Almost looked like a "lowrider"! If you attempt it, definitely do the shorter route (on bad road) from Ba to Navala. "Only" about 12 miles of bad road. Naval was great though, and one of the highlights of our trip.	2