Discover Matei: Snorkeling and Tours

Matei combines good snorkeling opportunities with trips on the water and excursions in the surrounding area. The options vary in duration, activity, and group size. This makes the destination appealing if you want to plan your trip around more than a single excursion and weigh up different experiences.

Snorkeling and tours from Matei

Taveuni Ocean Sports has a location in Matei with access to good snorkeling opportunities. Makaira Sports Fishing offers snorkeling trips to Rainbow Reef from Matei. Reef Life adds to these options with a snorkeling trip, including equipment, for a minimum of four people, as well as stand-up paddleboard rentals.

Reef Life also offers a choice of two four-hour excursions: a half-day fishing trip for up to four people and a village tour to the island of Kioa. The difference in group size is especially clear for planning: the fishing trip is limited to four people, while the snorkeling trip is offered for a minimum of four people. Check the current availability of the activities and, for Reef Life, the booking conditions in advance.

The Lavena Coastal Walk offers a different focus. The ten-kilometer circular trail starts in Lavena village, which is about an hour’s drive from Matei along a rough, unpaved road. Travel time and road conditions may vary depending on the weather and mode of transport. The trail’s condition and access rules may also change with the weather; check these details before your excursion.

Getting there and finding your way around

Matei Airport can be reached from Nadi on a domestic flight with Fiji Link or Northern Air. The flight takes about one to one and a half hours; airlines and flight schedules can change, so it is worth checking current availability. There are small local shops near the airport for basic supplies. If you need specific items, check availability before your trip.

Lavena also involves about an hour’s drive and a ten-kilometer circular trail. These differences can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay before comparing hotels.

Nature highlights in the Northern Division

The Northern Division offers another perspective on reefs and marine conservation. Established in 1997, Namena Marine Reserve is Fiji’s largest no-take marine protected area. Its reef has exceptionally high biodiversity and is home to more than 1,000 fish species. Visitors who swim or dive in the marine reserve can purchase the voluntary Namena Reserve Dive Tag. As visitor contribution arrangements may change, check them before your trip.

On Taveuni, Waitabu Marine Reserve is a reef dedicated to snorkeling tourism and environmental education. Waitabu Marine Park spans 27 hectares and provides a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. The brightly colored soft corals of Rainbow Reef are found in the Somosomo Strait between Taveuni and Vanua Levu.

Natewa Bay is the largest bay in the South Pacific. Its shallow reefs feature vibrant coral gardens with numerous hard corals, large, colorful sea fans, and thousands of Christmas tree worms. Two large groups of spinner dolphins live in the bay; guided trips on the water may follow them. Encounters depend on conditions and the animals’ behavior, so sightings are not guaranteed.

Forests, plants, and coastal formations are also among the Northern Division’s nature highlights. Waisali Rainforest Reserve is one of the few remaining pristine forests on Vanua Levu. Flora Tropica Gardens is home to 250 palm species from around the world, including some very rare and endangered species. At Vuna Blowholes, seawater shoots high into the air through lava rock during a rising tide; especially powerful displays depend on the tide and surf conditions.

Those interested in chocolate making can also take KokoMana’s 1.5- to 2-hour Tree-to-Bar Tour in the Northern Division. It demonstrates the process from cocoa bean processing through grinding and ends at the factory in the forest with a tasting of the chocolate made there.

Discover more destinations: Qamea, Tavuki, Natuvu, Naqarawalu, Pagai, Fiji, Waiyevo, Vanuavou.

For the broader travel overview: Northern Division.