What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Savusavu, Fiji.
Photo: HeikoBrown / Pixabay
Savusavu is a small coastal town in Fiji, home to about 5000 people. The town itself is compact. You can see the hot springs, the Copra Shed Marina and the municipal market in a few hours. Most visitors come for what lies around it: rainforest at Waisali, Vuadomo Waterfall, and snorkelling or diving at Lesiaceva Point and Namena Marine Reserve. The best months to go are May, June, July and August.
The town sights take only a few hours. The main reasons to come are day trips. Namena Marine Reserve and Natewa Bay each take a full day. Waisali, Vuadomo Waterfall and Lesiaceva Point each take half a day. Plan enough days for the trips you want.
Savusavu town
Geothermal springs bubble up right in town, and locals have long used the hot pools to cook food. The water is far too hot to bathe in, so treat it as a short stop to look, not a spa. Ask a local to show you the spots, and watch your step.
Savusavu town
A former copra warehouse on the waterfront, now a marina with cafés, small shops and tour desks. Yachts moor in the bay in front. It is the easiest place to book diving, snorkelling or boat trips.
Savusavu town
The town's produce market sells fruit, vegetables, fish and kava from the surrounding villages. Come in the morning for the most choice and activity.
Savusavu Bay
A working black pearl farm in Savusavu Bay that runs boat tours to the oyster lines. You learn how Fiji pearls are grown, and you can snorkel over the farm on some tours.
Savusavu–Labasa road
A protected area of native rainforest in the hills north of town, with a walking trail down to a waterfall. It is good for birdwatching and a break from the coast. The track can be muddy and slippery after rain, so wear proper shoes.
Vuadomo village, east of Savusavu
A waterfall with a swimming pool, reached by a short walk through Vuadomo village land. You pay a small fee to the village and should dress modestly when walking through.
Offshore, reached by boat from Savusavu
A protected reef area known for hard and soft corals, reef fish and larger marine life. Dive operators in Savusavu run trips there. Crossings can be rough in poor weather, and trips may be cancelled when the sea is up.
East of Savusavu
A large bay on Vanua Levu where tours go out to look for spinner dolphins. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed. The trip also shows you a quieter, rural side of the island.
West of Savusavu town
The point at the mouth of Savusavu Bay offers snorkelling over nearby reef. Check local advice on currents and entry points before you go in.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Sea temp | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C / 24°C | 27 days (343 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| February | 29°C / 25°C | 26 days (345 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| March | 29°C / 24°C | 27 days (324 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 30°C | 7.0/10 |
| April | 28°C / 24°C | 22 days (193 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: May | 27°C / 24°C | 19 days (142 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 28°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: June | 27°C / 23°C | 16 days (99 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 27°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: July | 26°C / 23°C | 17 days (89 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: August | 26°C / 22°C | 17 days (111 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| September | 27°C / 23°C | 19 days (96 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| October | 27°C / 23°C | 21 days (177 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 26°C | 8.0/10 |
| November | 28°C / 24°C | 23 days (162 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 28°C | 7.0/10 |
| December | 29°C / 24°C | 26 days (322 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 29°C | 7.0/10 |
Hot and very wet: highs of 29°C, rain on about 27 days and 343 mm in total. Still rated good (7), but expect daily showers.
The wettest month, with 345 mm of rain over about 26 days and highs of 29°C. The sea is 30°C. Rated good (7) if you accept rain.
Still very wet: rain on about 27 days, 324 mm in total, highs of 28.9°C. Rated good (7), but plan for frequent downpours.
Rain drops to 193 mm over about 22 days, with highs of 28.4°C and a 29°C sea. Rated good (7) as the wet months end.
The best season starts. Highs of 27.3°C, rain on about 19 days but only 142 mm. Scores 8, a best month.
A best month (8). Highs of 26.5°C, about 16 rain days and just 99 mm of rain. The sea is still 27°C.
Rated best (8) and the driest month, with 89 mm of rain over about 17 days. Highs of 26°C, lows of 22.5°C.
The coolest month, with highs of 25.9°C and a 25.9°C sea. About 17 rain days, 111 mm. Still a best month (8).
A best month (8). Highs of 26.6°C, only 96 mm of rain over about 19 days, and 9.8 hours of sun a day.
The last best month (8). Highs of 27.3°C, rain rising to 177 mm over about 21 days. Go before the wet months return.
Rated good (7). Highs of 28.2°C, 162 mm of rain over about 23 days, but the most sun at 10.5 hours a day.
Rain jumps to 322 mm over about 26 days, with highs of 28.7°C. Rated good (7), but it is the start of the wettest period.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Fiji →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for couples, views, longer stays
Homes and guesthouses on the slopes behind the town look out over Savusavu Bay and are quieter than the waterfront. You are still close to the shops and marinas. The roads are steep, though, so walking back up in the heat is hard work, and you may rely on taxis.
Good for snorkellers, divers, beach time
West of town, this coastal road leads to the point at the mouth of the bay, where there is better swimming and snorkelling off the shore. It feels calm and residential, with the reef close by. The drawback is distance: you need a taxi or car to reach town for food and supplies.
Good for honeymooners, privacy, nature lovers
The road east of the airstrip follows a quiet coastline of coconut plantations, small villages and scattered places to stay. It suits people who want seclusion and are happy to stay put. It is far from town shops and restaurants, the road can be rough in places, and public transport is limited.
Raw fish cured in lime or lemon juice, then mixed with coconut cream, chilli, onion and tomato. It is a common starter across Fiji, and fitting for a coastal town like Savusavu.
Meat, fish, taro and cassava wrapped in leaves and slow-cooked in an earth oven. Fijians prepare lovo for weddings, church events and Sunday family meals, and some resorts host one for guests.
Young taro leaves cooked soft in coconut cream, often with onion. It is an everyday side dish in Fijian homes, usually eaten with boiled taro or cassava.
Taro leaves wrapped around coconut cream and onion, sometimes with tinned corned beef, then baked. It is often cooked in the lovo and served at family gatherings.
Curries of chicken, fish, lamb or vegetables, eaten with roti flatbread. Indo-Fijian cooking is part of daily life across Fiji, and small cafés in town often sell cheap curry lunches.
A drink made from the ground root of the kava plant mixed with water. It is shared from a bowl in ceremonies, village visits and informal evening gatherings, and tastes earthy and slightly numbing.
May to August is the best time to visit Savusavu. These months are the driest part of the year. June has 99 mm of rain, July 89 mm and August 111 mm. Daytime highs are a comfortable 25.9–27.3°C. September and October also score well, but rain days start to rise again in October.
January is still a good month, but expect a lot of rain. It averages 343 mm over 27.3 rain days, so showers are almost daily. It is warm, with highs of 29.1°C and a sea temperature of 29.6°C. Sunshine still averages 9.9 hours a day. February is similar, with 345 mm of rain. Choose May to August if you want drier weather.
Yes, August is one of the best months for Savusavu. Rain is low at 111 mm, spread over 16.9 rain days. Highs reach 25.9°C and lows fall to 22.1°C, so it feels less humid than in summer. There are 9.2 hours of sun a day. The sea is at its coolest, at 25.9°C, but it is still fine for swimming.
The wettest months in Savusavu are December to March. December has 322 mm of rain, January 343 mm, February 345 mm and March 324 mm, each with more than 26 rain days. It is also the warmest period, with highs up to 29.2°C. The driest month is July, with 89 mm.
Plan at least 3 days, and more if you want to see everything. The town sights are quick: the hot springs take under 1 hour, the market 1 hour and Copra Shed Marina 1–2 hours. J. Hunter Pearls takes 2–3 hours. Namena Marine Reserve and Natewa Bay each need a full day. Waisali Rainforest Reserve, Vuadomo Waterfall and Lesiaceva Point each need half a day.
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