Levuka – Fiji
PHOTO GALLERY:
Historic Levuka – Fiji’s Original Wild West
Surprisingly, this tiny historic town, located on the minor island of Ovalau, was the original capital city of Fiji when it came under British sovereignty in the late 1800s. Reputedly, in it’s heyday, Levuka packed in no less than 52 hotels along its sole waterfront road. Glancing at the puny town, it’s hard to imagine where they could possibly have all fit.
Levuka also gained a reputation as a rowdy, wild, drunken frontier town, full of whalers, sailors, traders, merchants, hoteliers and barmen. Fiji’s original wild west. Observing Levuka’s collection of original, still-standing old wooden shops lining Beach Street, ‘wild west’ is quite easy to imagine.
Today, however, Levuka is little more than a sleepy outback. Well, perhaps a bit more… the historic town boasts many firsts, oldests and mosts.
For one thing, Levuka is the only preserved colonial town in the Pacific. The town boasts Fiji’s first public school, several Christian churches and a Marist convent. Levuka was also the first place in Fiji to get electricity.
The landmark Royal Hotel is the longest continuously-running hotel in the entire Pacific and the oldest hotel in Fiji. It has been run by the Ashley family for three generations and still going strong, complete with oodles of colonial charm.
In 2013, after 20 years of applications and paper work, Levuka was finally granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status. A title well-deserved.
To my great pleasure, I just spent one week lodging at charming Royal Hotel, wandering Levuka’s peaceful streets, admiring the architecture and exploring Ovalau Island further afield. Thus far, it’s my favorite place in Fiji.
Come take a look… you’ll be charmed!
You might also enjoy:
Photos of Viti Levu Island, Fiji
10 Surprising Facts About Fiji
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
