Explore: Levuka
General Info
Located on the eastern coast of the small island of Ovalau, which lies just east of Viti Levu. It was once the capital of Fiji and still retains much old historic building. It is also Fiji’s first World Heritage Site.
Position 17°40’50.99″S, 178°51’21.73″E (entrance to the pass).
http://www.levuka-ovalauisland.com/
Main Street Levuka © Graham Keating
Clearance
Refer to the main Fiji Formalities page for detailed clearance information.
If the authorities do not answer calls on Channel 16, anchor about 100-200m north of the wharf and go ashore. All offices are at the root of the pier. You can tie up a dinghy here but it is not suitable to take a yacht alongside.
Currently, the Health official is likely to spray the boat to prevent any mosquitos with zika virus arriving from Tonga.
Provincial administration building, where you need to get going to arrange for your cruising permit, is about a 5-minute walk past the fish factory. Here they will fax your details to Suva and the permit will be issued within the hour.
The fee here is about F$168 for Quarantine (it depends on the size of the boat).
There is a small port fee of F$5/night, payable on departure.
Formalities here are usually simpler than Suva, so for boats coming from the east, the detour to Levuka is probably justified.
Note: As of June 2012 it is no longer necessary to clear in and out of each Customs region visited, (Suva: Levuka: Savusavu: Lautoka: Lau Group: Rotuma:). Yachts can now clear out of the Port of Entry with a permit to cruise all Fijian coastal waters within the bounds of their cruising permit. There is however a requirement to report your position and current cruising plans once a week. This can easily be done by:
– VHF Ch:16
– Telephone: 324 3782/3747/3315
– Customs Hotline: 324 3666
– E-mail: [email protected]
Last updated: April 2019
Docking
There are good leading marks (reliably lit) for the entrance into the reef to the east of the town, so a night entrance to the anchorage would be possible.
- The anchorage of the town (photo courtesy of Graham Keating)
There is no berthing for yachts here as the wharf is unsuitable due to underwater obstructions. The anchorage is 100m off the Esplanade, in the vicinity of the church. The holding can be uncertain and although the reef provides protection, in strong winds from the eastern sector, it can be rolly.
The blue building in the right of the photo is the town diesel generator (which is very noisy) and the buildings to the left are the tuna cannery which can generate a strong fishy smell at times.
Last updated: April 2019
