Loa: Roads, Ferry Connections and Cultural Stories

Loa can be understood through its road connections, ferry links and cultural stories from the surrounding area. The Hibiscus Highway runs 80 kilometres from Savusavu to Loa Village, where it ends. When looking for hotels in Loa, it is helpful to compare your planned itinerary with these different points of reference: roads, ferries, landscapes and cultural heritage each offer a distinct focus.

Roads and ferry connections around Loa

Unpaved roads branch off from Loa Village to the north and south along the coast. The northern road passes through a dozen fishing villages to Nabuka at the tip of Natewa Bay, opposite Rabi Island. The Buca Bay Road reaches Buca Bay at Loa Village. These roads lead in different directions and to different destinations; check current road conditions before setting out.

Ferry connections are also a distinct point of reference for planning your trip. Buca Bay is the terminus for ferry services between Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Natuvu Landing is two kilometres south of Loa and a departure point for ferries to Taveuni. Check schedules and departure points before travelling to make sure your plans match the relevant services.

A pedestrian crossing with a culvert was inaugurated in Dakuniba after access to the village had been difficult and unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians during heavy rain for years. The crossing improves villagers’ access to health services, shops, public transport and government offices in Tukavesi and Savusavu. This structure therefore focuses on access for the local community.

Cultural stories and historic sites

Near Loa are the Ndakunimba Stones in Dakuniba: 14 large stones with deep petroglyphs dating to 500 BC. According to tradition, they originally formed a single, 15-metre-high, monolithic structure. Their origin and the petroglyphs are explained only through myths.

The Vatu Vola in Dakuniba are ancient rocks bearing mysterious inscriptions. A 2017 account describes a route to historic rocks near Dakuniba through hilly, densely forested terrain. The rocks lie on a wooded slope, and the climb is described as strenuous. Nai kelekele is a rock in a stream at the upper end of the mountain, about a 30-minute walk from the Vatu Vola site.

Several traditions from the surrounding area relate to Dakuwaqa, the fish god. The Buca River, which flows past Buca village, is considered the god’s birthplace and home. Dakuwaqa’s underwater cave in Buca is called Qarani’anaca by local people and is part of the village’s identity and legend. Stones in the river near the neighbouring village of Tukavesi are red and, according to tradition, mark the place where Dakuwaqa was born.

A village meke about Dakuwaqa is also part of these cultural traditions, but it is performed only on special occasions. Buca Bay is named after Buca, one of the villages on the peninsula. Buca is also home to rugby sevens player and two-time Olympian Jerry Tuwai. The stories, place names and cultural traditions complement one another, without amounting to a regular programme of events.

Landscape and local character

From Buca Bay, there are views of Kioa and Rabi Islands. The mountain range overlooking Dakuniba village is known as Rogovoka. These landscape features give the area its own sense of place: the view across the bay and the named mountain range belong to different places in the vicinity of Loa.

Agriculture also shapes the local context. In 2017, 36 members of an association in and around Loa Village used 617 acres of land for farming. Yaqona was the main crop grown by the group; at the time, 400 acres were used to cultivate it. Also in 2017, the association sold its kava drink directly, without intermediaries, at the Labasa market.

For the broader travel overview: Cakaudrove.