SIGATOKA SAND DUNES
The 45-minute tour is more than enough time to enjoy this magnificent site. It takes us to a height of 30 m for a lovely view of the coast: big waves, the sound of foam crashing against the sand... Before arriving at the dunes, you'll also pass through the forest.
Sand Dunes National Park stretches along the Coral Coast from the mouth of the Sigatoka River to Naqarai Bay, a distance of around 5 km. The dunes stretch for almost 2.5 km and vary in height from 20 to 60 metres. They are much more than just sand dunes: they cover a large part of Fiji's history. Research carried out since the mid-19th century, and even more recently, has provided important information on the periods of occupation of the Fiji Islands. The first archaeological digs in the late 1980s unearthed pottery dating back over 2,500 years, as well as one of the largest burial sites in the Pacific. Following this discovery, experts hypothesized that the first inhabitants of this region were of Lapita origin, a nomadic people who colonized many Pacific islands over 3,000 years ago. "Lapita" takes its name from an archaeological site in New Caledonia where similar pottery has been discovered. Whatever the case, this research plays an essential role in establishing a chronology of local and regional history.