Fiji Museum
This modest branch of the Suva-based museum contains old photos of Levuka, which confirm that little of the townscape has changed since it served as Fiji's capital nearly 150 years ago. Also on display are cannibal forks and war clubs.
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The center of island life is Levuka. The attraction here is more in the almost surreal colonial atmosphere than in any one feature. A stately war memorial to locals who died in the world wars, a clock tower, and the 150-year-old Royal Hotel (Fiji's oldest) are among the sights coloring a pleasant waterfront stroll. The Fiji Museum is part of the Levuka Community Centre, which has a library and recreational facilities.
The fish cannery of the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) isn't much to look at with its wharf-side containers and hulking frame, but it's the island's major employer. The town is dead on Sunday until late afternoon, which makes for a unique spectacle in and of itself, and can give visitors the impression of being on an empty movie set.
This modest branch of the Suva-based museum contains old photos of Levuka, which confirm that little of the townscape has changed since it served as Fiji's capital nearly 150 years ago. Also on display are cannibal forks and war clubs.
This peak visible in the hills behind Beach Street bears the scars of cannonballs fired by the HMS Havannah in 1849. The gesture was meant to intimidate King Ratu Cakobau into treating Fiji's resident Europeans more favorably. The rock was again fired upon by a naval captain in 1874 in order to entertain a group of chiefs. You may climb the rock (it offers great harbor views) but you should first ask the Tui Levuka (local chief) or a member of his family for permission as a sign of respect. Inquire in town about the family's whereabouts.