Colo-i-Suva Forest Park

Colo-I-Suva Forest Park lies just outside Suva, Fiji’s capital and largest city, on the island of Viti Levu. Established in 1952, the park showcases the island’s effort to protect its incredible wild spaces. Though mahogany trees were planted here in the 1940s, the park’s dense vegetation is native and thriving.

Here, visitors will find 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) of hiking trails, a small waterfall, and natural pools for wading and swimming (including the Main Pool and its popular rope swing), as well as picnic tables and designated camping areas . The park also presents a great reason to bust out those binoculars—the birdwatching here is spectacular.

• A small admission fee is charged per person to enter the park.

• Stop at the visitor information center at the Forestry Station to talk to the rangers and plan your visit.

• Restrooms can be found at the Forestry Station, plus the Main Pool and Upper Pools.

• Bring shoes with good tread, as the trails and poolside rocks can get quite slippery.

• To reach the waterfall, you need to go about 100 steps down a rocky, stair-like path.

From Suva, many visitors will get to Colo-I-Suva Forest Park via rental car; depending on your departure point, it can take less than 20 minutes. The park has several parking areas, including at the Upper Pools. If you don’t have your own wheels, you can take a taxi from town, but be sure to negotiate a price beforehand. The Sawani bus from Suva can also take you to and from the park.

Fiji’s wet season is November to March; May to August is the dry season. Most visitors opt for a dry-season visit, though the pools and waterfalls will be running and flowing more fiercely during periods of rainfall. Other than that, there’s no bad time to visit, though do note that certain park facilities keep business hours.

While some areas of Colo-I-Suva Forest Park are updated, others are not. The trails are likely to be unmarked and unmaintained, so if you’re planning on hiking, bring good shoes, pay attention to where you’re going, and don’t be surprised if you wind up doing a bit of bushwhacking. It might not be what you’re used to, but it’ll certainly be an adventure.