Middle Navua River Kayaking

Location Fiji Adventure Level Easier to Moderate Minimum age 8 River Rating Class II From $189
Book Now Call toll-free 1 (800) 346-6277

Inflatable kayak through a lush rainforest and hike to a hidden waterfall on this active 1-day adventure on Viti Levu Island in Fiji.

Venture away from the beach resorts of Viti Levu and experience the real Fiji on this full-day Middle Navua River kayaking adventure in the remote highlands of the island. As if in a time-lost land, homes and farms dot the hillsides and children play along the banks with little distraction from the outside world. The slow, easy current of the Navua here allows for casual paddle strokes amidst a verdant rainforest as our local guides regale you with stories and fascinating information about their people and culture. Without a doubt, the highlight of the trip comes midday when we take a break from paddling our inflatable kayaks to hike to a hidden waterfall and frolic beneath its waters. The finale to this off-the-beaten-track Fiji adventure is a motorized longboat ride down the final stretch of river teaming with waterfalls and wildlife.

Trip Highlights
  • Enjoy Fiji’s breathtaking scenery en route to the river
  • Inflatable kayak on the Middle Navua River
  • Hike to a waterfall and swim in its pool
  • Motorized longboat ride through a lush, tropical canyon

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What to Expect

Itinerary & Map

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every Middle Navua kayaking trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water, camp locations, and sometimes the weather. The following is a sample of what your trip might be like:

Itinerary at a Glance

  • The day begins early with an adventurous shuttle ride on a 4-wheel drive highland carrier for the scenic drive to the river. The road ascends steeply to a coastal ridge before winding into the rain-forested interior. Mid-way through our approximately 90-minute drive, we’ll stop to stretch our legs and enjoy a snack. When we arrive at the village of Wainadiro, we’ll pack what we need for the day and begin a short descent to the river to board our inflatable kayaks.
  • After a safety talk and paddling practice, we’ll venture downriver. Our liquid pathway takes us past villages and farms—a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the residents of the interior highlands. People may be fishing or working on their boat, or perhaps pushing their bilibili (a traditional bamboo raft) loaded with fresh produce for the market in town.
  • After a few miles of paddling, we’ll park our boats on the shore and leave the river behind for a short hike to a magnificent waterfall. Stand below the towering cascade for a free massage or swim in the fresh, clear pools. You’ll have plenty of time to revel in this tropical paradise. Upon our return to the river, you’ll be met by a delicious picnic lunch prepared by the guides.
  • A short paddle downstream brings us to the village of Namuamua and the confluence of the Navua and ‘Luva Rivers. We’ll roll up the kayaks and board a motorized longboat for the remainder of the journey, winding through another breathtaking canyon with numerous waterfalls, exotic birds, and giant fruit bats. We’ll meet our vehicle near the village of Nakavu and make the 30-minute drive back to Pacific Harbour.

Meeting Time & Place

Location

Rivers Fiji Office in Pacific Harbour

Meeting time

8:30 AM (or earlier for hotel transfers)

Return

Approximately 4 PM to Pacific Harbour

Trip Map

Dates & Prices

Year-round: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays

2023 DeparturesPrice
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays$189*

*Full payment is required at the time of booking

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Additional Costs

• Coral Coast & Suva transfers: $31/person round trip
• Nadi Transfers: $36/person round trip

Ways to Save

To book with one of our special offers, call 1-800-346-6277 or contact us today.

The Need-to-Know Info

Trip Details

Included in Your Trip Cost

  • Skilled, professional guide service provided by our affiliate operator
  • Delicious picnic lunch and snacks
  • High-quality inflatable kayak and related river equipment including paddle, helmet, personal flotation device, splash jacket, and small waterproof dry bag (17” tall x 9” diameter, sealed)
  • Transfer from the meeting place to the river and back

Not Included in Your Trip Cost

  • Roundtrip transportation from your hotel (available at an additional charge)
  • Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan
  • Gratuities

Guests on our Middle Navua kayaking adventure paddle inflatable kayaks, which float low to the water, putting you in touch with the pull of the current and splash of every wave. Using a kayak paddle with a blade on both ends, you’ll be in control of your own boat, choosing your path among the currents and bends of the river.

Lunch is a delicious riverside picnic. Your guides will present an abundant spread of meats, cheeses, veggies, and bread with all the fixings, fresh fruit, cookies, and juice. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs that we’ll need to consider in planning your trip. 

We need to know as soon as possible about any dietary restrictions we must consider in planning your trip. If you have additional food allergies or necessary restrictions, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

The Fijian archipelago has a mild tropical maritime climate and generally stable temperatures all year round. Fiji’s so-called ‘wet season’ is from November to April and is the hotter part of the year, while the ‘dry season’ is from May to October. The reality, however, is that rainfall is fairly consistent each month of the year. Because it is on the windward side of Viti Levu (Fiji’s largest island), Pacific Harbour receives more annual rainfall than resort areas closer to Nadi on the leeward side. In our case, this increased rainfall translates to more water in the Upper Navua River and more fun in the rapids!

The Whitewater is Fresh

The water in the Navua River is gloriously fresh, flowing from highland springs and collected rainwater. You may encounter a few small Class II riffles on this stretch of the Middle Navua, but the current is generally gentle, perfect for a low-stress day of inflatable kayaking and sightseeing.

In 1997, OARS President George Wendt and longtime OARS friends Nate and Kelly Bricker founded Rivers Fiji as the first whitewater rafting company in Fiji. Since then, Rivers Fiji has employed local residents to manage day-to-day rafting & sea kayaking operations and to help guide adventurous travelers from around the globe down the Upper Navua River and the ‘Luva River–two of the most beautiful tropical rivers on the planet.

Historically, Fiji’s tourism development has been focused primarily on the coastal communities, with Fiji’s interior populations receiving little benefit. Rivers Fiji, however, provides economic alternatives to people whose previous development options were limited to logging and resource extraction. Friendly, knowledgeable, and hospitable Fijian guides make the trips here unlike any other experience OARS offers. 

We are proud to operate our Upper Navua River trips in the Upper Navua Conservation Area, and a percentage of your trip cost is paid in use fees to nine land-owning families, two villages, and the Native Land Trust Board. To learn more about this unique partnership, check out our short film, River of Eden.

Before booking your trip with OARS, there are a few important considerations we’d like you to know about.

  • Physical Requirements: Your outdoor adventure will be an active participatory trip. Please inform us of any physical limitations you may have as soon as possible. If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call. Make sure you are exercising frequently in the months leading up to your trip and can meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria.

  • Whitewater Orientation: To increase your safety, we expect everyone to watch our Whitewater Orientation video before joining us.
  • Trip Forms: Each participant will need to complete the required trip forms within two weeks of making a booking. Refer to your confirmation email for the link to the online forms. If you prefer to fill out paper forms, please let us know right away. If you are reserving within 30 days of departure, your forms must be completed immediately to ensure we can properly plan for your trip.

Reservations and Payments

Full payment is required at the time of booking. Payments can be made by check, money order, eCheck, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency. Your payment is fully refundable for 48 hours, less a 3% processing fee, after making a reservation when you reserve a trip 7 days or more prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds

Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below.

We regret we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Date of CancellationCancellation Fee
30 days or more prior$30/person
29 – 7 days before your tripPayment can be transferred to another trip within the same year (or to a credit account for the following year) for a $50/person transfer fee. No refund.
6 days or less before your trip50% of the trip cost can be credited to another trip (within the same year). No refund.
Late arrivals or “no-shows”No refund or credit

Canceled Trips

OARS International and the outfitter Rivers Fiji reserve the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. Do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements unless you have spoken to your Adventure Consultant regarding the status of your trip.

If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a 5% service fee plus any nonrefundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers, however, we can’t guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.

Transfers

If you need to move your reservation to a different trip during the same year, or to a credit account for the following year, there is a $15/person fee up until 30 days prior to departure for a one-time transfer of your payment. If we are 29-7 days prior to your trip departure, there is a $50/person fee to transfer to another trip, within the same year or to a credit account for the following year. Transfer requests made 6 days or less prior to departure, 50% of your trip cost can be credited to another trip within the same year only. Transfer requests made the day of departure will be treated like a cancellation according to the schedule above.

Our Fiji trips are run by Rivers Fiji and arranged through O.A.R.S. International, Inc.

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