Upper Navua Gorge: Fiji Whitewater Rafting

Overview
Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Trip Details
Reviews

Book Now Call toll-free 1 (800) 346-6277

Paddling through the Upper Navua Gorge on Viti Levu island in Fiji is one of the planet’s most incredible one-day rafting experiences.

Imagine this – a miniature Grand Canyon landscape, stacked over eons with black lava rock, then overgrown by luscious cascades of giant fern, vines, and fragrant jungle foliage. Often referred to as “a river of Eden,” the Upper Navua River has cut a deep chasm into Viti Levu’s post-volcanic heartland, creating a roaring canyon full of countless waterfalls, dramatic detours, and intimate, ecological sights unlike anything back home, or anywhere else in the world. On this OARS ultimate Fiji whitewater rafting trip, heaven lies just beneath your bow.

Trip Highlights

Adventurous 4×4 shuttle & a short hike to the put-in on the Upper Navua
Class II-III whitewater rafting with fun-loving & knowledgeable Fijian guides
Paddle through a narrow canyon with giant ferns, vines & cascading waterfalls
Homemade banana bread & a delicious riverside picnic lunch
Rafting through Fiji’s Upper Navua Conservation Area

Save 10% When you Book Online

Book Now See more ways to save

Itinerary at a Glance

The Day of Your Trip

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 reach the end of the road, we’ll pack what we need for the day and begin a 15-minute hike to the river where our rafts await. After a safety talk and paddling practice, we’ll begin our adventure downstream.
The rapids start right away and we’ll just be hitting our stride when we come to Moce Falls, the biggest drop of the day, just a half-mile downstream. We’ll pass a waterfall around almost every bend as our rafts are carried swiftly through this exotic river canyon. Come midday, we’ll pull over to a beach for a delicious picnic lunch.
Back on the river, each mile brings more stunning scenery and more fun whitewater. Gradually, the narrow canyon walls fall away and we begin to see signs of civilization. We may encounter a friendly villager aboard a bamboo raft on this stretch of the river as we make our way to the take-out at the village of Wainadiro. From here, it’s a 1-hour drive back to Pacific Harbour and the conclusion of our trip.

Meeting Time & Place

Location

Rivers Fiji Office, Pacific Harbour

Meeting time

6:45 AM (or earlier for hotel transfers)

Return

Approximately 5 PM to Pacific Harbour

Trip Map

Dates & Prices

Year-round: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

2023 Departures	Price
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays	$239*

*Full payment is required at the time of booking

Book Now

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.

Book online and save 10%

Save 10% when you book select trips online!

Frequent Floater

After 5 trips with OARS, automatically save 5-15% on most adventures.

International Rewards

Receive 5% back on international trip fees & redeem on select U.S. adventures.

The Need-to-Know Info

Trip Details

PACKING & PRE-DEPARTURE INFO

Included in Your Trip Cost

Skilled, professional guide service provided by our affiliate operator
Delicious picnic lunch and snacks
High-quality inflatable rafts 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
Photos of your trip (we cannot guarantee photos are taken on every trip)

On Upper Navua rafting trips, our guides use paddle rafts with oar assist. The most agile boat in our fleet, your guide powers the raft with two hefty oars on a rear-mounted frame, while the crew of 4 – 8 guests paddle up front for added horsepower. Helmets are required.

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.

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 Upper Navua River is gloriously fresh, flowing from highland springs and collected rainwater. A day in the highlands rafting fun Class II-III rapids is the perfect reprieve from the salty ocean water and crowds on the coast.

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 Deposits

Full payment is required at the time of booking. Payments may be made by check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard (American Express and Discover incur a 3% processing fee). Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency.

Canceling your trip after your payment 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.

Cancellations and Refunds

Your payment is fully refundable, less a 3% processing fee, for 48 hours after making a reservation when you reserve a trip 7 days or more prior to departure.

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. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Date of Cancellation	Cancellation Fee
30 days or more prior	$30/person
29 days or less prior, 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.