Labasa

Vanua Levu's second airport is a half-hour drive outside of this sugar town. Like northeastern Viti Levu, the town is serviced by a narrow-track railroad transporting sugar, and the town's population grows exponentially during cane-crushing season (roughly May-December) as seasonal workers come up to harvest. This is the best point of entry in the north if you're headed for the area's superb off-shore resort, Nukubati. Unless you're coming here for the resort itself, save your exploring days for the water or rain forest.