Lautoka

Also known as Lautoka, Ba, Lautoka, Fiji

Lautoka (, ) is the second largest metropolitan area in Fiji. It is on the west coast of the island of Viti Levu, in the Ba Province of the Western Division. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane-growing region, the city has come to be known as the Sugar City. Covering an area of 32 square kilometres, it had a population of 71,573 at the 2017 census, the most recent to date.

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Place details

Locality: Lautoka
Region: Western
Country: Viti
Population: 52,500
Timezone

Travel guide

Understand

Port of Lautoka is the main maritime gateway for western Viti Levu and is the second largest port in Fiji. The port is mainly used for bulk sugar, molasses, woodchips, petroleum and gas. The port is also used for cruises. In 2017, it was home to 72,000 people.

Get in

Hop on an express bus, taxi or rental car from Nadi town or Nadi Airport. Whichever mode of transport you use, it should take around 30 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from Nadi town. Buses arrive at the .

Get around

thumb|Bus in Lautoka Lautoka has a robust public bus transport network operated by private companies and the service is run on scheduled timetables from the central bus station.

There is also taxi and carrier service available which is useful for those in a hurry. Although costs are based on stages travelled and set by the government fares should be agreed to before travel to avoid later disputes.

See

The Hare Krishna temple is a friendly place. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, then pop in and they may invite you to stay for lunch.

Go next

The fast catamaran "Nanuya Belle" connects to Navutu Stars resort on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing from Lautoka at 9AM and arriving at the resort at 11:20AM. On the return, "Nanuya Belle" departs the resort at 12:30PM and arrives back at Lautoka at 3:15PM. Continue your journey up the north coast of the island and head to the towns of Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki. Or, go south to tourist launchpad Nadi and Denarau Island.

Travel guide from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0)

~6 min read

Article

10 sections

Contents

Economic activities
History
Politics
Mass media
Demographics
Health and medical services
Transport
Notable people
Notes and references
External links

==Economic activities== Lautoka is known as the Sugar City and the Cane Market because of its sugar cane belt areas. The main Lautoka Sugar Mill was founded in 1903, and is the city's biggest employer by far. Built for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (Fiji) (CSR) by workers from India and the Solomon Islands between 1899 and 1903, it hires some 1,300 employees today. Other industries include timber milling, garment manufacturing, distillery, brewery, jewellery, blending, steelworks, fishing, hatchery, domestic items, paints, and construction.