Ovalau
Ovalau is the sixth largest island in Fiji. It is located in Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East,, the island is about 13 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide. It covers a total area of 106.4 square kilometers and has a population of around 8,900 according to the census of 2017. Levuka, Fiji's former capital, is the largest place on the island, and is the only urban area in Lomaiviti.
Ovalau is characterized by its rugged topography, with little flat land apart from the Lovoni Valley in the centre of the island. The island is an eroded volcanic crater with a narrow belt of flat to undulating country between the encircling lagoon and the steep crater sides. The highest peaks are Nadelaiovalau, with an elevation of 625 meters, in the east, and Tomuna, 526 meters, in the south. Moturiki is just off the southwest coast of Ovalau. To the north-west is Naigani, and to the east is Wakaya.
Administration and settlement
Ovalau has four administrative areas, which are divided into 23 traditional communities and the city of Levuka.- Levuka
- Nasinu
- Lovoni
- Bureta
Nasinu includes the koros of Nasinu, Naikorokoro, Tokou, Natokalau, and Draiba.
Lovoni includes the villages of Lovoni, Nacobo, Nukutocia, Visoto, and Vuniisavu.
Bureta includes the koros of Naiviteitei, Nasaga, and Navuloa.
There are also the villages of Wainaloka, Viro, and Nasaumatua, as well as smaller settlements.
The population figures are from the 2017 census.
Education
Eight villages—Toki, Taviya, Rukuruku, Viro, Nasaga, Visoto, Lovoni, and Tokou—are home to a primary school.Secondary schools include St. John's College, Levuka Public School, and Delana Methodist School.
Transport around Ovalau
There is one road which circles the island; it is about 50 km long. Levuka Airfield, which handles twice-daily Air Fiji flights to and from Nadi Airport is located on the west of the island, in the Bureta District, at the bank of the Bureta river. There is one flight in the morning, and one in the evening, with only the evening service operating on Sundays. Flights cost around FJ$150 return.Ferry services also connect Ovalau to Viti Levu - the Patterson Brothers Shipping Company ferry company runs a service between Levuka, Buresala, Natovi, and Suva depending on the day.
Transport around the island is mainly by carrier. There is one bus service, which runs once daily from the west of Ovalau to Levuka in the morning, returns at 5pm, and is mainly used by schoolchildren and PAFCO workers.