Discover Ono Island: village, reef and island nature

Ono Island combines an old village with an island setting shaped by reefs, marine life and boat trips. The Great Astrolabe Reef curves beyond Ono toward Buliya Island. If you’re considering a vacation rental or holiday home on Ono Island, first think about which experiences you want to define your stay: snorkeling and diving, trips on the water or trails on land.

Getting to and finding your way around Ono Island

There are no roads on Ono Island; access is by boat only. Kavala Bay is the nearest ferry stop. The boat trip from Kadavu Airport to Oneta takes about an hour, depending on the weather. The route crosses the Kadavu Passage and goes around the west side of Ono Island.

The old village of Koromakawa lies on the north side of Oneta Beach. Behind the beach, Oneta Resort maintains trails along the ridge to a neighboring beach. This means you can choose between experiences on the water and trails on the island. When planning, it’s worth distinguishing these specific options from trips that can only be reached by boat.

Reefs, snorkeling and diving

The Great Astrolabe Reef offers extensive coral gardens and abundant fish for snorkelers. Oneta Resort has a house reef and a dive boat, and has mapped more than 40 dive sites on the Great Astrolabe Reef. The sheltered waters around Ono also offer easier dive sites for encounters with manta rays and other pelagic species. Resorts on nearby Ono have boat access to the reef and often dive in areas where there are no other boats or divers for miles.

Manta rays are another highlight of experiences in the area: a cleaning station is about three minutes by boat from the Oneta Resort dive center. Manta rays gather daily around Vuro Island from May to the end of November. This period is relevant when planning your trip if you’re especially interested in these animals. The Naqoro Passage, immediately south of Ono Island, is also a breeding ground for numerous large billfish species, sharks, tuna, Giant Trevally, Mahi-Mahi and snapper.

Trips on the water and trails on land

Oneta offers guided outrigger canoe tours around Ono. They are weather-dependent, and participants must pass a capsize test. If you’d rather go by sea kayak, there’s another type of tour: a four-day program includes circumnavigating Ono Island, with stops at beaches for swimming, snorkeling and a picnic. The sea-kayaking leg takes five to six hours; a motorboat can be used to shorten the paddling distance.

On the uninhabited island of Vatulutu, there is a more challenging, three-hour hike across the island. This tour is quite different from the ridge trails behind Oneta Beach. If you’d prefer to fill your days with activities on land or on the water, these differences can help you choose suitable excursions for your trip.

Island nature and local character

Yabu Island lies north of Ono, immediately north of Ono Island, and is home to one of Fiji’s largest colonies of boobies. The Yavusa Ulunikoro Marine Conservation Area is managed by the village of Waisomo on Ono Island and includes blue-hole and back-reef habitats. Along with the curved course of the Great Astrolabe Reef, this shows how closely the islands and different marine habitats shape the surrounding area.

A look at how Oneta Resort is supplied is also part of the local picture: its farm-to-table garden provides the resort with most of its fresh vegetables and salad ingredients. Find more destinations in Tavuki, Vunisea.

For the broader travel overview: Eastern Division.