Sigatoka Sand Dunes: A Blend of Nature and History

Among the numerous natural attractions of Fiji, one that tops the list is its splendid stretch of sand dunes that lies along the Coral Coast. The Sigatoka Sand Dunes that can be found directly along the mouth of the Sigatoka River is rated as one of the most famous and they are positioned around 3 kilometres from the town of Sigatoka.

The biggest river in Fiji is the Sigatoka River and the sand dunes are the result of coastal dune forming processes and corrosion in the coastal hinterland. The widespread dune system occupies an area of 650 hectares and consists of a series of shifting sands of different ages and actions. The height of the sand dunes varies from approximately 20 to 60 metres.

For more than a million years the sand dunes have been forming. Therefore the site has always been a haven for researches and archaeological excavationists. Pottery relics which are over 2600 years old have been discovered from the site of the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. One of the biggest burial sites in the Pacific has also been uncovered here. Other archaeological relics such as machinery, human remains and stone tools continue to be unearthed at the site of this major natural and historical attraction.

Almost 50 percent of the area is unbalanced, particularly in the east. However new village communities continue to blossom around the Sigatoka Sand Dunes. There are also numerous luxury accommodation in Yanuca Island for those who wish to observe, explore and discover the famous and significant Sigatoka Sand Dunes. Scientists, researchers and even leisure travellers can easily plan their stay at a nearby Yanuca Island resort and further explore this unmatched historical site. For example, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa, Yanuca, Fiji Islands offers the vacationer of any age a supreme tropical escape.