busy bus terminal suva fiji

If you wish to be transported to your resort in an air-conditioned coach in a timely fashion, there are two main coach companies (Sunbeam and Pacific Transport) that travel up and down Viti Levu’s two main highways (Kings and Queens Road). They debark every few hours throughout the day. (Service is less frequent but available on the weekends as well.)  The average price to get from Nadi to Suva is around $F20 per person one way. With this in mind, you can explore Fiji at a price that won’t break the bank.

Coach Companies

PACIFIC TRANSPORTPacific Transport – carries more than 10,000 passengers per day, so is a well-established and integral member of the Transport network in Fiji. It provides services for Queens Road patrons traveling from/to Suva, Sigatoka | 15 Minute Break | Toilet and snack break, Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka, Ba. (They stop and disembark at all the major resorts and towns along the coastal route) Website | Timetable
SUNBEAMSunBeam – serves Queens Road with eight daily trips between Lautoka and Suva respectively. They pick up and drop off passengers at various destinations along the highway, airports, towns, and all major hotels. Pick and drop locations are as follows: Nadi International Airport, Nadi Town, Fijian (Shangri – La) Resort, Sigatoka Town, Tabua Sands, Hideaway Resort, Naviti Resort, Korolevu, Warwick Resorts, Beach House, Crusoes Retreat Junction, Deuba Inn, Tradewinds Lami. Website | Timetable

Coach Route Maps | King & Queens Road

Queens Road
Queens Road Coach Route Map

Queens Road Service | Lautoka – Suva – The Queen’s Road, also known as the Queen’s Highway is the main route most tourists and locals travel to go between the two cities on Viti Levu, Lautoka City, and Suva City, with the coach stopping for around 15 mins midway, in Sigatoka Town. where you can purchase snacks and use the restroom facilities, several small market vendors can be found adjacent to Coach stand,  where you can purchase Indian sweets, potato ad tuna roti, fruits, crisps, etc).

Queens Highway crosses through the famous Coral Coast home to world-famous resorts, beaches, and dining venues, them the adventure capital of Fiji. the Pacific Harbour around an hour from Suva.

Kings Road Coach Route Map
Kings Road Coach Route Map

Kings Road Service | Lautoka – Suva – The King’s Road, also known as the King’s Highway, is an ideal service for visitors who want to catch the beautiful scenery of the north coast of Viti Levu as their semi-coach cruises through sugar cane belts, pastoral lands, and the great Wainibuka River.  Service starts as early as 6:00 am til 4:30 pm daily.

  • Express services to and from usually take up to 5 hours and stop only in towns.
  • Non-express services take up to 6 and 1/2 to 7 hours but stop at more locations.

Electronic Ticketing System – eTransport

etransport Fiji Banner | Image: Supplied
etransport Fiji Banner | Image: Supplied

Passengers intending to use public buses, including coaches, must buy e-ticket disposable cards. These cards can be obtained at Coach stations, Vodafone outlets nationwide, and on public buses. They come in denominations of $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, offering flexibility for occasional bus users. IN DEPTH SUPPORTING ARTICLE: Fiji Bus Transport: eTransport System

6 Coach Experiences

Titanic movie on the journey between suva and Nadi scaled
Titanic movie on the journey between Suva and Nadi

Our team has put together half a dozen tips to help you travel across the islands on the different coach companies on Viti Levu as smoothly as possible.

FJ Experience 1

Featured Movie | Coach Travel, Pacific Transport will display a movie on the front of the coach on a 17-inch screen, with the sound being played, via the speakers spaced along the length of the coach. I mention this because if you are a frequent traveler like myself, or you’re using this as your main transportation whilst, in Fiji, you might watch the same movie several times. (I have seen The Titanic around 20 times).  Instead of movies, the Sunbeam Coach may play the local radio station or an of a driver’s favorite music selection stored on a USB stick or CD.  Sometimes the music is played at a very loud level. If you find this uncomfortable, you can simply ask the ticket master to please turn down the music and they will oblige.

FJ Experience 2

Older Coach Fleet, If you traveling around the island via King’s Road,  the older coaches are normally used. These vehicles most likely have been in service traveling the length of Queens Road several times a day. As the companies update their fleets, the older coaches get assigned to the less-traveled routes.  On the older buses note that the floor well, which has seen thousands of travelers walking up and down its surface over the years, is bruised and battered. The wear and tear of the furnishings, seat covers, and air-conditioning systems sometimes drip bath you in a pool of cool water. The buses are inspected to meet health and safety regulations but comfort is often a secondary consideration.

FJ Experience 3

Seating Arrangements, Several coaches have the following seating arrangements–3 seats on the left and 2 seats on the right as you enter the coach. This is to compensate for the storage compartments at the bottom of the coach, so it is evenly balanced, for a smoother ride.  I mention this for an important reason. My advice is to ALWAYS choose the right-hand, 2 seat arrangement, because there is nothing worse than traveling for the next 4 hours pinned between two people, caught sardine-like, between two pieces of bread. If you can imagine a hot day, an older bus, and possible hygienic issues with fellow travelers it’s not hard to fathom why taking my advice might be in your enlightened self-interest.

FJ Experience 4

Keep Your E-Transport Receipt, When the ticket master comes around the bus, to check your tickets or swipe your E-Ticketing Card, he will provide you with a receipt similar to the ones you get at the checkout at a supermarket. DO NOT DISCARD.   If for example, you are traveling from Nadi International Airport to Pacific Harbour along the Coral Coast, sometimes the ticket master who services you with the initial receipt will change shift, and a new member of the team will get on. He will then proceed to march up and down the coach asking for your receipt, which he will sign and hand back. You may think FINALLY I can dispose of this but you would be wrong. When you disembark from the coach Driver will usually ask for the receipt. At that point, I can assure you, it’s better to have it in your possession.

FJ Experience 5

Luggage Storage, All heavy luggage is stored in the large, dust-free luggage compartments at the bottom of the coaches. Thus if you’re headed to the Airport Arrival area you can rest assured the driver or assistant will store your gear securely, in the right bay, for easy disembarkation.  There are also overhead compartments for hand luggage on the coach. If you observe your luggage being stored next to a bundle of dalo (or taro, an important staple food crop in Fiji) do not be concerned.  Many locals from the countryside travel to sell their goods at the local markets in Nadi, Lautoka, and Suva.

FJ Experience 6

Restroom Breaks, Note that restrooms are not available on coaches. Along Queens Road, the Coach stops in Sigatoka for 15 minutes, so you can purchase a snack and frequent the public toilets, located next to the market. Be back within 15 minutes. The ticket master does his best to count heads but there are no guarantees.  The coaches traveling the King’s Road stop at Rakiraki, before heading down to Nausori.]  The public toilets, as you might imagine, may not be up to your standards of hygiene. It’s wise to be prepared by bringing toilet paper, tissue, or possibly hand soap if by chance you need to use one of these facilities. When you leave the Coach for the short break, do one of three things:

  • If you are traveling with a friend or partner, get one of you to stay on the bus, so they can secure your seat, and alert the bus if they are departing without you.
  • Leave an item on your seat, as some people are disembarking at this location, and subsequently, some people are just starting their journey, so you may find your seat taken upon returning.
  • Or simply tell another passenger who is staying on the couch, to secure your seat as you will be returning, they will be more than happy to oblige.
Video: Introducing the Pacific Express Bus

FURTHER READING: Remaining well-informed about travel advisories and updates is highly recommended both before and during your trip to Fiji. Prior to departure, regularly check for any official notifications or travel advisories issued by the relevant authorities listed below:

This guide is based on over a decade of research and firsthand experience living in Fiji. It incorporates extensive knowledge gained through long-term residence and ongoing engagement with the region. Images and text have been sourced from official references, which are acknowledged below, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.