Tavuni Hill Fort.

From a 90-meter-high limestone hill, the Tavuni Hill Fortification looks out over the Sigatoka River. It was built by a Tongan clan that arrived in the early 1800s. The artifacts on show inside this semi-restored old Fiji fort are virtually flawlessly maintained, allowing a direct view into Fijian history.

Tongan invaders positioned themselves on the steep mountain where the fort presently stands in the seventeenth century. From their camp, they waged war on the surrounding land until they were finally forced out in 1876 by British soldiers. The fort was never inhabited again after the Tongans left, and it wasn't even visited until 1994 when it was reopened.

The knowledgeable tour guides are descendants of the fort's original Tongan inhabitants, and they present guests with a fascinating history of individuals who once lived there. Two magnificent viewpoint sites overlooking the Sigatoka River and the Viti Levu Coastline provide incredible photographic opportunities, making the trip worthwhile in and of itself. Near the fort, there are additional historical sites to visit, such as ceremonial grounds and the eerie killing stone, where victims' heads were smashed with a war club.

At the foot of the hill, the community of Naroro began work on restoring the Tavuni Hill Fort. It has paved paths and offers excursions to visitors regularly. As a result of intermarriage and adaption, many Tongan descendants are living in Sigatoka today. Finau's descendants can currently be found in the Nadroga settlements of Naroro, Korotogo, Nawamagi, Malevu, Cuvu, and Nadrala; Navosa's Waicoba; and Nadi's Vatutu and Waqadamu.

Location: Naroro, Fiji