Ovalau is a volcanic island in the Koro Sea, part of the Lomaiviti Group in central Fiji. It is best known as the site of Levuka, Fiji's first colonial capital and the country's oldest town. Levuka was the centre of European activity in Fiji before the capital was moved to Suva in 1882, and it retains a remarkable collection of 19th-century wooden buildings along its main street — enough to earn UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013.
In town, the Sacred Heart Church is the oldest in Fiji, and the Royal Hotel at the north end of Beach Street is a wood-and-veranda classic of Pacific colonial architecture. A guided walk inland to Lovoni Village — inside the dormant volcanic crater — is the best half-day trip from town.
The island itself is rugged, with steep volcanic peaks rising quickly from the coast. The reef diving around Ovalau is excellent and largely uncrowded. Getting there from Suva takes about two hours by ferry or a short flight from Nausori Airport.