International Dateline Sign – Taveuni Island Fiji
The International Dateline or Meridian 180° line runs straight through Taveuni Island in northern Fiji. There is small sign marking the International Dateline running through the town of Waiyevo on Taveuni Island.
The sign marking the International Dateline is found up a hill, towards the Waiyevo Taveuni Hospital, found right at the back of a Rugby field, up the hill from the main coastal road.
If you stand between the sign then you are half in Today and half in Yesterday. Or is it half in Today and half in Tomorrow. I guess that depends which side of the International Dateline you come from.
Also if you travel another 2 kilometers down the South Coastal Road you will come to the old Meridian Cinema (now closed for business) which has a red line painted down the middle of the building marking the Meridian 180° line. Painted on the top corners of the building are the words Today and Yesterday. Next door is the Meridian Store which proudly claims to be the ‘First Shop to open in the world’.
Although the Meridian 180° line does run directly through Taveuni Island Fiji, the actual International Dateline which is supposed to follow the Meridian 180° line, was deviated so it does not pass through any landmass, splitting islands into 2 timezones.
How to find the International Dateline sign on Taveuni Island
The official International Dateline sign on Taveuni Island, which was built by the Rotary Club of Taveuni Island, is tucked away from the main coastal road, up a hill close to the Waiyevo Hospital.
Right in front of the Waiyevo Post Office, is a road intersection with the Govt Station Road heading up the hill from where the coastal road divides between the South Coastal Rd and North Coastal Rd.
If you walk up the steep hill about 5 minutes you come to Hospital Road to the right. Turn right and on your right side is an old Rugby field and the International Date sign is right to the back right hand corner. You can see the back of the sign from the entrance of the field. The Waiyevo Fire is right across the road.
If you walk right to the top of the hill, up Hospital Rd you come to Waiyevo Taveuni Hospital. From here there are great views out of the seas to the neighbouring islands of Taveuni. It will take around 15 minutes to get right to the top of the hill.
The easiest way to get here is by taxi!
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