Vailima National Reserve

Take a tour of the home of the famous Scottish author who spent his final years in Samoa. Known as ‘Tusitala’ (Samoan for ‘teller of tales’) his works include Kidnapped, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Treasure Island.

His beautiful mansion Vailima has been converted into a museum set within lush gardens and is open to the public. Visit his grave located at the top of Mt Vaea, along a hiking trail named by the locals as “The Road of Loving Hearts”.

Enjoy a stroll through the Vailima Botanical Gardens, visit the Information Centre and learn about the biodiversity of the Reserve and cool off in the freshwater pool and waterfall of the Loimata o Apaula stream where Robert Louis Stevenson once used to swim. 

The Vailima Botanical Garden encompasses about 12 ha (30a) and protects a variety of species - native, introduced and naturalized - representative of the flora of the archipelago and the Pacific basin. It is an excellent place for a day visit to relax and enjoy nature and its tranquilities.

The walk to Robert Louis Stevenson's Tomb atop Mt Veaa takes about 30mins going the short way though the terrain is quite steep and can be very slippery when wet. The other option to the top is a 50min walk weaving through dense tropical rainforest and passing a magnificent Banyan tree. Either way water and good footware is reccommended.