Solomon Islands Holiday Guide
Beautiful South Pacific Holidays

Solomon Islands Holiday Planner

Now peaceful, the Solomon Islands have a turbulent history of cannibalism, slavery and World War II combat. More recently, tribal tension played out on the streets off Honiara and along with rampant corruption caused stagnation in development and decline in tourism. Back to relative normality, the remote and tribal feel the islands offer a real sense of adventure that most other South Pacific travel destinations have lost.

There are a number of unique travel elements to the Solomons. Firstly, it's people and varied cultures are the most intriguing and genuine of all Pacific nations. Come here to learn about the people, their customs, their intricacy with nature, their unique craft skills and fascinating rituals and festivals.

However, the majority of tourists visiting the Solomon Islands arrive with scuba gear. The Solomon Islands is without doubt right up there as the best diving destinations in the world, with an emphasis on corals but also rich in marine-life and scattered with World War II wrecks. The Solomon Islands also has excellent surfing breaks but with hardly any surfers! And it's delightful beaches and lagoons lure in adventurous honeymooners, particularly to the small islands of Western Province.

The inland environment is equally remote and pristine with fantastic hiking trails trough rainforest - birdwatchers will enjoy scanning the skies for species as varied as the pygmy parrot and the Solomon sea-eagle. The four active volcanoes, Savo (just north of Guadalcanal), Simbo, Kavachi (both Western Province) and Tinakula (Santa Cruz), are also definitely worth a visit.

The weather in the Solomon Islands is hot and humid year-round, with a slightly cooler winter from June to September. Being close to the equator, hurricanes don't threaten the islands as they do further south in Vanuatu and Fiji. The Western Province is a beacon for sailors and yachts during the Southern Hemisphere cyclone season between December and April, when they can still be out on the waters or berth their yacht in safety. The main downside for visitors is the risk of both malaria and dengue, and whilst anti-malarial pills help, there is no protection against dengue other than mossie repellent and screen.

Solomon Islands Travel Destination

Guadalcanal is the main island, and where the capital, Honiara, is located. Honiara the best place in the Solomon Islands to eat out and buy souvenirs, especially at the bustling Central Market. The town has a handful of decent hotels which make a good base for exploring north-west of Guadalcanal which is the most interesting to visitors. Here you'll find WWII historical sites and museums and several great snorkelling lagoons. Just inland from Honiara are two great waterfalls as well as some excellent hiking trails.

A 1-hr boat ride east of Honiara is the Central Islands, home to historical Tulagi town, the old capital and Mbike with its fantastic wreck dives. On Savoa Island you can hike to the summit of an active volcano, walking alongside streams of hot water that run from the craters. You'll see hot springs, hot mud pools, and lots of steam and smell strong wafts sulphur.

The most alluring destination in the Solomon Islands for holiday-makers is definitely the Western Province. The main town of the region is Gizo with a bustling waterfront full of small boats and canoes bringing in locals from the surrounding islands and a fantastic food market. In the distance is Kolombangara, a soaring symmetrical volcano which can be climbed in a full day but also with a hut near the summit for a more casual 2-day trek. The lagoon offshore of Gizo has fantastic dive sites and lots of small islands with beautiful white sand beaches and tiny resorts with thatch huts. You can also visit Kennedy Island where JFK was stranded after being shipwrecked during WWII. A little further east is the small town of Munda, with an international airport no less (weekly flight to Brisbane) and a couple of hotels and guest-houses. This is another good base for scuba diving, to visit the gruesome head-hunter shrines of Skull Island, or to explore the conservation island of Tetepare rich in wildlife and walking trails.

The Western Province is also home to Marovo Lagoon, the biggest salt-water lagoon in the world with exceptional snorkelling and diving but watch for salt-water crocodiles! Littered with tiny islets, the lagoon is also a magnet for sailing and small boat cruises. If you're lucky you might also see Kavachi volcano, a submarine volcano that erupts at least once each year to form small, temporary islands of lava.

The Northern flank of the Solomons is a chain of large volcanic islands. Choiseul in the far north almost reaches Papua New Guinea, and the long thin island of Santa Isabel are seldom visited by tourists - both have remote villages renowned for its traditional dance performances. The most popular island for travellers is Malaita which is home to many prominent Solomon Island politicians and business people. It is the most populated island in the Solomons where you o view centuries-old man-made islands, and try using the local shell currency. Experience traditional island life here, by watching tribal dances and trying your hand at spear-fishing.

South of Guadalcanal is Rennell Island where you can see the region's largest inland lake, beautiful Lake Te Nggano. Tinakula Volcano, located in the easternmost province of the Solomons, the Temotu province, is more active and emits clouds of smoke and steam every day; sometimes, without any warning, it will suddenly erupt for one or two or even more days.