Travel To The Solomon Islands
FIND HOTELS IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
GENERAL INFO
The Solomon Islands are a constitutional monarchy which consist of 992 islands which cover a land area of 28,400 square kilometers and have a population of 523,000 people. The islands are situated in the north of the South Pacific Ocean, north of Vanuatu, south of Nauru and east of Papua New Guinea.
The island group is divided into nine provinces which consist of several island groups. The largest island is Guadacanal where the island group’s capital city Honiara is located.
The islands are renowned for their many coral reefs and lagoons, tropical rain forests, protected eco-regions, WWII wreck sites, surf resorts and island retreats.
The Solomon Islands are without doubt the diving and surfing capital of the south Pacific due to their vast array of reefs, lagoons, World War Two wreck sites, endemic marine life and blustery trade winds.
The country has a myriad of eco - beach resorts which have been designed exclusively for surfing and diving pursuits.
The country is also renowned for it’s unique flora, fauna and wildlife where there are several nature and marine conservation sites.
Another great past time in the Solomon Islands are island or lagoon cruises, where visitors are treated to the most stunning scenery, crystal clear waters and grand displays of flying fish and dolphins.
The predominant religion of the Solomon Islands is Christianity.
The currency of the Solomon Islands is the Solomon Islands Dollar.
The Solomon Islands are located on time zone UTC + 11.
LOCAL TRAVEL
The Solomon Islands are served by several local airports which are located on most of the major islands.
When travelling to the Solomon islands most people arrive at Henderson International Airport located just outside Honiara which accepts international flights from Nadi and Port Vila in Fiji, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Brisbane in Australia and domestic flights to twenty four other islands within the Solomon Islands.
The islands are served by several small ports, harbours and marinas where visiting yachts and other sea vessels can moor or anchor offshore. There are several local ferry services within the Solomon Islands which access most of the country’s outlying islands but beware, their safety records are not good.
If you are considering taking any sea voyages around the Solomon Islands please use either the daily Auki Island Ferry service or the MV Pelican Express to Western Province. If travelling with a lesser known company please take a lifejacket with you. There are also several local cruise companies which take visitors around the islands but before embarking with any of them please check their safety features.
Only in Honiara is there a public transport network along with local taxis and car hire facilities.
All foreign driving licenses are accepted when applying for car hire, but remember that local infrastructure is very poor, as are the driving skills of the locals.
Traffic in the Solomon Islands drives on the left hand side of the road.
HONIARA
The capital of the Solomon Islands is Honiara situated on the north east coast of the island of Guadacanal.
The city covers an area of 5,336 square kilometers and has a population of 64,600 people.
The city is not considered a tourist destination but as most people visiting the Solomon Islands will arrive in the city either by way of the Henderson International Airport or it’s main sea port at Point Cruz, situated on the peninsula of the same name, most people will want to see at least some of the city.
The city was built besides the River Matanikau which played a major role in the Guadacanal Campaign of World War Two between American and Japanese troops. The city is served by most of the country’s government buildings and has several hotels, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and shops. The city also has a large central market, a Chinatown, a national museum, a national art gallery, several churches, the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral, a botanical garden and an impressive American World War Two memorial.
Honiara is the only part of the Solomon Islands which has a good road network and where taxis, buses and car hire is available.
Attractions located just outside the city include the sixty meter high Tenaru Waterfall, the double sided Mataniko Falls and caves and Bonegi Beach which is the site of several World War Two wreck sites.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
EAST RENNEL ISLAND UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
East Rennel Island was the south Pacific’s first designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the 130 square kilometer Lake Tongariro. The lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in the whole of the south Pacific, is home to several endemic species of birds, insects and marine life.
MOROVO LAGOON
Marovo Lagoon, situated in Western Province, covers an area of 700 square kilometers and is the world’s largest salt water lagoon with a double barrier reef. The island is characterised by it’s vast mangrove fringed coastline, abundance of reef fish and many dive resorts.
SOLOMON ISLANDS RAIN FOREST RESERVE
The Solomon Islands Rain Forest Reserve encompasses all the islands of the Solomons Chain, except the Santa Cruz Group and some islands of neighbouring Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The reserve covers over 22,000 square kilometers and consists of low land rain forests which host a high instance of bird and mammal endemism, with twenty six endemic mammals and sixty nine species of birds found no where else in the world.
THE REEF ISLANDS
The Reef Islands are a group of sixteen coral islands located in the Temotu Island group. The islands cover just 29 square kilometers of land, but the lagoon covers 4,000 square kilometers of ocean. The sixteen islands have a population of around 5,500 people.
LAU LAGOON
The Lau Lagoon, situated off Malaita Island, is thirty five kilometers long and consists of sixty coral islands which are only accessible by boat. The islands are renowned for their mangrove forests, rare flora and fauna and sea water crocodiles.
GUADACANAL ISLAND
The largest island of the group Guadacanal is renowned for it's mountainous terrain, it’s vast tropical rain forests, dense jungles and for being the site of the two highest peaks in the Solomon Islands, the 2,310 meter high Mount Makarakomburu and the active volcano Mount Popomanaseu which stands at 2,335 meters high.
The island is home to several colourful parrots, a native marsupial called the cuscus and estuarine crocodiles, which can be regularly seen walking along the island’s beaches.
Guadacanal, which was the site of World War Two's first major offensive of the Pacific Campaign between allied troops and Japan from August 1942 to February 1943, is also the site of the Solomon Islands capital city Honiara.
CHOISEL ISLAND
The island of Choisel is best known for it’s wildlife, where saltwater crocodiles can be found upon it’s beaches and Loggerhead turtles come to breed. The island is also renowned for being the home of the rare marine mammal the dugong or sea cow, which can be regularly spotted in it's offshore waters.
The island’s interior is renowned for it’s tropical forests, mangrove swamps and coconut palms.
The island is served by the Choisel Bay Airport, where flights to the neighbouring island of Gizo, situated on the Gizo Lagoon, can be taken.
GIZO LAGOON
Located in Western Province, the Gizo Lagoon is a haven for divers with it's myriad of dive resorts, abundance of reef fish and World War Two airplane and ship wreck sites.
MALAITA ISLAND
The island of Malaita is a green and lush island renowned for it’s heavy rainfall. The island’s interior is a carpet of banyan trees, bamboo, pandanus and mangrove swamps, where the unique and unusual dugong or sea cow,can be found.
The island is also known for one of the world’s most controversial hunting methods, the dolphin drive, where dolphins are caught either for their meat or to sell to water parks around the world.
The island’s main settlement is the town of Auki which is served by a small airstrip.
WEATHER / NATURAL PHENOMENA
The Solomon Islands have a tropical climate with year round temperatures of between 25c to 32c.The islands experience north west tradewinds which cause monsoon rains during the months of November to March and blustery weather conditions during the months of April to October.
The islands have been known to suffer from cyclones but the risk is slight.
However, the islands do experience volcanic eruptions as there are two active volcanoes in the country.The islands also experience earthquakes and tsunamis with the last recorded instance in February 2013.
CRIME
Petty theft can be problematic within the Solomon Islands.There is also a rise in violent robbery against tourists.
It is therefore wise to take care at night, especially in Honiara, and single females are asked to be particularly vigilant when out walking.
There has also been a slight increase in civil unrest in recent years owing to some immigration issues within the islands.
The emergency telephone number for the police is 999. Please be aware that the Solomon Islands police force is quite undermanned therefore call out times could well be slower than is normal in your own country.
HEALTH
It is advisable to undergo a full vaccination program for Malaria, Dengue Fever, Filariasis, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis before travelling to the Solomon islands.
Drink only bottled water whilst staying there and do not take ice cubes in drinks.
When out and about the main concern is estuarine crocodiles, which often walk along the island’s local beaches, therefore please be vigilant when out beach combing or sunbathing.
There are small hospitals and clinics located on most of the larger islands as well as a good hospital and hyperbaric unit situated at a medical centre situated on Guadacanal Island. There is also a new hospital located in Western Province.
Serious medical conditions and all surgical cases are nearly always airlifted to Australia or New Zealand, therefore it is advisable to take out a good medical travel insurance before your departure.
National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Guadacanal. Tel (677) 2360.
Helena Goldie Hospital, Munda, Western Provonce. Tel - (677) 62 112.
In The Zone Medical Centre, Honiara, Guadacanal. Tel – (677) 234 485. (For hyperbaric services)
FOREIGN CONSULATES
There are six foreign consulates located in Honiara. Their telephone numbers are;
Australia – (677) 21561.
Japan – (677) 22953.
New Zealand – (677) 21502.
Papua New Guinea – (677) 20561.
Sweden – (677) 22588.
Taiwan – (677) 38050.
Other foreign nationals requiring consular help should contact their relevant consulate or embassy located in Fiji.
VISA INFO
Upon arrival visitors must be in possession of a valid passport, onward or return travel documents and sufficient funds to sustain them throughout their stay before a visitors visa can be issued.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
January 1 - New Year's Day.
Good Friday.
Easter Monday.
Whit Monday.
June 10 - Queen's Birthday (Elisabeth II)
July 7 - Independence Day.
December 25 - Christmas Day.
December 26 - Boxing Day.
PROVINCIAL NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
25 February - Choiseul Province
2 June - Isabel Province
8 June - Temotu Province
29 June - Central Province
20 July - Rennell and Bellona Province
1 August - Guadalcanal Province
3 August - Makira-Ulawa Province
15 August - Malaita Province
7 December - Western Province
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
For the Solomon Islands official tourism website visit - www.visitsolomons.com.sb
For the Solomon Islands tourism website visit - www.solomonislands.cc
For the Solomon Islands national airline website visit - www.flysolomons.com
For the Solomon Islands government website visit - www.pmc.gov.sb
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