Honiara Travel Guide, Solomon Islands

Honiara Travel Guide – The Political and the Natural

This Honiara Travel Guide will try to clarify all aspects concerning the capital of the Solomon Islands. Honiara has been capital only since 1952, when it was built and conceived to replace the former capital, Tulagi, at the end of WWII. The Solomon Islands have no army of their own so the Australian forces offered to help the country when violence erupted in 2000 due to political reasons, leading to the arrest of three members of Parliament and to the destruction of Chinatown. The city’s current population is estimated at just over 50.000 and Honiara is well organized to receive tourists and provide all kinds of facilities. People who come to the Solomon Islands usually do so in order to explore the breathtaking sceneries on the island, so Honiara is a perfect base camp where you can sleep in luxury hotels and eat at sophisticated restaurants and then go on an exploration of the island and its many natural wonders.

Honiara Travel Guide – Transport and Economy

Honiara has a sea port at Point Cruz and this is one of the main ways of getting in the city. Another way of reaching Honiara is through the Honiara International Airport, which is located 10 kilometers outside the city and serves all the major cities in the surrounding islands. The tropical climate you’ll find there means that during the daytime air temperatures will equal those in the water and can reach an average of 28-29 degrees. Economically, the country gains a lot from tourism, but also from the export of timber, coconuts and fish to countries like Japan, Taiwan or South Korea. In the city there are also several beverage factories which are reliable employers, as well as a cookie factory.

Honiara Travel Guide – The Galleries and the Watterfalls

In the city you’ll find a Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau where you can get all the information you need in order to visit the island. The National Art Gallery boasts a beautiful garden where you can take a walk, but if you’re feeling more adventurous you can try the Tenaru Falls (a 60 meter waterfall located 9 kilometers from Hailupa) or Mataniko Falls (another spectacular waterfall that requires a serious hike to reach). If you feel like staying in the city you can always visit the National Museum and learn all there is to learn about the local culture and history of the Solomon Islands. One other very popular destination recommended by all Honiara travel guides is Bonegi Beach with its wonderful white sands and its unique wrecks from WWII that are free to explore by anyone curious.