Honiara… Beautiful name, isn't it? Where is Honiara? Honiara is the capital and main port of the Solomon Islands, the state in the South Pacific Ocean. Honiara has not only a beautiful name, but it is also a fantastic city! There are not only captivating beaches and attractions, but also great hotels, restaurants, and much more! The town of Honiara has become a resort town. The place where is Honiara located has a burning climate and thus attracts tourists throughout the year. Honiara has a subequatorial climate characterized by year-round heat and high air humidity. The average annual air temperature is +25 ° C. The wet season lasts from January to April here, which is due to the dominance of the northwest monsoons. From April to November, Honiara has dry and cool weather. The average annual rainfall is 2250 mm, most of it occurs during the wet season. Honiara is a state with plenty of Instagrammable places, and we will talk about them in this article. After it, you will know what to do in Honiara and where to get the most liked photo on Instagram.
1. Honiara Botanical Garden
The Honiara Botanic Garden is situated in Rove, Honiara. It is roughly 2 kilometres west to the centre of the Tandai Highway Garden Drive (opposite the Iron Bottom Sound hotel). Garden Drive meanders around the prison complex and is just past the Solomon Islands Broadcasting buildings. It is one of the most Instagrammable places in Honiara. The Rove Botanical Gardens is situated just behind the Rove Prison. A masterpiece of Whitmore's gathering and Geoff Dennis gardening worsened the gardens in the 1980s. According to the publication by C.P Henderson and I.R Hancock in 1988, a volunteer from New Zealand, David Glenny, Geoff Dennis, and Myknee Qusa Sirikolo renewed these collections in 1990.
2. Town centre
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Honiara town centre has many great shops, some specializing in local handicrafts, while others in duty-free goods. So here you will not need to think about what to do in Honiara – there are a lot of exciting places in Honiara, especially in the city centre. Moreover, they can also be considered as Instagrammable. The variety of goods, however, is limited. Here again is the centre of banks, postal service, trade, Telecom, restaurants, traveller information centre, and local tour operators. An extensive range of restaurants offers different types of cuisine. Some hotel restaurants highlight cultural nights with local musicians and groups playing traditional songs and dance. There are a massive number of Chinese restaurants and others that specialize in fresh local seafood such as Coconut Crab and Lobster. Japanese, Thai and Italian dishes can also be observed on the tables in Honiara. The open-air markets throughout the city are an excellent chance to meet the locals. Here you will find an astonishing array of local goods and produce, from fresh fish and vegetables, fruit, groundnuts, and betel nuts, to carvings, basket ware, calico lava-lavas, and nuts.
3. Mbonege Beach
Being in Honiara, don't miss this beach. It is a beautiful long sandy beach located 30 minutes by taxi from the centre of Honiara. There is a fascinating mixture of colourful corals and many beautiful fishes. There are not so many people swimming on this beach, so you will not be annoyed by plenty of tourists. The buses don't go very far so to get there is to stop a taxi, and you can ask them to take you there and wait for you to swim. We recommend you agree on the price firstly, which will be between 80-100$ most of the times depending on the driver.
4. Lunga Point
Lunga Point is a spot on the northern shore of Guadalcanal, the place of a naval battle during World War II. It was also the title of a nearby airfield, later called Henderson Field. Lunga Point can be reasonably considered as one of the most interesting places in Honiara. USS Lunga Point is additionally the name of a US Navy guard carrier that served in World War II. Eleven thousand US Marines arrived at Lunga Point on August 7, 1942, to take the airfield being built by the Imperial Japanese Navy before it could become operational, commencing the Guadalcanal Campaign.
5. Lela Beach
Lela Beach is relatively small, but there is a charming combination of white sand with crystal blue water. You can enjoy this picturesque view and also swim in the sea.
6. Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is situated roughly 15 minutes in a car along the main road. It can be considered as one of the best beaches in Honiara. Unlike some beaches, instead of just coral, Turtle Beach has a lot of sand. This fact makes playing by the ocean more comfortable on the feet and gives a real tropical island feeling to your outing. Some people can find getting out of the water at the coral beaches a little bit hard. In this case, we recommend you take proper shoes. Entry prices are approximately $50 for a Rav 4/ Pajero, and it can go up to $200 for a big bus. You can set up your picnic because there are a lot of shady spots. Some huts are built for you in case of rain. This beautiful beach will not let you remain without the most liked photo on Instagram!
7. Guadalcanal American Memorial
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The Guadalcanal American Memorial is a World War II construction, and it was built on August 7, 1992. It is one of the most interesting places in Honiara. The memorial's construction aim is a tribute to the Americans and their allies who lost their lives because of the Guadalcanal Campaign. The monument was a shared struggle of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and the Guadalcanal-Solomon Islands Memorial Commission. It was at the idea of Robert F Reynolds, Chief of Valors Tours Ltd. The ABMC maintains the memorial. Annually there is a ceremony which is held to celebrate the first day of the battle. Another monument, built by the Japanese on Mount Austen, is a testimonial to the Japanese who lost their lives.
8. Central Market: The Heart of Honiara
The Honiara Central Market is the prominent place there where you can find a lot of types of fish, flowers, clothing, fruits, and vegetables. Still, you can also buy shells and some other local crafts such as palm-frond broomsticks, jewellery, coconut oil, and hair tonics. By the way, Honiara is the largest fresh produce and fish outlets in the country. Don't forget to taste this delicious fish!
9. Mendana avenue
The Melanesian Cultural Village is located on Mendana Avenue. Here you can see typical local structures made of wicker mats and palm leaves, as well as get acquainted with the traditions and rituals of peoples from various regions of the Solomon Islands. This avenue is very Instagrammable so that you can get the most liked photo on Instagram!
10. Fishing
What to do in Honiara? The Solomon Islands are untouched by commercial fishing. The extensive fishing activities are excellent. There you can troll for Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, and Dog-tooth Tuna. Professional fishermen can also attain Yellow-fin Tuna, Pacific Sailfish, and blue, black, and striped marlin. Catch a fish and take plenty of Instagrammable photos!
11. Hiking
If you like jungle treks, we highly recommend a guided trip to the Mataniko Falls and caves. The tour will take roughly 4-5 hour round. It offers various routes, letting the return trip to be either on foot or to swim or even float back down the river with the help of a rubber tube.
12. World War II tours
Guadalcanal, where is Honiara located, was the main turning point in the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Plenty of relics from the battles can be found on land as well as underwater. This tour takes the guest to view relics, memorials, and museums of significance to both the Japanese and US Allied Forces. Fields of interest consist of Bloody Ridge, US Memorial, Vilu Outdoor War Museum, Bonegi Wreck, Vouza Monument, Henderson Air Field, and Memorial Garden.
Is it safe to travel to Honiara?
So, we told you about the most Instagrammable places in Honiara, now will let you know about the safety. The people of Honiara are known for their friendliness and directness. Theft and attacks on tourists are rare here. To avoid trouble, do not visit isolated areas without a guide; try not to carry valuables and large sums of money with you. Also, do not buy currency from your hands. It is recommended to be vaccinated against yellow fever, hepatitis B, tropical fever, malaria before travelling. The capital's tap water is hazardous to health, so drink only boiled or bottled water. Fish and meat should be eaten only after heat treatment; vegetables and fruits should be washed very well before use. Coastal waters, especially outside lagoons, can be hazardous to swimming, so do not move offshore or enter the water outside of designated swimming areas. Beware of some of the Solomon Islands wildlife. Local blood-sucking insects, as well as scorpions, ants, poisonous fish including sea snakes, are especially dangerous. Wear mostly closed shoes and bring repellents with you. We hope that this article was useful to you! We wish you to have the best time in Honiara, Solomon Islands!
