> > by Cheryl Menagh
The word pristine springs to mind when describing the Solomon Islands - a group of nearly a thousand islands, of which the majority are inhabited. Known for fabulous diving, the Solomons is increasingly being recognised as a time capsule which is gradually evolving. With ancient customs still widely practised in thousands of small villages, local life is an often-unexpected bonus for visitors. Couples will enjoy the tranquillity and literally feel the burdens of a busy life dissolve as they slip into ‘Solomon Time’.
Guadalcanal, where the country’s capital Honiara is located, is the largest island in the Solomons group. Honiara is the Solomon’s melting pot, where people from all over the country come to work, take their holidays, or just to shop. There are many battle sites and relics from the war to be found not only here but also throughout the islands and under the sea as well. The Western province is an essential stop. The combination of pristine lagoons, prime dive sites and lush forests have immense appeal to visitors.
The lagoons are a visual delight from the air and the combination of dark greens, white strips of sand and light and dark blues is breathtaking. Often colloquially called ‘The West’ the Western Province which has now become the country’s hub for tourism. Western Province boasts the largest salt water lagoon in the world, Marovo Lagoon.
Soak up the romance away from the crowds and experience the spl endour of a Solomon Islands’ tropical sunset. With 300 plus days of sunshine and some of the world’s most beautiful places at your fingertips couples won’t want to leave.
WHERE?
The Solomon Islands lie northeast of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, between Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. Currently Solomon Airlines, Qantas, Pacific Blue, Air Niugini and Air Pacific fly into Honiara on a regular basis and flight time is just over three and a half hours from Sydney to Honiara.
THREE TOP THINGS TO DO :
Trek up to the Savo Volcano, but be prepared for hot springs, hot mud pools, a lot of steam and sulfur. This is a good option for either a day trip or weekend getaway from Honiara. Catch a boat out in the morning and return in the afternoon or, instead, camp overnight and return the next day. Dive WW2 Wrecks - some of the fiercest fighting of the war took place in and around Honiara, and Mother Nature has weaved her watery spell amongst the wrecks of World War 2. Divers will experience an extraordinary array of amazing sights including shallow and deep coral gardens with magnificent drop-offs, ledges and gutters, all manner of light game fish and an enormous range of reef fish. Turtles, manta and eagle rays are common sights, together with friendly hammerheads sharks. Kayaking - the joy of the Solomon Islands is that you can kayak just about anywhere and the islands are spectacular from offshore. Fish and turtles scurry underneath you as you glide over turquoise worlds. Novices can also request a quick familiarisation if desired.