Honiara
Honiara is the capital and largest city of Solomon Islands, situated on the northwestern coast of Guadalcanal.
As of 2019, it had a population of 129,569 people. The city is served by Honiara International Airport and the seaport of Point Cruz, and lies along the Kukum Highway. In 1983, a capital territory – comprising the 22 square-kilometre metropolitan area of Honiara – was proclaimed, with a self-governing status akin to a province, although the city also retained its older role as capital of Guadalcanal Province.
Getting to Honiara
- 01Honiara International Airport
Worth seeing
- 01Guadalcanal American Memorial
- 02National Museum
- 03Aola Bay
- 04Tenaru Falls
60 m (200 ft) waterfall in the rain-forest.
- 05Matanikau River
A 20.5 km river mouth in palm-fringed tropical forest.
Things to do
Take a guided trek to one of the waterfalls nearby, such as the beautiful Matanikau Falls, about a two-hour walk from the starting point a short bus-ride from the city centre. Check out a service at one of the many churches. South Seas Evangelical Church has an easily-found location next to the central markets and beautiful singing. Its main Sunday service is at 9:30am.
Where to eat
There is surprising variety in Honiara with many restaurants catering to expats. This includes hotels listed below. There are a number of eateries near the museum, to its left if you are facing it from the main road. A range of lunch foods and drinks are on offer, including fish 'n' cassava chips and green (drinking) coconuts.
- 01The Taj Mahal
Has good Indian and Sri Lankan food though a little pricey and only open at certain times of the day.
- 02Point Cruz Yacht Club
The favoured hangout of expats in Honiara, the yacht club has a variety of simple and inexpensive meals available nightly.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.