The Solomon Islands: A Pacific Paradise Without the Crowds
"Why Solomon Islands?"
I heard that question more times than I can count before, during and after my trip.
Most Australians think of Fiji, Vanuatu or Bali when they want a tropical escape. The Solomon Islands rarely make the list. In fact, after spending a week there earlier this year, I realised it might just be one of the Pacific's best kept secrets.
I travelled there in April for a week of complete relaxation. I wasn't looking for nightlife, shopping or luxury. I wanted somewhere peaceful where I could switch off, read books, swim, and simply enjoy doing... nothing.
And that's exactly what I found.
Getting There
I flew from Sydney to Brisbane before continuing to Honiara, in the Western Province. Although none of the flights are particularly long, it ends up being an all-day journey.
After spending one night in Honiara, I caught a small domestic flight to Munda, followed by a boat transfer to Zipolo Habu Resort on Lola Island.
The adventure really begins once you step onto the boat.
First Impressions
The moment you step off the plane, the tropical heat hits you.
Honiara's airport is tiny, making it easy to navigate. I picked up a local Our Telekom SIM card at the airport for around SBD60, which included 20GB of data for six days. Reception wasn't perfect throughout my stay, but honestly... I didn't need it.
One thing to know before arriving is that taxis don't use meters, so agree on the fare before getting in. I organised a transfer from my hotel so I wouldn't have to worry about being scammed, but I had nothing to fear. The taxi guys were lovely and up for a chat.
Traffic was one surprise though. During the afternoon, the single main road becomes heavily congested, especially with current roadworks. It so dusty too. A trip to the airport that should take 20 minutes max can easily take around 40 minutes in peak hour.
You'll also notice locals chewing betel nut, which stains mouths bright red and leaves red spit on the ground. It can be a little surprising if you've never seen it before, but it's a normal part of daily life.
Honiara... Worth Staying?
Personally?
I'd skip spending extra time in Honiara. If you're connecting to another island, I'd simply stay overnight and continue your journey the next morning.
There isn't much to do or see really, though the sushi is good and there are a few nice coffee places and the markets to check out. The magic really starts once you leave Honiara.
I stayed one night at the Coral Sea Resort before my connecting flight. The resort itself was comfortable, breakfast was nice (although quite slow), and there's a casino attached to the front of the property, although I never ventured inside.
If you do want to treat yourself, you can stay at the luxurious waterfront Heritage Park Hotel. It was a bit above my price range; however, I was ‘fortunate’ to stay a night there when my flight home was cancelled.
Welcome to Island Life
The Solomon Islands consist of six major islands but have over 1,000 smaller islands, atolls, and coral reefs.
Ghizo Island tends to be the preferred spot for tourists, with everyone staying waterfront at the popular Fatboys Resort. So knowing that, I purposely booked to stay three days on Lola Island. You fly from Honiara on a tiny plane to Munda on New Georgia Island. I sat in the front single seat, as there is allocated seating, but it's first-come, first-served and barely anyone was on the flight, so I took prime position. The view as you fly over the islands is incredible.
Once I arrived at Zipolo Habu Resort, everything changed.
No traffic.
No crowds.
No noisy jet skis.
No beach clubs.
Just birds singing, gentle waves lapping against the shore and the occasional fisherman gliding quietly past in his boat.
It was exactly the reset I didn't realise I needed.
The lagoon surrounding the resort is calm and protected, making it perfect for swimming, kayaking or simply sitting with a book. The water was so clear, and great for snorkelling.
Having limited phone reception turned out to be one of my favourite parts of the holiday. I still had enough signal if I needed it, but I wasn't constantly checking notifications or emails.
It felt incredibly refreshing.
The Resort
Zipolo Habu isn't five-star luxury.
It's something much better if you're looking for simplicity.
The cabins are clean, comfortable and sit right on the water. I would definitely recommend choosing one of the overwater ocean view cabins if your budget allows.
Getting up for at least one sunrise is a must. The colours in the sky are stunning, and you can't help but sit and watch, thinking how lucky you are.
One thing to note is that reeds grow in front of some cabins, so you can't always swim directly from your room. It didn't bother me at all because there were plenty of other places to swim nearby.
The owners, Joe and Lisa, along with their daughter Jenni and the local staff, made everyone feel incredibly welcome. Well, that was me and one other couple. The week before, there had been a huge hurricane, creating lots of damage and maybe deterring tourists from travelling, so it was safe to say I almost felt like I had the island to myself.
You can take out the stand-up paddle boards, borrow a canoe, book day trips out for diving, snorkelling, see the WW!! wrecks, or fishing trips. They have it all covered.
Each morning you choose your lunch and dinner from a list of three freshly prepared meals (usually always seafood), and then head out for the day while it’s prepared. If you prefer to save some $$$ you can bring your own food and prepare it in your kitchen yourself. All the equipment is there. Otherwise, enjoy your meals, add it to the tab and fix the bill up on the last night. They do accept both cash and card.
One thing I really appreciated was that they weren't operating on the stereotypical "island time." If they said the boat was leaving at 1:00 pm, it left at 1:00 pm. Dinner was served around sunset each evening at 6:30 pm. Everything ran exactly as promised.
As someone who likes things organised, I appreciated that reliability.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Solomon Islands are not a cheap destination.
Accommodation, transfers and food are all more expensive than many travellers expect.
For example, I paid around AUD$20 for eggs on toast, and organised day trips can cost over AUD$200.
I often found myself wondering where all the tourism money goes, as it is definitely not all glitz and glamour, but given the country's remote location and the cost of transporting everything between islands, it starts to make more sense.
Cash is also important.
ATMs charge withdrawal fees (I paid around SBD40 at BRED Bank and SBD45 at BSP), while many businesses charge around 3% for card payments.
Come Here If...
The Solomon Islands are perfect if you:
want complete peace and quiet
love snorkelling, fishing or kayaking
enjoy reading and slowing down
want to disconnect from your phone
appreciate authentic travel experiences rather than polished tourist destinations.
Maybe Skip It If...
It might not be the destination for you if:
you don't enjoy seafood (it's featured heavily on the menu)
mosquitoes and insects drive you crazy
you're looking for shopping or nightlife
you expect five-star luxury.
This is simple island living.
And that's exactly why I loved it.
What to Pack
A few things I'd definitely recommend taking:
Reef-safe sunscreen
Insect repellent
Rash shirt
Reef shoes
Waterproof phone pouch or underwater camera
After-bite cream
Hat and sunglasses
Fishing gear if that's your thing
My Favourite Day
One of the highlights was taking a boat trip to Roderick Bay.
The scenery was breathtaking, and visiting the historic shipwreck hidden within the bay made for a memorable day exploring the islands.
Would I Go Again?
Absolutely.
The Solomon Islands aren't trying to be the next Bali.
They're not filled with influencers taking photos, beach clubs pumping music or endless souvenir shops.
They're quiet.
They're peaceful.
They're authentic.
Sometimes the best holidays aren't about seeing the most famous places.
Sometimes they're about finding somewhere the rest of the world seems to have forgotten.
And for one wonderful week, that's exactly where I was.
Have you ever considered visiting the Solomon Islands? Or have you already been? I'd love for you to join the conversation and share your comments below.
