You're in the Solomon Islands .. Why?

You’re in the Solomon Islands .. Why?


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I was super excited to announce to the world that I was in the beautiful Solomon Islands and this is the response I got! My fun loving, very well travelled, nature loving friend simply said "Why?" At the risk of sounding spoilt I wanted to respond and say "because it exists, therefore I must go".  I then realised that most people know little about this gem of the South Pacific. It seems the Solomon Islands has been in the shadows of its well known tourism neighbours of the Pacific for far too long.  The Solomon Islands is now emerging as an unspoilt, unpretentious nature lovers paradise!

I admit, I too, knew little about the Solomon Islands.  I had read and heard snippets here and there but for someone with over 20 years experience in the tourism industry I admit my knowledge on this destination was lousy.  So I decided to head on over, my mission, to see if this tropical island paradise could rate for families! Could it stack up against the big resorts, swim up pool bars, theme parks and kids clubs of the world?  Well the answer is ..it doesn't have too! .. I found a place, nothing like I expected...a  place so much better!  The Solomons is none of the above and they don't want to be!  The Solomon Islands are natural and unique, a place for families to reconnect, a place to be together, to explore, to learn history, experience a different culture, to listen and to laugh.  A digital detox destination where all your senses will be satisfied.  So why?

Firstly "are we there yet" is something you are not going to hear.  The Solomon Islands are located east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.  Just 2 and a half hours direct flight from Brisbane or around 4 hours direct from Sydney will have you touching down in the countries capital, Honiara. Both Solomon Airlines and Virgin fly to Honiara. A short taxi ride later and you'll find yourself settled in and exploring the town.  To reach the outer islands and resorts you will need to take a domestic flight, these small planes offer the most amazing views.  There are 992 islands that make up the Solomons, many of them uninhabited and most surrounded by lagoons, reef and coral so its a beautiful sight from the air.  The kids might even be able to spot people out fishing in their dug out canoes.

If you love the water then one of the many outer islands is the place for you.  A short boat ride from the dock behind the Gizo airport terminal... (and I mean literally behind the terminal) will have you at Fatboys Resort within minutes.  Resorts like Fatboys in the Western Provence welcome families,  beach bures are available with one main bedroom and a second room with 3 kids beds and adjoining bathroom.  A deck stretches out over the beachfront and is the perfect spot to watch the kids playing on the beach or snorkeling in the clear waters.  The Solomon Islands is a water lovers paradise, offering world class diving and snorkelling, fishing, surfing, swimming amongst hundreds of fish, you can kayak, stand up paddle board, or hire a small boat and head off to a nearby island for a picnic or sunset drinks.  There are no kids clubs as such but if your kids love the water they won't be bored here!

The Solomon Islands have a rich culture, island families live in small villages and many live sustainably.  You will see kids and adults heading out each day in their dug out wooden canoes to catch lobster, calamari and fish.  Houses are built from local materials and fronds are used to make thatched roofs.  They weave mats and baskets and grow their vegetables and fruits with extras being traded at the local markets. Each village has a church and it is a real treat to attend a sunday service as the singing is uplifting (permission needs to be requested, local accommodation can arrange this).  There are many languages across the Solomons but many people understand and speak English.

As stunning as the waters and lagoons of the Solomons are, its not all about the water!  Trekking and hiking are very popular, town markets are great to explore and seasonal activities like white water rafting are available too. The Solomon Islands are rich in World War II history.  The Battle of Guadalcanal was an important and bloody campaign fought as the Allies began to repulse Japanese expansion. Remnants of planes, ships, tanks and weapons can be found throughout many parts of the Solomon Islands.  Vilu War Museum just 15 minutes from Honiara town is an impressive open air war museum with a collection of aircraft, guns and abandoned military ruins. This is not your average museum, there are no information boards or displays behind roped off areas.  The exhibits are spread through beautiful gardens and the owners of the property will guide you through, you can touch and look at all the displays, kids will love it and learn too!  Sunken ships are numerous and are now popular diving and snorkelling spots.  You can also learn more about the war at the memorials and museum in Honiara.

When it comes to food, as long as your kids and you love fresh produce you will be just fine in the Solomons.  Fish, lobster, Calamari, fruit, vegetables and coconuts are in major supply so they are the most common menu items but there is a wide variety of food on offer and even the fussiest of eaters will be satisfied here.  The food we ate was actually amazing, I wouldn't have considered it as a food lovers destination but it certainly is. Drinking bottled water is recommended, or you could sample the local beer "Solbrew"

To top off all the amazing sights, sounds and experiences of the Solomons, the people shone through.  Their relaxed but welcoming nature, their happy smiles and genuine "we are family" attitude is something that is hard to forget. I do believe that a visit to the Solomon Islands is not your average family "fly and flop" holiday but a chance to explore, a chance to spend time together, a chance to slow the pace, enjoy and reconnect with nature and as a family.

Tank iu Lukem iu (Thank you and Goodbye)

I travelled to the Solomon Islands courtesy of Solomon Airlines and the Solomon Islands Visitor Bureau.

If you would like to getaway to the beautiful Solomon Islands call our travel team now on 1300 296 543

solomon islands

 


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