Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Malaita

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Solomon Islands

I am interested in going to Malaita Island for a few days from Honiara. Would like to know the ferry schedule or a site that would show it. Also need advice on what to see/do, and lodging.
Thanks

www.ferrylines.com shows 3 different ferry services connecting Honiara with Auki on Malaita. Don't know about things to see and lodging, sorry.

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Thanks Matman.....that website is very helpful.

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There are daily ships from Honiara to Auki, most of them leave Honiara for Auki in the evening around 6 to 7 pm and arrive around midnight in Auki. On Wednesday and Friday leave Pelican Express, on of the fastest ships, at 8am from Honiara and is about 11 to 1130 am in Auki. All ships go back from Auki to Honiara next day. Traveling time is between 3-6 hours oneway. Prices are between 150 to 250 Sol-$.
Good accommodation in Auki is Auki Motel, which offers budget beds for 150 Sol-$, cheapest is SSEC transit for 80 Sol-$ per night.

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Faisi, your advice is much appreciated. I have just a couple of questions, I hope you can answer for me.

I understand the MV 360 Flyer ferry service also goes from Honaria to Auki. Do you know what days it runs?

Do you think it would be best to base at a hotel in Auki or near the Langa Langa Lagoon.

I have only 2-3 days. Is that enough time and what are the most important sights?

Thanks......

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the MV 360 flyer is broken down. The word flyer was anyway a joke, when I last used it in March 2017 it took 5 h between Auki and Honiara.
I recommend either to take =Pelican Express=, which needs 3 h or =Fair Lady=, which is more comfortable than Pelican Express, but needs 4,5 h. This is recent information as I left Malaite after 2 months in North Malaite 3 weeks ago and came back to my homeplace from Solomons last week.

Sorry can't help you with sights, but I think Langa Langa lagoon (was never there) is a better base than Auki.

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The Pelican leaving on Friday would fit into my time frame going to Auki. Do you know if it is possible to purchase in advance? I cannot find much info on the Fair Lady. I need to return from Auki to Honiara on Monday and trying to figure out if the Fair Lady would be a possibility for that transfer. Do you know or could you direct me to a website that would give me that information?.....

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Don't know any websites about shipping/ferry in Solomon Island, believe they don't exist yet. There is no need to buy ticket on Pelican Express beforehand, just enter the ship and pay when the ticket examiners come. If you still want there is an office of Pelican Express at Paco Fera building upstairs on Commonwealth Ave.
I travelled 2 x in recent months on Fair Lady Auki-Honiara on Tuesday. If you want to travel Auki-Honiara on Monday, no problem I am quite sure there will be a ship. Auki harbour has 2 piers, so easy to find out if ships are in harbour. If there are more than 1 ship ask the locals which is the better choice. Any ship at Auki harbour will most likely go to Honiara.
Fair Lady has an office opposite Honiara city council. In Auki ask at the police station.

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There aren't always ships from Auki to Honiara on Mondays, but you can fly. One of the Fair West ships, and usually at least one other, always go over at 6 pm Friday, returning 8 am Saturday. Pelican goes from Honiara to Auki Wednesday and Friday mornings, 8 am. It returned Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. However, it usually goes to Western Province on Sunday, returning Monday or Tuesday. I usually book at the Komi FERA building in Commonwealth Avenue, about 3 buildings past the Lime Lounge.
There may be overnight ships on Tuesdays, but often nothing back to Honiara mondays except the plane.

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Looks like taking the Pelican on Friday and flying back Monday is the way to go.
Many thanks to all for the good advice.

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