PNG-SI water "broder" crossings and passport stamping locations --> questions

Hi. I would like to make the PNG--SI order crossing by water.

Considering to do on trip currently (two crossings SI--->PNG--->SI ) or in future (one crossing PNG-->SI)

Questions:
1. Any big difference in the direction? SI-->PNG or PNG-->SI
2. Want the crossings to be legal , ie get passport stamped in & out. Where is passport stamped in/out
(a) in Bougainvile Island ?
(b) in Solomons ... is it possible in Honiara? or must be done in Gizo?
3. Any boats going directly between Bougainvile Island and Choiseul island ?
(if passport stamping OUT can be done at Honiara and can fly to Taro airport, this is an option)

Many thanks.
In PNG i want to attend festivals in AUgust/Sept on the big land which i can save for another trip in Aug/Sept (andi would not need to go to Bougainvile on that Aug/Sept trip)

Hi

you can find several detailed reports on this crossing using the thorntree search function, including mine from a few days ago: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/permalink/topic/2514898

Re 1, I havent done SI->PNG, but I think it should be fine as long as you get a PNG visa in advance. For PNG->SI you can get the SI visa when arriving in Gizo.
Re 2, see my post on Bougainville. I would limit the # of days between your stamp and your actual entry/exit. In Solomons, if you come through Gizo I suggest doing it there. Probably every route to/from PNG goes through Gizo.
Re 3, There are no scheduled public boats. You may be able to catch a local boat coming to the market in Arawa or Buin. Also check this blog post for someone who went Arawa->Choiseul:
http://carelesswhistler.com/2014/10/06/from-bougainville-png-to-the-solomon-islands/
Local boats between Shortlands and Buin are going on a regular basis on Thursdays and Saturdays. It is easy to book a flight Balalae-Gizo online, so I preferred that crossing

Best, Markus

Hi Markus,
Many thanks for your response and detailed report in other thread.
1. Passport stamping. Buin & Arawa possibilities great vs going all the way to Buka. What % u think for Buin ?

1. "Limit the number of days in Bougainville". I did not understand. Should keep it short (2 minutes or 1 nigth) or not do it so quick as 2 minutes but stay a few nights?
   My thought would be to stay 1 or 2 nights, stay in south

2. Sleeping. Possible (and safe) to use a tent, in Buin ?
   
   Yes, have 200 kina / 70 usd , but prefer to spend that to buy something local craft, etc

3. for PNG. Visa rules changed in 2014 more countries have VoA (Visa on Arrival) and the cost was put to ZERO. I would have made this trip 3.5 yrs ago, except or PNG embassy in Malaysia being jerks ... oh well with more VoA less need for physical embassies. I wonder if persons in Buin/Arawa know the rules ... i think save PNG official webpage to show , if needed.

In Solomons, have you found any Solomons-unique/somewhat unique crafts, something as portable souvenier ?

Cheers !

Hi

1) I have no idea, I did not go to the immigration/customs office in Buin. Maybe someone else in the forum did so

1) You got me wrong, my comment was about timing the immigration stamp dates with your actual entry/exit date ("limiting" the discrepancy, if you are 1-2 days late/early it should be ok). You suggested getting the Solomon exit stamp in Honiara, which is far away from the SI-PNG border. I would not to do this, unless you are flying straight to Choiseul and cross from there.
If you are only going to stay 1 or 2 nights, I dont think you would be checked for your visa in Buin. So you could just "risk" it. However from my view 2 nights are hardly worth all the effort and expense. Buin is not that exciting.

2) Should be possible if you just ask around. You will still have to pay the landowner some fee.

3) Visa on arrival is only possible in Port Moresby to my knowledge, definitely not in Buin. At bes, they will have a stamp to document your entry. They wont have a PNG visa sticker.

In Solomons, you can find lots of nice souvenirs in Honiara. Of course you can also find them in the provinces, i.e. Marovo Lagoon for carvings.

Hi there,

I did this trip with my family last year. we travelled through Bougainville for a week through to Buin.
In Buin we went to the immigration office and got our passports stamped out and the following day
we found some guys to take us across to Choiseul, which took about 45minutes. You can stay at a mission
in Choiseul and there is a 2 weekly flight onto Gizo where you can get stamped into the solomon islands.
Let me know if you need anymore information and don't let anyone put you off Bougainville, many tried to
put us off and it was one of the most rewarding travelling experiences of my life.

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