Solo travel and weekend trips from Honiara

Hey Guys

I will be working in the National Referral Hospital, Honiara for 8 weeks from August. 2 Questions. One is what is possible in a weekend trip from Honiara, either to other parts of the island or nearby islands? What would you recommend?

Also, I have 10 days or so at the end of my hospital stay to travel to another part of the solomons. Where would be good to go? My criteria would be either for a basic, beautiful, friendly village stay or a reasonably lively / social resort.

Many thanks

Paul

I really think that when you have only a wekend at a time, you'll have to stick to Guadalcanal, and unfotunately you can't even get to the more interesting/scenic parts of that island either.
Or maybe, just maybe, you could hop over to islands like Nggela or Savo for an overnight trip, but you'll have to check carefully whether you'll be able to return next day (on Sunday!).

For that 10 days trip on a lively resort island at the end of your stay you'll probably want to go to Western Province.
You could also go to Malaita or Rennell for a friendly village stay, but somehow I imagine you won't be in a need of a village stay to "experience the real Solomons" by that point.

Sorry for the delay in replying - I have been away from home for a week, and this is the first internet access I have had. If you can afford the hire of a boat, or can get on the ferry (which enerally runs only Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoons), you can get to Tulagi (Gela - the long, low islands you see from Honiara). The Women's Resource Centre has very reasonable accommodation and also houses the Community Sector Program. There are a couple of other guest houses as well.
Further up market (the food is quite expensive) is Maravagi resort, on anothe island in the Gela group, which will send a boat for you.
You can also get to Auki (Malaita) by ship on Friday evenings, but you would have to book a flight back on Sunday, although I think the Langa langa ship, Sa'alia usually travels Auki - Honiara on Sundays.
As for village stays, check the site in my sig line. If you are interested in the Lau Village stay on Malaita, send me a PM.

Question for Ozziegiraffe - can one make weekend trips to Savo Island? Anywhere to stay? I did a day trip there, from Tambea, but of course don't know if Tambea is still up and running now, or if one can get a canoe to Savo from Honiara.

Tambea disappeared during the tension - after the militants used up everything there. For a while, the last 2 horses were tied up on any available grass in Chinatown, opposite the Honiara Hotel.
However you can get boats to Savo, either next to the Point Cruz Yacht Club (where the Gela boats, including Maravagi's tie up) or from Vila Village, between Tabalia and either Selwyn or Visale.
The former Prime Minister has a small resprt there, and I understand the Church of Melanesia had some sort of planning meeting over a few days there recently. There may also be other resorts.
I went to Savo for a couple of days on a retreat with students from Selwyn, and felt rather ill while there (I think it might have been the sulphur in the air.)