Solomons - getting there by sea

Hi there,

I am planning a one-month trip to the Solomon islands in November 2008. As we will have quite some time on our hands, however, my boyfriend and me are considering getting there by sea (from Brisbane). Lonely planet mentions the possibility of some cargo ships, but I cannot find any details. Therefore, I'd appreciate very much if anybody had any info, advice, tips on the sea connection from Brisbane to the Solomons.

Also, if you have some really good diving centres to recommend, please do!!!

cheers,
Tanja

Hello,
passenger shipping between countries has disappeared worldwide. There are a few expection, maybe from Europe via Mediterainian to Africa, maybe between Korea and Japan.
There is still plenty of passenger shipping inside countries, mainly countries which consist from islands only, like Philippines, but no more intercountry passenger shipping. Simple reason taking planes is faster, cheaper and more relayable.

Swires shipping operates cargo ships to Solomon Islands out of Brisbane. However, I have never heard of them taking passengers.
I would leave the ship travel to within Solomon Islands, as it can take quite a while to travel between islands. One month is really not a long time to spend there. Unless you plan to spend all your time diving, you could use up a month very easily travelling between and around islands, and still not get to most of them.

Ditto comments from Ozziegiraffe above.

Note also that Pacific shipping does not always just do Brisbane-Honiara direct. Even if you can weasel a passenger berth on a cargo ship, you might have a long, boring circuit of various Pacific ports ahead. That said, I know of many people who have arrived in Solomons by yacht. This may not fit your time constraints but it would definitely be an interesting way to arrive. Long distance yachties are difficult people to pin down but if this idea really appeals to you I suggest you try contacting yacht clubs in likely departure points (Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji, PNG) to see if you can find someone needing a deckhand. (Yachties often help to finance their travels by taking on "passengers" who contribute to costs.)

Dive operators can be found by Google or by checking a guide book. The longstanding businesses that I am familiar with are:

Western -
Uepi Island Resort
Agnes Lodge Munda
Lola Island
Dive Gizo

Central -
Tulaghi Dive
Maravagi Resort

Live aboard -
Bilikiki / Spirit of Solomons

I hope all of these are still operating. I have dived with most of them (and the ones I haven't come recommended by people I know). Its not possible to do a comparison because they cover different parts of the country and offer very different types of experiences.

Be aware that SI is a big country geographically. Domestic travel can be slow and unreliable, especially when there are big seas.

Most of the places mentioned in the last post are the more upmarket ones. You can also stay in the Transit or Rest Houses used by the locals. These have the advantage of ebing frequented by locals, who can help you get to places where there aren't any resorts. i do most of my travel in Solomon Islands through local friends, and have been to all sorts of out of the way places that way. I guess it depends on what you want to do there.

Hi,
You can try to find sailing vessel, a private yacht. It is amazing, we did it twice. The only problem is that only a few yachts sail to Solomons a year. A little more to Vanuatu. Cairns is probably a little better port to try it. But the best is to try www.findacrew.com</a> we found a yacht on this site twice

Faisi - there's loads of inter-country passenger shipping left, especially in South East Asia and the Pacific but also in Asia, Europe and South America that I know of.

Eddy, could you be more specific about inter-country passenger ships in the Pacific? You are the first person who has had evidence that they exist.

ok maybe there's not "loads" but there are several in South East Asia eg Philippines - Borneo, Indonesia - Malaysia, maybe West Papua - PNG? Admittedly In the Pacific I can only think of the one that goes Vanuatu - New Caledonia.

Is the Vanuatu - New Caledonia one a regular service, or just a cruise ship?
South East Asia is a whole lot different to the South Pacific.

hehe yeah i know it's different. Yes, the Vanuatu one is a regular passenger service. There's also a passenger service between Tokelau and Samoa.