two days in Honiara

Hello everyone,

We're off to the Solomons Thursday next week. We're catching the boat to Gizo on Sunday morning, and we'll be staying arund there for most of our time in the Solomons - visiting friends and making excursions from there. But we do have two full days in Honiara, on Friday and Saturday next week.... and we're looking for things to do! I'm a photographer, and we quite enjoy just strolling around markets etc. I suppose we could spend one day in town and do one day-trip somewhere - we're not out to spend a lot of money if we can avoid it; would rather use it for diving and other trips later. But we're open to any kind of suggestion. My guess is two full days in the city - any city - is more than we'd need; we generally like to get out into the country first chance we get. We're usually more keen on beautiful natural places than monuments, wrecks etc, but again, happy to hear any suggestions. If you have any favourite restaurants in Honiara we'd be happy to hear about that too - we're more for small local places than big fancy things, provided the food is good of course! Don't drink, so that wouldn't matter. Thanks very much! Marcus & Katie

Oh, also - we've promised to bring over some notebooks for the kids in a local school. Easy enough to pick up in Honiara, or cheaper/better when we go through Brisbane?

Second question first: there are a number of shops that sell stationery in Honiara, and books weigh quite a bit.
Only carry them if baggage weight is not a problem.
Eating places: Many locals like Nicky's, (lunch only) along the road from the King Solomon Hotel - Nicky is from Thailand, but has lived and worked in Honiara with the locals for years. Sea King is the "up-market" Chinese, overlooking the water. The 3 big hotels have a cultural show one night a week - if you get to go to one, try for a Melanesian, or pan-pipe, group - they are more authentic than the more common groups of Gilbertese doing Tahitian-style dancing.
For lunch, try the cafes in the mini food court at Panatina Plaza.In the evening, you can buy barbecue from locals on the side of the road. (and in the daytime opposite the domestic airport terminal.)
If you can hire a car, or get a taxi that will do the trip (ask the quoted price first), drive along the coast road to the west of Honiara. Take a picnic lunch (buy fruit from the market, and hot bread from the Hot Bread shop in the middle of town). You may have to pay to swim at one of the beaches, and brief swimmers are frowned on (wear a lava lava (Solomon Sarong) around your legs, or board shorts, so you don't upset the locals.
Otherwise, take an overnight trip to Savo or Gela. (If you are interested in doing this, let me know and I will post more information.)
Incidentally, where are you staying in Honiara? This may affect what and where you can eat.

Hello,

Thanks so much for all that information! I'll try to deal with one bit at a time...

We're staying at Honiara Hotel - central location, a pool and online booking (well, by email) for something like 200 or 250 per night seemed a pretty good deal.

We'll look into the pan-pipe groups - sounds like it would be interesting to see!

The overnight trips are definitely an option, too, as we still have part of Thursday afternoon in town as well. So we'd love a bit more info on that if you don't mind.

Thanks for the food tips - there's nothing quite like having a really disappointing meal, so when you don't have much time somewhere it's great to hear about local favourites!

How far West of Honiara (or how much by taxi) until you get to some nice beaches or other more relaxed areas? Not sure we'd rent a car - but is motorcycle rental anything like in South-East Asia (i.e. you don't necessarily need a motorcycle lisence, and it's quite a bit cheaper than renting a car)? We're well stocked up on board-shorts and sarongs, anyway. What's customary to pay (if you're asked to pay) when going on to somebody's land? Or would you normally be asked a specific amount in that case? I would imagine that it would feel more like a gift than business if you know how much to give without being told!

Thanks again for your help,

M&K

Sent you a PM, but forgot a couple of things.
I have never seen a motor bike available for rent in Honiara.
As for custom fees, I usually travel with locals, and rarely get asked. However, people in some places can ask anything from a small token amount to something outrageous. Beaches on the road out of Honiara are all private or custom land, and the landowners always charge something (usually small) to visit.

Another eating place, favoured by expats, is the Lime Lounge, around the corner from the ANZ bank. It has the advantage of air-conditioning and a loo.
El Shaddai cafe is good, upstairs in Tongs Building. ((In the block behind the main grag, behind Westpac).
Next to Westpac are a series of takeaways with tables, commonly called "Amy's", and firther down the NPF plaza has sort of courtyard eateries.
These are all open diring the day, rather than for dinner.
I asked where you were staying as the local "rest houses" have communal kitchens, where places like the Honiara Hotel only have restaurants (much more expensive).
If you go out to eat at night, drive or take a taxi - walking around town at night, as in most places, isn't wise.
I forgot the Aloha, a restaurant/dance club a bit east of Chinatown, which is popular with local young people. There is also the Point Cruz Yacht Club, which serves dinner as well as lunch, and the Raintree cafe, a bit west of town, where I haven't been, but which everyone says is great.

There was a new-to-me cafe in Chinatown that had acceptable meals at relatively acceptable prices, better than Sea King. Sorry, can't remember the name but I think it is (if it is still there) near the video rental place in Chinatown. Honiara Hotel is more or less in Chinatown rather than 'central' Honiara, and if the Mandarin Restaurant is still operating it's very near the Honiara Hotel. I also liked Nicky's.

I actually found that there was a lot to do in and near Honiara! I did some wreck diving, went on a WWII tour, and hiked on Savo, a volcanic island that Ozziegiraffe already mentioned. You say that you're more interested in natural beauty than wrecks, but I actually thought the WWII stuff was really interesting. On Tetere Beach, you can see about 30 abandoned amtracks! But if you're interested in nature only, you can do some day hikes in the area. Actually, Ozziegiraffe's website has a ton of information, and I found it very helpful in planning my trip (in many cases more useful than a guidebook). Here's a link from that website with day hikes:
http://exploringsolomons.wikispaces.com/honiara_bushwalks

It isn't my website, Videshi - i just contributed a few small bits. It was started by some other Australians who had been working in Solomon Islands, and wanted to see more of the country.
I put is in my sig line, so others could find it easily.
Personally, the WWII sites are the least interesting aspect of Solomon Islands - I am much more interested in culture and scenery.
Forgot to mention Betikama, on the eastern edge of town. They have interesting museum pieces, beautiful orchids and a carving and other craft shop - sometimes you can see people working on them. It is an Adventist boarding school, so don't go there on Saturday.

Thanks so much for the answers & advice - very helpful!! Feel much better prepared now :) Just one last question: Are the exchange rates better at the banks in town than at the airport (i.e. is it better to just change enough to get into town at arrival and going to say ANZ for the rest?). We've got €; after that will just make do with ATMs.

Thanks again everyone.

M&K

If you have a Mastercard or Visa, I would be using the ATMs. The rate is better unless your card provider charges huge fees.
There is an ATM in the departure lounge at the airport.
For money exchange, you get a better rate for traveller's cheques than cash, and better at the banks than the airport.
ANZ is the slowest bank, as you have to take a ticket along with all the local customers, though they do have chairs. Bank South Pacific has foreign exchange on the mezannine, so is more comfortable. I'm not sure about Westpac, as I only use thier ATM.