Gizo: reefs, wrecks and island life in the Western Province

Arriving in Gizo

Flights from Honiara land at **Nusatupe**, an airstrip on its own small island a few minutes by boat from town. Your guesthouse or resort usually sends a boat, and local boats wait for every flight. The town itself is a single waterfront street with a market, shops, a hospital, a bank and a handful of places to eat and stay.

Diving and snorkelling

Gizo is one of the best places in the country to dive. Reefs here have hard and soft corals, turtles, reef sharks and huge schools of fish, and the water is often very clear. Wreck divers come for the **Toa Maru**, a Japanese transport ship lying on its side in shallow water off Kolombangara, and the **Hellcat** fighter plane sitting upright on the sand in shallow water near town. Local dive operators run trips for beginners and experienced divers, and many sites are excellent for snorkelling too.

Kennedy Island

**Kennedy Island**, also called Kasolo, is the little island where a young John F. Kennedy and his crew swam after their boat PT-109 was sunk in 1943. Two Solomon Islander scouts, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana, found the survivors and carried a message carved on a coconut to Allied forces. Today the island is a perfect day trip with white sand, snorkelling and a small shelter.

Island stays

Around Gizo, small island resorts sit on their own beaches. **Fatboys Resort** on Mbabanga Island has bungalows over the water and a famous jetty bar, and **Sanbis Resort** nearby has beachfront bungalows and good snorkelling. In town, simple guesthouses and the long running **Gizo Hotel** suit budget travellers and divers.

Kolombangara

Across the strait rises **Kolombangara**, an almost perfectly round volcanic island covered in rainforest. Hikers can climb towards the crater rim with local guides over two days, staying at a village lodge. It is tough, muddy and unforgettable, with endemic birds and cloud forest near the top.

Villages and culture

Gizo is home to Gilbertese families who were resettled from Kiribati in the colonial era, alongside Western Province communities. **Saeraghi** at the western end of Ghizo Island has a beautiful beach and a Gilbertese village. Nearby **Ranongga** and **Simbo** islands have hot springs, megapode nesting grounds and old skull shrines, reachable on day trips arranged in town.

Food and evenings

The market sells fish, fruit, root crops and cooked snacks in the morning. Evening options are small: a few cafés and restaurants in town, the Gizo Hotel, and resort restaurants where you book ahead. Sunset drinks on a jetty are the main nightlife.

Practical tips

Bring cash for your whole stay; there is a bank in town but ATMs can run out or fail. Mobile coverage is reasonable in town. Gizo was badly hit by a tsunami in 2007, so know the warning signs and head for high ground after any strong earthquake. See our places to visit list for more ideas.

A sample few days

On day one, settle in, walk the waterfront and watch the canoes come in to the market. On day two, take a morning dive or snorkel trip and spend the afternoon on Kennedy Island. On day three, visit Saeraghi beach or take a boat to Ranongga or Simbo for hot springs and megapode nests. If you have more time, add the Kolombangara climb or a few nights at an island resort where the only plan is the next swim. Keep the last day loose in case your flight back to Honiara changes, and confirm the boat to Nusatupe the evening before.