The Solomon Islands is a Pacific archipelago of nearly 1,000 islands offering pristine diving sites, WWII history, traditional Melanesian culture, and untouched natural beauty. From the bustling capital Honiara to remote coral atolls, this destination provides authentic South Pacific experiences far from mass tourism.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Bonegi Beach Shipwrecks and Vilu War Museum
Two WWII sites on the same westward run along Guadalcanal's coast. Bonegi Beach fronts the wrecks of Japanese transport ships driven ashore in 1942, their rusted hulls visible from the sand and close enough to reach by snorkeling. Vilu War Museum, a short distance further west, is an open-air field where wrecked aircraft, artillery and other war debris collected from around Guadalcanal have been assembled and labeled. Together they give a tangible, walk-through sense of the scale of the Guadalcanal campaign rather than a museum-behind-glass version of it.
Highlights: Snorkel or dive the Japanese WWII transport ships at Bonegi Beach I and II · Open-air Vilu War Museum with WWII aircraft, artillery, and vehicles · Mbonege Beach for quieter swimming and snorkelling · Coastal scenery along the western Guadalcanal highway
Tenaru Waterfalls and Red Beach
A pairing of an inland walk and a coastal history stop east of Honiara. Tenaru Falls drops into a pool reached by a walk that fords the Tenaru River several times. Red Beach, on the coast nearby, is the actual invasion beach where US Marines came ashore on 7 August 1942 to open the Guadalcanal campaign - a flat, largely undeveloped stretch of sand marked by a small memorial rather than any visitor infrastructure.
Highlights: Historic Red Beach (Tetere Beach) — WWII US Marine landing site with black sand and memorials · Tenaru Waterfalls with multiple tiers and natural swimming pools · Traditional villages along the Tenaru River · WWII relics visible along trail to the falls
Savo Island — Volcanic Island and Megapode Birds
A volcanic island across Iron Bottom Sound from Honiara, reached by speedboat rather than any scheduled ferry. Savo is known for black volcanic sand beaches, hot springs near the shoreline that are evidence of the island's active volcanic vents, and nesting grounds where the megapode bird buries its eggs in sand warmed by geothermal heat instead of incubating them itself. Local families still dig for these eggs, and a guide can arrange for visitors to watch or take part.
Highlights: Geothermally heated black sand beaches where megapode birds incubate eggs naturally · Active volcanic landscape with steaming vents and hot springs · Traditional villages with the welcoming Savo community · Natural hot baths near the volcanic area
Florida Islands (Nggela) and Tulagi
The Florida Islands across Iron Bottom Sound were the seat of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate before WWII, centred on the small island of Tulagi. Japanese forces occupied it early in the war and Allied forces later fought to retake it, leaving wrecks in the surrounding channel that are now dive sites. Tulagi itself keeps WWII-era ruins around a quiet harbour, while the wider Nggela islands offer reef snorkeling and village visits away from the town.
Highlights: Tulagi — former pre-war capital with colonial history and WWII diving · Toa Maru wreck dive near Tulagi · Traditional villages on Nggela islands · Pristine beaches and snorkelling on outer reefs
Mataniko Falls — Honiara's Hidden Jungle Waterfall
A waterfall in the hills just south of Honiara, the closest of the city's waterfall excursions. It's reached by a short walk through jungle and across the Mataniko River, dropping into a pool at the base of a cave-lined gorge. The caves around the falls are partly associated with Japanese positions from the Guadalcanal campaign, giving the walk a layer of wartime history alongside the swim.
Highlights: Dramatic waterfall plunging into an accessible cave system · WWII foxholes and relics along the Mataniko River trail · Swimming in the cavern pool at the base of the falls · Tropical rainforest with birds endemic to Guadalcanal
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organised day tours from Honiara start from $60-80 USD per person through Guadalcanal Travel Services and hotel tour desks. Include transportation, guide, and site fees.
- Private
- Full-day private taxi hire SBD 800-1200 ($95-145 USD) covers most western and eastern Guadalcanal sites. Negotiate at your hotel rather than flagging street taxis.
- Public
- PMV minibuses serve some Guadalcanal routes but without schedules — unreliable for day trips. Boat services to Savo and Florida Islands operate from Point Cruz wharf.
- Rental
- 4WD car rental from $100-150 USD per day at Henderson Airport (Budget, Avis). Recommended for independent exploration of Guadalcanal but road conditions are rough outside Honiara.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start all day trips before 8 AM to make the most of morning hours before the intense tropical heat peaks
Always negotiate and confirm the full price with your taxi driver before departure, including all planned stops
Bring sufficient cash (SBD) for kastom fees at sites, food, and tips as most locations outside Honiara are cash only
A combined Bonegi Beach plus Vilu War Museum full-day taxi trip ($95-120 USD) is the best value WWII day trip from Honiara