Honiara (Guadalcanal)

Honiara (Guadalcanal)

The town is on the northern coastline and incorporates a small picturesque sea port at Point Cruz. Visitors will enjoy the hustle and bustle of Honiara and there are many things to do and see.

Attractions

The National Parliament building, opened in 1993, is a distinctive conical building overlooking the main town centre. A tour of the entire building can be arranged with the Sergeant at Arms. The National Museum also located in the town centre is open daily with displays of dance and body ornamentation, traditional currencies, weaponry, and archaeology. The Central Bank is a large modern building containing some interesting displays of red feather money and other local currencies and very fine wood carvings. The Botanical Gardens and herbarium with a display of local orchids, and a selection of bush plants and trees mostly typical of rainforests in the country. The Honiara Central, Rove and Kukum markets are the country's food markets where produce comes in from outlying villages, and is worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. Here you will find an interesting array of local goods and produce, from fresh fish and vegetables, fruit, peanuts and betel nuts, to carvings, basketware, calico laplaps and shells. Both the US Memorial, atop Skyline Ridge, bearing a detailed description of the battles fought during the Guadalcanal Campaign, and the Japanese Peace Memorial, with it's four white monoliths on Mt Austin offer panoramic views of the capital, Iron Bottom Sound and the Florida Islands.

Shopping

Honiara town centre is level, shady and interesting, with a bustling air and interesting shops, some specialising in local handicrafts, others in duty free goods. Here also is the centre of commerce, banks, postal service, Telekom, restaurants, tourist information centre and local tour operators. A wonderful opportunity to mix with the locals presents itself at the several colourful outdoor markets around the town.

Currency

The Solomon dollar (SBD) is the official currency of the Solomon Islands.

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