This guided tour has been designed to orientate visitors about Honiara City, the capital and gateway of Solomon Islands. Places of interest covered during the tour include the following:
POINT CRUZ
Point Cruz is the main sea port of Honiara, gateway to all maritime vessels for both international and domestic.
On your return to the pier, drive past the Government Offices including the Prime Minister’s Office, Central Bank of Solomon Islands & Solomon Islands Philatelic Bureau, Cenotaph & Kawaguchi Memorial and other main business houses located in the heart of Point Cruz.
HONIARA CENTRAL MARKET
The Central Market is a hive of activity and cultural delights. There are endless rows of vegetables, fruits, nuts, chickens and seafood for sale along with intricately detailed handicraft and woven baskets, with traditional necklaces, earrings, bracelets and the popular shell money (tafuliae). Here ladies produce a spectacular array of tropical flowers on Saturday mornings as well as a smattering of clothing stalls with lava-lavas (sarongs) also for sale. The market operates on a smaller scale throughout the week but for full experience visit on a Saturday.
VURA/NAHA/KOLA RIDGE SUBURBS
This is the one of the many residential suburbs in Honiara. Have the opportunity to see the eastern residential areas apart from the main Honiara City. Also you will see from the bus the Kola Ridge Gravesite.
CHINA TOWN
China Town in the late 50’s, when the Indians were taken to Fiji, the Chinese were brought in from Hong Kong by the British Colonial powers to help develop Solomon Islands, they came and called Solomon Islands home.
China Town is where all the wholesale business is located with new buildings now open after the burning down of the shops during the April Riots in 2005.
NATIONAL PARLIAMENT BUIDLING
The country’s 50-seat parliament is perched on a ridge overlooking Honiara City.
The Parliament building was commissioned in 1994 as a gift from the United States of America for the 50th Anniversary of the events of World War II. The outside of the building is less appealing than the interior, which has been well crafted and smartly designed in a circular structure.
The chamber lies in the centre of the building and intricate designs decorate the high ceilings. Above the ministerial seats is a gallery that is open to the public.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Museum offers visitors a glimpse of island traditions with various exhibitions of weaponry, body ornaments, sculpture, painting and cultural dance.
There is a small souvenir shop just inside the main entrance that offers a unique variety of gifts.