Gizo – The jewel in the Solomon Islands’ tourism crown

Edited by Travel Weekly

Gizo in the Solomon Islands’ Western Province is the second largest township in the country and with its concentration of tourism accommodation, facilities and activities is the destination’s main tourism corridor.

Home to world class dive operations and some of the best fishing spots in the country, the area boasts several surf breaks, WWII battlefields, an intriguing cultural mix and historical sites.

The town is also home to one of the region’s main service centres and a large market which sees local people come from far and near to buy and sell fresh produce, fruit, vegetables and fish, as well as international yacht crews stocking up on supplies or heading in for a repair.

These are just some of the highlights of this bustling and very traditional South Pacific town offers its visitors.

Gizo Market is the pride of the town. It is very progressive when it comes to being environmentally friendly with a ban on sale of single use plastic bags. Instead of plastic bags, shoppers can purchase a woven coconut basket at a very reasonable price. The market is packed with beautiful tropical fruit, vegetables, nuts, root crops and fish.

Fatboys Resort

Named after Joe the Fat Boy from Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers. Located on Mbabanga Island, the resort has two over-water couples/honeymoon bungalows and three bungalows that cater to groups. The over-water Bar and Restaurant is an easy place to spend a day observing the technicolour tropical fish that live beneath the bar and local commuters travelling from Roviana to Gizo and back, many in traditional dugout canoes.

Fatboys Resort

Sanbis Resort

The adults-only preferred Sanbis Resort is also located on Mbabanga Island, just ten minutes boat ride from Gizo Airport. Small bungalows and the larger ‘The Lodge’ offers modern facilities and luxuries including a spa pool in quiet seclusion with dining facilities including a renowned pizza menu.

Oravae Cottage

Oravae Cottage located on a private island 15 minutes by boat from Gizo. The open plan family bungalow has a beautiful large deck with hammocks that overlook the lagoon. Simple and honest, the bungalows are clean and comfortable and the Baea family are wonderful hosts. Oravae is family friendly and offer a number of activities that appeal to all ages.

Oravae Cottage (Tourism Solomons)

Gizo Hotel

Located on Gizo’s waterfront sitting cheek by jowl with the town’s market, the Gizo Hotel, sister property to the King Solomon Hotel in Honiara, offers a convenient jumping off point for those who wish to explore the region while experiencing life in a traditional South Pacific township.

Imagination Island Resort

The family-friendly, eco-oriented Imagination Island Resort sits on a privately owned coral-fringed island in the heart of the Gizo Lagoon. Perfect for snorkelling, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing, SUP boarding and surfing.

Saeraghi Village is 20 minutes by boat from Gizo Town. Alternatively, drive from Gizo via a coastal track in a 4WD. The area offers the opportunity to visit several villages where you can experience very rural and traditional day to day activities such as dugout canoe making, wood and stone carving ang.

Diving in Gizo

Offering a huge variety of spectacular dive sites, divers visiting Gizo – and the home of the very reputable Dive Gizo – can choose from Grand Central Station which boasts the highest fish count in the world with more than 275 species recorded in its teeming waters. Wreck enthusiasts too are more than catered for with a 440-foot Japanese freighter, the Toa Maru and an almost fully-intact US Hellcat fighter aircraft lying in very shallow waters a short boat ride away from Gizo Town.

Diving in Gizo (Ross Long)

Surfing

A few minutes by boat from Gizo township is Palonggi, a long, shallow right that’s well exposed to swell. It works best on bigger swells when the wave’s sections join up and it can get hollow.

For those who like to go left, nearby Titiana’s is a goofy’s paradise, again a long shallow ride which when showing a bit of size allows surfers to loop through section after section with an easy paddle back. Truth be told Gizo is not the best place for beginners.

Getting There

Solomon Airlines offers regular scheduled services to the Nusatupe Airstrip utilizing its Dash-8 an Twin Otter aircraft.

For more information visit www.visitsolomons.com.sb or contact Tourism Solomons, email info@tourismsolomons.com.sb.

(Featured Image: Gizo Harbour on market day – Chris McLennan)

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Fatboys Resort Gizo Sanbis Resort solomon islands