Auki Travel Guide

City City in Malaita Province, Solomon Islands

On Malaita, Auki serves as the island’s market town: canoes, copra galleries and busy stalls line the waterfront. Travelers use Auki as a base for diving, ancestral-village visits, kastom exchanges, and boat trips into shallow reefs and mangrove channels.

Costs

$30-60/day (budget traveler)

Very basic local prices; limited accommodation choices increase demand.

Safety

Relatively safe but services are limited

Generally safe day-to-day; occasional local disputes and limited emergency services.

Best Time

April-November (drier season)

Drier months for boat travel and village visits.

In This Guide

Why Visit Auki?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

7,020

Infrastructure & Convenience

Small airport and ferry links, basic shops and few hotels.

Popularity

Rarely visited by mass tourism; draws cultural tourists and inter-island travelers.

Known For

Malaita culture, local markets, shell money (fei), Langa Langa Lagoon, canoeing, diving, traditional crafts, provincial administration

Auki is the main gateway to Malaita and nearby Langa Langa Lagoon, known for traditional shell-money production.

Why Visit Auki? #

Auki serves as Malaita Province’s cultural and commercial hub, where lively markets and traditional dance shape the visitor experience. Browse Auki Market for fresh seafood and handcrafted shell jewelry, or take boat trips to nearby small villages to witness kastom ceremonies and canoe-building traditions. The town’s role as a regional gateway also makes it convenient for exploring the dramatic shoreline and reef systems that sustain local communities.

Top Things to Do in Auki

All Attractions ›

Malaita

Large Solomon Islands island with traditional cultures

Island

Don't Miss

Auki Market - Bustling waterfront market selling fresh fish, vegetables, and traditional handicrafts daily.
Auki Wharf - Working wharf where inter-island boats dock and local fishing activity concentrates.
Malaita Cultural performances - Evening dances and kastom demonstrations presenting provincial music, dance, and storytelling traditions.

Hidden Gems

Langa Langa Lagoon shell-money villages - Short boat rides to villages that make traditional shell money on artificial islands.
Kukumanu viewpoint - A nearby hill offering quiet coastal panoramas and local village glimpses at sunset.
Local kastom workshops - Small workshops teaching carving, tapa cloth techniques, and customary crafts by locals.

Day Trips

Langa Langa Lagoon excursions - Full-day boat trips through mangrove channels visiting shell-money makers and reef snorkeling.
Kwaio village visits - Guided cultural tours inland to Kwaio villages for traditional life and storytelling.

Best Time to Visit Auki #

Auki is at its best in the dry season (May-October) when waters are calm for diving and boat trips. The wet/cyclone months bring heavy showers and occasional service disruptions.

Rainy Season

November - April · 24°C to 31°C (75°F to 88°F)

Heavy rains make roads rough and some resorts close; sea conditions become choppy, but marine life viewing can be superb after storms.

Dry Season

May - October · 22°C to 28°C (72°F to 82°F)

Stable trade winds bring sunnier, calmer seas - ideal for diving, snorkeling and island-hopping; expect pleasantly hot, humid days with less rain.

Cyclone Season

January - March · 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F)

Peak cyclone risk January-March means possible cancellations and rough seas; travel insurance recommended, and watch weather closely if you must visit.

Best Time to Visit Auki #

Climate

Auki's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 23°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (3177 mm/year), wettest in February.

Best Time to Visit

MarchAprilMay

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

31°

Warmest Month

23°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the hottest month, feeling like 31°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (361 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

31°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 31°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

361 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.6

UV Index

Extreme

12.4h daylight

February

February is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (380 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

30°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 31°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

380 mm

Rainfall

1.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.7

UV Index

Extreme

12.3h daylight

March

March is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (283 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

30°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 31°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

283 mm

Rainfall

1.8 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.5

UV Index

Extreme

12.0h daylight

April

April is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (227 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

30°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 31°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

227 mm

Rainfall

1.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.3

UV Index

Extreme

11.8h daylight

May

May is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (216 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

30°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 31°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

216 mm

Rainfall

2.5 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.0

UV Index

Very High

11.6h daylight

June

June is warm with stifling humidity (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (203 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

23° – 30°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

203 mm

Rainfall

2.2 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.7

UV Index

Very High

11.5h daylight

July

July is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (245 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

63 Good

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

23° – 30°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

245 mm

Rainfall

2.1 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.7

UV Index

Very High

11.6h daylight

August

August is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (279 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

23° – 30°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

279 mm

Rainfall

2.2 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.0

UV Index

Very High

11.7h daylight

September

September is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (258 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

26°

Feels Like Warm

26°C

Temperature

23° – 30°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

258 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.4

UV Index

Extreme

11.9h daylight

October

October is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Heavy rain (228 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

27°

Feels Like Warm

27°C

Temperature

23° – 31°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

228 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.5

UV Index

Extreme

12.2h daylight

November

November is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (234 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

30°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

23° – 31°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

234 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.6

UV Index

Extreme

12.4h daylight

December

December is the hottest month, feeling like 31°C with oppressive humidity. Heavy rain (263 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

57 Acceptable

Comfort

31°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 31°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

263 mm

Rainfall

1.7 m/s

Wind

Calm

2.5

UV Index

Extreme

12.5h daylight

How to Get to Auki

By Air

By Train & Bus

How to Get Around Auki #

Auki’s town centre is small enough to explore on foot. For travel between villages and plantations, small buses (minivans), motorbike taxis and launches are commonly used. Auki is a regional transport hub with ferry links to outlying islands; services can be irregular, so confirm schedules locally and carry cash.

Where to Stay in Auki #

Budget

Town centre / wharf area - $20-80/night

Auki has a few small, basic guesthouses and modest hotels. Facilities are functional but simple; online listings and booking options are limited.

Mid-Range

Near market / ferry terminal - $40-120/night

Some mid-range guesthouses provide private rooms and meals, but expect limited amenities. Best to book via local operators or the provincial tourism office.

Luxury

Limited / no luxury inventory - $60-150+/night

Auki has essentially no luxury hotels. Upscale services are not commonly available; arrange specialised needs through tour operators.

Where to Eat in Auki #

Malaitan daily plates

Auki food leans on reef fish, taro, cassava and coconut; meals are often boiled or roasted, reflecting subsistence fishing and market trade.

Markets & roadside cooking

Local markets supply fish and root crops for simple roadside grills. Palm wine and shared plates are common at community gatherings.

Nightlife in Auki #

Nightlife in Auki is limited. Evenings are largely social and local rather than tourist-oriented; a few small bars or hotel lounges may operate. Do not expect late-night entertainment or a wide selection of venues.

Shopping in Auki #

Auki Market and nearby stalls are the primary shopping places, offering fresh fish, vegetables and basic goods. Local handicrafts can be found in small quantities. Expect limited opening hours and bring cash; specialty or branded items are rare.

Auki Market - Main open-air market selling fish, produce and local handicrafts.

Nearby Cities #