New Georgia Islands

The New Georgia Islands form an archipelago in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, comprising several forested volcanic islands and smaller islets. The group is notable for its wartime history, rich marine biodiversity and remote island communities.

Travelers visit for diving on coral reefs, snorkelling, remote beaches and sites associated with the Second World War. The islands offer rainforest interiors, river systems and community-run eco-tourism on some islands.

The islands have long been inhabited by Melanesian peoples and became strategically important during World War II, when the New Georgia Campaign took place in 1943. Postwar, many islands returned to local subsistence and small-scale commercial uses, with some areas set aside for conservation.

Located in the central Solomon Islands archipelago, the New Georgia group lies in the Western Province to the west of the larger island of Guadalcanal and the national capital Honiara.

• World War II history: The group saw major fighting during the New Georgia Campaign of World War II and contains shipwrecks and wartime relics that are of interest to history divers and researchers.
• Conservation importance: Tetepare is of international interest for conservation because of its extensive uninhabited rainforest and marine habitats.

What to See#

• New Georgia Island: The largest inhabited island of the group, containing the principal settlements and acting as a logistics base for travel between islands.
• Kolombangara: A nearly circular, forested volcanic island known for its distinctive cone shape and dense rainforest; popular with divers for nearby reefs.
• Rendova: A forested island with sheltered bays and wartime sites; used as a staging point during the New Georgia Campaign in World War II.
• Vella Lavella: A large, vegetated island with coastal villages and reefs that support local fisheries and community life.
• Tetepare: A largely uninhabited rainforest island noted for its large tracts of intact native forest and marine biodiversity, often cited as the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific.

Regular international flights arrive in Honiara (Honiara International Airport). From Honiara, visitors usually fly to Munda (Munda Airport) on New Georgia via Solomon Airlines or take inter-island boats (schedules are irregular). Local charter boats and occasional ferries connect other islands in the group; travel times vary widely depending on weather.

• Book flights to Munda (Munda Airport) or arrange an inter-island boat through Honiara well in advance; schedules are irregular.
• Pack for tropical humidity and bring cash - services on the islands are limited.
• If diving WWII wrecks, choose a locally recommended operator with current safety records.