Information
City: MakiraCountry: Solomon Islands
Continent: Australia
Makira, Solomon Islands, Australia
Overview
Makira, one of the biggest islands in the Solomon chain, lies in the country’s far east where the sea glints bright blue at midday.It’s part of Makira-Ulawa Province, surrounded by smaller islands-some no more than a strip of sand and palms in the blue water.Makira bursts with natural beauty, from the thick green of its rainforests to the warm sand curling along quiet tropical beaches, all steeped in a vibrant cultural heritage.Makira sits in the Solomon Sea, east of the main islands, ringed by smaller islets and bright coral reefs that glint in the sun.Most of the island rises into steep mountains, a central range cutting through its heart, with dense, rain-soaked forests spilling down the slopes.The island’s edged with stunning stretches of sand and rugged coast, and in a few hidden coves, the water’s so clear you can see the pebbles on the seabed.Makira basks in a tropical climate, with heat that lingers like a sun-warmed stone and air thick with humidity all year long.From November to April, the island slips into its wet season, with heavy rain drumming on tin roofs, while May through October brings drier, gentler weather that’s far better for getting outside.Most days, the heat hovers between 26°C and 30°C (about 79°F to 86°F), warm enough to make the air feel heavy on your skin.Makira’s story runs deep, shaped by centuries of life from many indigenous groups who’ve called the island home, their traditions still echoing in the rhythm of drums at dusk.Melanesian people were the island’s first settlers, and their traditions still run strong-you can hear them in the steady beat of the drums at dusk.In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, European colonization reached the island, as missionaries brought Christianity and taught new farming methods, from planting wheat to tending citrus groves.Even so, the people of Makira have kept their old customs and languages alive, from the rhythm of drum dances to the lilt of ancestral words.Today, Makira is home to several unique tribal groups, each speaking its own language and keeping traditions as old as the sound of drums in the evening air.On Makira, people tend small gardens, cast lines into the sea at dawn, and craft goods by hand, while stories flow from one generation to the next like a living thread of memory.On the island, life revolves around cultural ceremonies, lively feasts, and colorful festivals, many of them bringing neighbors together under lantern-lit skies to honor both community and the natural world.Makira’s economy runs on a blend of subsistence farming, fishing, and small-scale agriculture, from taro fields to the daily catch pulled in at dawn.On the island, people depend on coconut palms, taro, cassava, and banana, with green fronds swaying above gardens of broad-leafed plants.Fishing drives much of the island’s economy, supplying both local tables and overseas markets, with gleaming tuna and other prized fish filling the nets.The island may not be a big industrial center, but copra-dried coconut with a sweet, earthy scent-is still one of its main trades.The island supplies timber and other forest goods, though you’ll see far fewer logging sites here than in most parts of the Solomon Islands.Tourism’s been on the rise in recent years, and Makira’s now drawing visitors with its lush rainforests, vibrant dive reefs, and chances to share a meal or story with local communities.Tourism’s still taking shape here, and most visitors come to Makira for eco-adventures and a glimpse of daily life-like watching fishermen mend nets in the morning sun.Makira is drawing more travelers these days, especially those eager to see the Solomon Islands beyond the usual routes-where rainforest trails smell of damp earth and the beaches are quiet.On the island, you can kayak through clear, quiet coves, hike forest trails, and still have time to share stories with the people who call this place home.On the island, you can dive or snorkel among Makira’s vibrant coral reefs, where bright fish flicker through clear, warm water and the conditions are perfect for exploring.Visitors can dive into underwater caves, swim past WWII shipwrecks, and drift among coral gardens alive with flashes of bright tropical fish.Clear blue water circles the island, perfect for slipping on a mask to snorkel or strapping on a tank for a deeper scuba dive.Eco-Tourism and Wildlife: Thick rainforest blankets the island, sheltering rare plants and animals found nowhere else, making it a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers alike.You can wander the forest trails and watch for local wildlife-flying foxes hanging from branches, bats darting overhead, and birds flashing bursts of color between the trees.One of the best parts of a trip to Makira is stopping by its traditional villages, where you might hear the steady beat of a drum and get a real glimpse of Melanesian life.Visitors can join village ceremonies, taste steaming bowls of traditional stew, and browse the island’s handmade treasures-woven mats, sturdy baskets, and carved wooden figures.The island boasts pristine beaches, some so quiet you can hear only the waves and the wind, untouched by buildings or crowds.On Makira, powdery white sand meets glass-clear water, perfect for stretching out in the sun, diving in for a swim, or wandering the shore in search of seashells.Visitors also flock to lagoon tours and kayaking, gliding past still blue water under the warm sun.Like much of the Solomon Islands, Makira still holds traces of World War II-rusted shell casings half-buried in the sand, silent under the sun.During the war, the island served an active role, and today visitors can wander through silent airstrips, rusting wrecks, and abandoned military posts.You can reach Makira by flying in or taking a boat, the air warm with salt as you step ashore.Gizo serves as the Solomon Islands’ main transport hub, with planes lifting off daily for Makira’s green, rugged shores.The island’s tiny airstrip welcomes planes from Honiara-the bustling capital of the Solomon Islands-as well as from a handful of nearby regional airports.Boat services link Makira with nearby islands and regions, though the trip can turn tricky when sudden squalls churn the water.On the island, you’ll usually get around by boat or bus, and you can hire a local guide who knows every winding path and hidden dock.Makira is widely seen as a safe place to visit, but like any remote corner of the world, it calls for common sense-stick to basic safety rules, especially if you’re heading down a quiet dirt track far from town.When you’re exploring remote villages or hiking through the hills, it’s best to have a local guide-they know the trails, the shortcuts, and how to keep you safe.In Makira, you’ll find a side of the Solomon Islands most travelers never see-lush forests dripping with rain, villages alive with tradition, and echoes of WWII lingering along the shore.If you’re drawn to hiking through thick, green rainforests, slipping into clear blue shallows, or joining in the daily rhythm of island villages, Makira welcomes adventurous travelers eager to connect more deeply with the Solomon Islands.Makira’s lush forests and expanding tourism facilities put it on the verge of becoming a top spot for eco-tourism and cultural discovery.
Landmarks in makira
