Stretching across nearly 1,000 islands from Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands is the true last frontier in the South Pacific. While many tropical destinations have become increasingly commercialised, this sprawling archipelago just three hours from east coast Australia remains a little known paradise where abundant nature and captivating culture shape authentic visitor experiences.

There is no mass tourism here, and that’s something the Solomon Islands has absolutely no problem with. Quite the opposite, actually. One of the more unexplored Pacific island destinations, this is a niche tourism wonderland of eco-lodges, community-run activities, adventure, trekking, world-class diving, uncrowded surfing, birdwatching, sport fishing, cultural immersion and World War 2 history.

The nearly 30,000 international visitors this Pacific island nation welcomes in a year quickly discover there’s nothing mundane, over-used or ‘seen it before, done it before’ about the Solomon Islands.

The ‘Hapi Isles’ is for niche and experience-driven travellers what is becoming an increasingly rare find in global tourism - a safe, eco-rich and genuine friendly destination with its focus firmly on eco-tourism as the way forward. This aims to ensure the country’s natural beauty and cultural identity endure for generations to come, and it’s underpinned by the core values of sustainability, respect and long-term community benefit.

At the heart of the Solomon Islands are the welcoming and warm-hearted Solomon Island people. At the heart of the people is kastom (traditional knowledge) which represents the idea of culture or traditional ways of doing things. Together with wantok - literally meaning ‘one talk’ and which reflects the strong belief in kinship and clan ties - it is central to village life and how society is organized.

Solomon Islands Is Adventure And Culture

Trekking takes on a whole new appeal in the Solomon Islands, where dense jungle interiors, dramatic mountain ridges, volcanic terrain and remote waterfalls offer exhilarating opportunities for those who like to explore on foot. A short excursion from the capital Honiara there are trails that lead to exotic beaches and local villages. In the Western Province a two-day trek navigates from gentle coastal plains up steep escarpments to the jaw-dropping crater rim of the 1,770 m high Kolombangara volcano. There are walks to suit all fitness levels and timeframes.

The sheer abundance and diversity of birdlife here also make it a paradise for birdwatchers. There are over 330 bird species - 102 of them endemic - that call the Solomon Islands home, and this includes many rare and sought-after species. Like the Black-faced Pitta, Fearful Owl, Solomon Frogmouth, Roviana Rail and Guadalcanal Moustached Kingfisher.

In areas around Honiara can be seen the White-billed Crow, Chestnut-bellied Monarch, Duchess Lorikeet, Yellow-bibbed Lory and White-winged Fantail. The high interior mountains are the habitat of the Woodford’s Rail, San Christobal Thrush and Guadalcanal Honeyeater, while other major islands such as Makira, Malaita, Kolombangara, New Georgia and Santa Cruz have their own array of warblers, flycatchers, monarchs, starlings, white-eyes and flowerpeckers.

Solomon Islands’ diving, meanwhile, is an underwater world like no other. One of the top dive destinations on the planet, the diving here comprises technicolour coral pastures, steep walls, shallow reefs, tunnels, drop-offs and a veritable pot-pourri of demersal, reef and pelagic fish that swarm the warm waters.

So too does the Solomon Islands have one of the highest concentrations of World War 2 wrecks in the Pacific. Many of the sunken warships, aircraft and submarines that found their end in these waters nearly a century ago, have evolved into thriving artificial reefs teeming with marine life. One particularly notable site is Iron Bottom Sound just offshore from Honiara, so called because of the large number of vessels and planes that sank there during the 1942-43 Battle of Guadalcanal. Many of these dive sites are within 15-30 minutes’ boat ride from the capital.

Sweetening the deal for divers is the choice of staying at one of the idyllic resorts that cater specifically for them, or island-hopping on a liveaboard boat. Boats like the MV Bilikiki which does trips of seven to 14 nights out of Honiara to the famed Florida and Russell Islands, Marovo Lagoon and Mary Island.

If fishing is your thing, ponder this for a moment. The Solomon Islands is within the Coral Triangle, a vast section of the Pacific Ocean that boasts the highest marine biodiversity on Earth. So whether trolling, fly fishing, surf casting or just dangling a hook, be it in the deep sea, rivers, reefs or estuaries, there’s plenty to catch.

Yellow-fin tuna, marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, giant trevally, Spanish mackerel, coral trout and sea bass. Wahoo, saddle tail snapper, red emperors, billfish, archerfish, sleepy cod, red bass and spottail bass. These are a few of the myriad species that thrive in these bountiful waters, and the reason many anglers insist that the Solomon Islands is fishing.

Then, there’s Solomon Islands surfing. Truly awesome surfing. From November to April the northern Pacific swells transform reef breaks across the archipelago into world-class - and uncrowded - surf spots.

While the two best known surf regions are Gizo in the Western Province and Santa Isabel, there are literally dozens of ‘secret’ locations throughout the hundreds of islands. There are dedicated surfing camps, particularly in Santa Isabel, that package accommodation, boats, meals and easy access to those all-important surf breaks. What more could a true-blue surfer ask for?

And, like the diving, many of the surf experiences are linked to locally-owned lodges and small eco-retreats that distribute tourism income directly into island communities and villages.

In the country’s accommodation scene, eco-resorts have become a major option where guests can enjoy a laid-back vibe and appreciate the exotic surroundings. Cultural village stays, too, are popular and also see tourism dollars go back into the local community.

Visit the Tourism Solomons website at www.visitsolomons.com.sb for more information about this vastly untouched destination, and to plan your own discovery of why the Solomon Islands is the true last frontier in the South Pacific.