Things to Do in Honiara in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Honiara
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
89°F (31°C)
High Temp
73°F (23°C)
Low Temp
8.3 inches (211 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Heavy rainfall expected, carry rain gear daily
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + During coral spawning season, Iron Bottom Sound becomes a living kaleidoscope. Dive operators run night boat trips timed precisely for the December full moon, when corals erupt in pink and white clouds that drift through the water like underwater fireworks.
- + December brings mango season to its peak. Roadside stands along Mendana Highway overflow with string bags of Kensington Pride mangoes, their golden flesh tasting like sunshine compressed into pure sweetness.
- + Post-cyclone pricing slashes Honiara hotel rates by 30-40% from July peaks. The older properties near Point Cruz offer wraparound verandas that catch cooling trade winds, making these discounted rooms appealing.
- + After November's wind patterns settle, sea conditions flatten dramatically. The 45-minute boat ride to Savo Island transforms from the usual bone-jarring journey into smooth gliding across liquid glass.
Considerations
- − Afternoon thunderstorms strike at 2:30 PM like clockwork. Within minutes, unpaved lanes behind Central Market dissolve into ankle-deep red mud that stains clothes and shoes for days.
- − December falls squarely in cyclone season. While direct hits remain rare, the entire city spends days tracking storm systems. Some dive operators cancel trips preemptively when weather models suggest trouble.
- − Night brings no relief from humidity. You'll wake to sheets soaked like warm water even with fans spinning at full speed, the tropical air refusing to release its grip.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
WWII wreck diving in Iron Bottom Sound
December's 29°C (84°F) water temperature lets you explore Japanese transport ships at 18 m (59 ft) for 60+ minutes. Morning dives deliver 25 m (82 ft) visibility before afternoon storms roil the sediment. You'll fin past coral-encrusted anti-aircraft guns and ship's telegraphs frozen mid-transmission since 1942.
Booking Tip: Reserve 7-10 days ahead through PADI-certified operators (see current options in booking section below). Morning boats depart at 7 AM, beating both crowds and the inevitable afternoon storms.
Vilu War Museum outdoor tours
December's extended daylight makes the open-air museum work brilliantly. Sunrise at 6 AM provides five solid hours before clouds gather. You'll walk between Douglas Dauntless dive bombers and Japanese Betty bombers while grass releases that sharp, sweet scent marking the Solomon Islands dry season's end.
Booking Tip: Most tours pair Vilu with bone fishing at Bonegi Beach. Local drivers know the unmarked turnoff 25 km (15.5 miles) west of town. Arranged transport manages the rough final 3 km (1.9 miles) of coral track.
Central Market food tours
December's mango and breadfruit surplus has market vendors handing out samples freely. The covered section shields you from sudden downpours while you taste pana, fermented breadfruit wrapped in island cabbage, and watch women weave three-foot-long baskets from palm fronds while trading gossip in pijin.
Booking Tip: Morning visits between 6-9 AM reveal fishermen unloading yellowfin tuna still twitching on ice blocks. Market tour operators in the booking section below include tastings and explain which fish the Japanese fleet rejects.
Tenaru Falls hiking and swimming
The 45-minute hike through secondary rainforest stays mercifully shaded until 11 AM. The pool beneath the 60 m (197 ft) cascade delivers liquid relief after the uphill climb. December's heavier flow creates three distinct swimming holes instead of the single pool found during dry season.
Booking Tip: Local guides locate the unmarked trailhead past the concrete bridge at Tenaru River. Waterproof bags prove essential for river crossings, December's water reaches knee-deep versus ankle-deep in August.
Savo Island volcano trekking
The dormant volcano's crater vents create natural steam rooms good for December's cooler mornings. The 2-hour summit walk passes villages where islanders hack coconuts open with machetes and recount how their ancestors used the crater for shark-calling ceremonies.
Booking Tip: Boat schedules hinge on tides and weather. Booking through licensed operators (see current options below) includes hotel pickup and manages the variable timing that frustrates solo travelers.
Where to Stay in Honiara in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Throughout December
Solomon Islands Independence Day lead-up celebrations
Though Independence Day falls on July 7, December rehearsals for next year's celebrations fill the waterfront with traditional panpipe groups and string-band competitions. The Cultural Village behind Lawson Tama stadium hosts evening performances where you can join bamboo-stick dancing after sunset.
Packing Checklist
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View Honiara Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Chinese restaurants along Mendana Avenue serve their finest reef fish curry on Thursdays when the fishing fleet unloads. Locals arrive at 11:30 AM before the snapper disappears.
Taxi drivers quote prices in SBD to tourists but accept AUD at 1:1 when you negotiate in pijin. Try 'Hao na, bae mi givim tu ten dollar' for a 20 AUD ride that started at 50 SBD.
The old Central Bank building's second-floor balcony provides Honiara's only public viewpoint over the city's sprawl. Ask security nicely and they'll usually wave you up.
December's mango glut means resort restaurants buy imperfect fruit cheap. Waterfront cafes serve mango smoothies that taste better than July's versions at half the effort.
Avoid These Mistakes
Book afternoon arrivals and you'll watch a 40-minute drive to town swell into a two-hour crawl whenever storms flood the Mataniko River bridge.
Wear closed shoes on market day. Fish guts and red mud fuse into a slick paste that will eat through leather for good.
Never assume ATMs will cooperate during storms, only the two machines at BSP Bank are dependable, and both run dry on long weekends.
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