Things to Do in Honiara in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Honiara
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Early wet season means lush landscapes and waterfalls at full flow - Mataniko Falls and Tenaru Falls are spectacular right now, with water volumes triple what you'll see in the dry months. The vegetation is intensely green, making jungle treks genuinely impressive.
- Fewer tourists than dry season (July-September) means better availability at guesthouses and easier access to WWII sites without tour groups. You'll often have places like Bloody Ridge and the Japanese Peace Memorial to yourself in the mornings.
- Sea visibility for diving and snorkeling is still excellent - typically 20-30 m (65-100 ft) - since the heavy rains haven't fully kicked in yet. November sits in that sweet spot before December's cloudier water, so wreck diving around Guadalcanal is outstanding.
- Local produce markets are at their peak with seasonal tropical fruits like soursop, dragon fruit, and multiple papaya varieties. The Central Market on Mendana Avenue is absolutely loaded with produce, and prices drop by 20-30% compared to dry season scarcity.
Considerations
- Afternoon thunderstorms happen roughly 10 days this month, usually between 2pm-5pm, lasting 45-90 minutes. They're intense when they hit - the kind that stops outdoor activities completely and turns unsealed roads into mud challenges. Plan morning activities and have indoor backup options.
- Humidity averages 70% but feels higher after rain - that sticky, shirt-clinging sensation that makes air conditioning feel necessary rather than optional. If you're sensitive to humid heat, midday can be genuinely uncomfortable, especially away from the coast.
- Some outer island boat services run reduced schedules as operators prepare for heavier wet season ahead. Getting to places like the Russell Islands or Savo Island might mean fewer weekly departures and higher per-person costs if boats aren't filling up.
Best Activities in November
Guadalcanal WWII wreck diving and snorkeling
November offers some of the year's best underwater visibility before December's heavier rains cloud the water. The sea temperature sits around 28°C (82°F), and you'll find fewer divers at sites like the Bonegi I and II wrecks, USS John Penn, and the Japanese transport ships off Tassafaronga. Morning dives (7am-10am) avoid afternoon weather and catch the best light penetration through the wrecks. The combination of calm mornings, clear water, and low tourist numbers makes this the month serious divers should target.
Morning hikes to Mataniko Falls and WWII battlefields
The wet season transforms Honiara's hiking trails - waterfalls are actually flowing (unlike the dry season trickle), and the forest canopy provides natural cooling. Start at 6:30am-7am to finish before afternoon storms. The Mataniko Falls hike takes 3-4 hours round trip through villages and jungle, ending at falls you can swim under. Bloody Ridge (the main Guadalcanal battlefield site) is best hiked early when it's 24-26°C (75-79°F) rather than the midday 32°C (89°F). Trails can be slippery after rain, so proper footwear matters more this month than any other.
Central Market and cultural village tours
November is peak harvest season, making the Central Market on Mendana Avenue the most vibrant it gets all year. Go between 6am-8am on Wednesday or Saturday (main market days) when fishing boats bring in fresh catches and farmers arrive with produce. You'll see tropical fruits that don't export well - soursop, breadfruit variations, and ngali nuts. Cultural village tours to places like Mbonala or Tenaru village work well as afternoon activities since they're mostly undercover, showing traditional cooking, weaving, and kastom practices. The rain actually enhances the experience - you'll see how traditional leaf houses handle tropical downpours.
Island-hopping day trips to Savo Island volcano
Savo Island sits 35 km (22 miles) north of Honiara and features an active volcano with megapode bird nesting grounds (the birds use volcanic heat to incubate eggs - genuinely unusual to witness). November morning departures around 7am catch calmer seas before afternoon weather builds. The 90-minute boat ride can get choppy, but once at Savo, you'll hike through volcanic terrain to hot springs and see traditional villages built on volcanic soil. Sea conditions are generally manageable in November, though operators cancel maybe 2-3 days per month due to storms.
Fishing charters and coastal boat tours
November marks the start of better offshore fishing as water temperatures rise and pelagic fish move closer to reefs. Yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and Spanish mackerel are active, and morning charters (6am-11am) avoid afternoon storms while targeting feeding times. Even non-fishing coastal tours benefit from November's conditions - calmer morning seas make reaching sites like Cape Esperance or the Russell Islands more comfortable than later wet season months. You might encounter rain, but it's typically brief squalls rather than all-day washouts.
Indoor cultural experiences at museums and war memorials
Essential backup plans for afternoon storms, but genuinely worthwhile regardless of weather. The Solomon Islands National Museum covers traditional kastom culture, shell money systems, and WWII history in air-conditioned comfort. The US War Memorial on Skyline Ridge offers covered viewing areas with panoramas over Ironbottom Sound (where dozens of WWII ships sank). The Japanese Peace Memorial and Guadalcanal American Memorial are mostly open-air but designed for tropical rain. Afternoons from 2pm-5pm are ideal timing when storms are most likely.
November Events & Festivals
Guadalcanal Province Second Appointed Day
November 1st marks Guadalcanal Province's establishment as a separate administrative region. You'll see provincial government ceremonies, traditional dancing performances, and community gatherings around Honiara and Guadalcanal villages. It's a public holiday, so government offices and some businesses close, but cultural performances happen at places like Lawson Tama Sports Complex. Worth experiencing if your dates align - you'll see traditional panpipe groups and kastom dress that don't typically perform for tourists.