If you are travelling to Solomon Islands, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we e

Political violence, civil unrest and protests occur from time to time in Solomon Islands and may coincide with sittings of Parliament, high profile investigations or court cases, periods of political uncertainty or industrial relations disputes.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Solomon Islands for the most up to date information.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return travel planning websites to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Political violence, civil unrest and protests occur in Solomon Islands and may coincide with sittings of Parliament, high profile investigations or court cases, periods of political uncertainty or industrial travel planning websites relations disputes.
Political tensions can rise with little notice. You should avoid any protests, large gatherings and political rallies as they may turn violent. Opportunistic crime and looting may also occur. travel planning websites In November 2011, the election of a new Prime Minister was followed by protests in Honiara, which resulted in some injuries and property damage.
Following high profile court proceedings in November 2010, there were incidents of rock throwing and some looting in central Honiara and Chinatown. While the incidents were contained by the authorities, they demonstrate the potential for the security environment to be affected by wider events. In April 2006, political tensions led to riots in the city centre, eastern Honiara and Chinatown, causing significant destruction of property.
We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions in Solomon Islands. Criminal activity is of particular concern in Honiara and sometimes involves violence. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Expatriates and visitors can be attractive targets for opportunistic crime. travel planning websites You should avoid obvious displays of wealth and take particular care when using automatic teller machines and frequenting crowded places, including local markets. House and vehicle break-ins occur, including against expatriates.
Verbal harassment, intimidation, and assaults, including indecent assault, have been directed towards foreigners in Solomon Islands, typically in situations where alcohol is involved, including at some nightclubs and bars.
Areas around Honiara requiring heightened security awareness include; the Central Market; Point Cruz; the area surrounding old Mataniko bridge in Central Honiara (Chinatown); the Kukum area; Burns Creek/Lungga River in east Honiara; White River in west Honiara, Tasahe, Borderline and Kombito Market in the south-east of Honiara; and squatter settlement areas in and around Honiara. Nonetheless, crime is often opportunistic and can be dispersed across all areas of Honiara.
If you are planning to travel outside Honiara or Gizo, you should seek local advice on the availability of services and amenities for tourists in that area. Many parts of Solomon Islands are remote from medical services and other forms of assistance in the event of an emergency.
Passenger ferry and flight services throughout Solomon Islands are generally unreliable and subject to disruption at short notice. travel planning websites You should consider taking precautions when travelling by sea, such as carrying your own life-jackets, as safety regulations are not always strictly applied. Overcrowding of passenger ferries is also common.
Most roads in Solomon Islands are in a poor state of repair travel planning websites making driving difficult. Poor vehicle maintenance and poor standards of driving also increase the risks. See also our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety .
Unexploded World War II ordnance still exists in Solomon Islands, particularly at Hell s Point and the ridges behind Honiara, the New Georgia groups of islands, the former capital of Tulagi, and the Russell Islands. The condition and stability of the ordnance is largely unknown. Care should be taken in these areas when hiking, boating or diving. Local advice should be sought before travelling in these areas.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
travel planning websites Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
When you are in Solomon Islands, be aware that local laws and penalties, including travel planning websites ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties for up to 25 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.
Solomon Islands does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Solomon Islands dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We recommend that you travel on your Australian passport at all times.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities travel planning websites are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford travel planning websites to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy travel planning websites while overseas.
Medical facilities travel planning websites throughout the Solomon Islands are limited. Emergency and trauma cases are referred to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara on Guadalcanal. Facilities in provincial areas are very limited.
Rescue and emergency services are extremely limited. Evacuations are generally required in cases of serious illness or accident. Medical evacuations from Solomon Islands to Australia can cost upwards of AUD40, 000.
The Divers travel planning websites Alert Network (DAN) can provide information on diving safety. There is a hyperbaric (decompression) travel planning websites chamber in Honiara and registered dive operators can provide advice on the access arrangements.
Malaria occurs travel planning websites throughout the year in most areas of Solomon Islands. travel planning websites We recommend that you seek medical advice on taking prophylaxis against malaria, wear light coloured, loose-fitting clothing, use an insect repellent at all times and ensure your accommodation is mosquito proof. Outbreaks of the mosquito-borne illness, dengue fever, occur from time to time. For information on dengue fever, see the World Health Organization s factsheet travel planning websites .
Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, travel planning websites tuberculosis, filariasis and sexually transmitted infections) are prevalent, with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations travel planning websites before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering travel planning websites from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website . For more information see our travel travel planning websites bulletin on avian influenza .
If you are travelling to Solomon Islands, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate . The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
Cyclone season is between November to April when heavy rain can lead to flooding, landslides and disruptions to services. Tropical storms and cyclones may also occur in other months. travel planning websites The direction and strength of tropical cyclones can change with little warning. Information on severe weather is available from the World Meteorological Organisation Severe travel planning websites Weather Information Centre , Asia-Pacific Disaster Alerts or the Global Disaster Alert Coordination travel planning websites Systems .
In the event of an approaching cyclone, you sh