Once the home of the Solomon Islands’ fiercest headhunting clans, today the Roviana Lagoon is renowned for very different reasons, but perhaps best known as a mecca for international SCUBA enthusiasts looking to experience a pristine, world class dive environment known for its spectacular walls, technicolour coral gardens, and abundant marine life.
But the region also offers visitors an insight into the country’s unique cultural history with the skull shrines of eerie Skull Island and the very traditional Ugele Village on Rendova Island just a short boat ride away from Munda
Making the area a must for WWII enthusiasts, the Roviana Lagoon also saw some of the heaviest fighting during the bloody Guadalcanal Campaign of 1942-43 and where a young navy lieutenant named John F. Kennedy was to make his mark on history’s pages. Tangible echoes of this terrible campaign can be experienced with a visit to the Peter Joseph Museum in Munda’s central district.
Named for Infantryman Peter Joseph Palatini, whose dog tag was the first relic found by curator Barney Paulsen, the museum houses an impressive but sombre collection of dog tags, weapons and personal items belonging to both US forces and the Imperial Japanese Army.
The people of the Roviana Lagoon annually celebrate their unique way of life with a two-day long festival, highlights of which include traditional war canoe racing and the signature event, the ‘Alec Wickham Swim’ named for the Solomon Islander who introduced the ‘Australian Crawl’ swimming stroke to the world.
Small hotels, resorts and homestays offer Roviana Lagoon-bound travellers a plethora of options but Packyabags has made the ‘where to stay’ decision easy with the release of a new five-day/four-night stay in an air-conditioned bungalow at the iconic Zipolo Habu Resort on Lola Island.
Priced from $2,513* per person twin share, the package includes return boat transfers from Munda Airport, daily breakfast, a visit to Skull Island, a World War II historical tour and free use of the resort’s snorkelling gear and kayaks.
*Conditions apply. For more information visit Packyabags or telephone 027 213 221