Bellona Island
A raised coral island with Polynesian people, cliffs all round and a farmed interior.
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Bellona is a raised coral island south of Guadalcanal, a plateau ringed by cliffs with a fertile interior basin farmed in gardens, and its people are Polynesian, speaking a language related to those of Tuvalu and the Wallis islands rather than to Solomon Melanesian tongues. Caves in the limestone hold burials and old settlement sites. There are no beaches to speak of, only cliff. Rennell lies alongside it and the two are administered together as a single province.
What you actually see
- The raised plateau - a coral island lifted clear of the sea, ringed by cliff.
- The interior gardens - the fertile basin the island lives on.
- The Polynesian community - language and culture distinct from the main group.
- The limestone caves - burial and settlement sites in the rock.
When to go
May to October is the drier season. Flights are small and irregular in any month. The wet season brings squalls that cancel them.
Honest expectations
Access is a small plane running irregularly and cancellations are normal. There are no beaches and no resort of any kind; visitors stay with families. Bring what you need.
Nearby
Rennell is southeast, and Honiara is north.
What to pack for Bellona Island
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.