Simbo Island

Simbo lies west of Gizo, a small volcanic island with hot springs, a crater lake and fields of warm volcanic sand where megapodes bury their eggs and let the ground heat do the incubating. Villagers harvest the eggs on a managed system. Early Europeans called the island Eddystone, it is in fact two islands divided by a saltwater lagoon, and its people speak a language found nowhere else. The island has a couple of thousand people, no vehicles to speak of and a long history as a trading and canoe-raiding centre in the western group.

What you'll find

• The megapode fields - birds burying eggs in ground heated from below.
• The hot springs - the geothermal activity on the island.
• The crater lake - the water held in the volcanic hollow.
• The village life - a couple of thousand people with almost no vehicles.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and calmest for the crossing. Megapodes lay year round with seasonal peaks. The wet season makes the open-water run rough.

Things to know

The crossing from Gizo is two hours of open water and rough at times. Accommodation is staying with families. Egg harvesting is a managed local livelihood and visitors watch rather than participate.

Nearby

Gizo is east, and Ranongga is northeast.

Key facts