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Meridiela.

Tulagi

A small island that was the colonial capital, now a quiet harbour with deep wrecks nearby.

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Typeisland town
WhereCentral Province
Nearest cityHoniara
Best seasonMay to October
Time to allowA day or overnight
Getting thereIn the Nggela group; boat from Honiara, around two hours
EntryFree; dive charges

Tulagi is a small island in the Nggela group that served as the capital of the British protectorate before the administration moved to Honiara, and it keeps a deep sheltered harbour, a few colonial-era buildings and a couple of thousand people. The water around it holds a set of wrecks in deep water, and the island is the base for the diving in the Nggelas.

What you actually see

  • The harbour - the deep sheltered anchorage the capital was built on.
  • The colonial buildings - what survives of the protectorate administration.
  • The deep wrecks - the vessels lying in the water around the island.
  • The quiet - a former capital now holding a couple of thousand people.

When to go

May to October is the drier season and calmest for the crossing. The wet season brings squalls. Boats from Honiara run most days.

Honest expectations

The boat from Honiara takes around two hours in open water and is cancelled in weather. The wrecks are deep and for experienced divers only. Facilities on the island are limited.

Nearby

The Nggela Islands are around it, and Honiara is south.

What to pack for Tulagi

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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