Honiara - Docking

Docking in Honiara

Anchoring

To avoid most of the swell that comes into the bay here, it's best to anchor on the eastern side of the harbour, with a line ashore to the semi-submerged fishing boat. See the port map below, kindly provided by Hilde Larsen. Take care here as there are many uncharted wrecks. It's best to avoid anchoring November to March, when this bay is very exposed.

M - Mooring (private - belongs to Breakwater Cafe).

P - Police dock.

F - Fishing dock (fishing vessels are dangerous as they are not respectful towards boats on anchor).

A - Yachts can anchor in 17 m with shoreline tied to the wreck.

As well as the Breakwater Cafe owning a mooring - they also have a small slip in front of the Cafe that can be used by yachts (see bottom of photo above with slip indicated by an arrow).

Yachts do also anchor swinging free near the yellow mooring ball on the West side of the bay.

Other cruisers report anchoring off the beach between the last big red buoy and the no anchoring zone.

Free anchorage is available at Point Cruz near the Yacht Club, however, swinging room is limited by the reefs and the manoeuvering room required for the patrol boats at their wharf.

Anchoring stern up to the sea wall seems harder than it used to be, as this space is currently taken up by local charter boats who have their own moorings laid off the seawall. There is also a big dock in the middle that takes up a fair amount of space. Anchoring and stern tying to the sea wall still looks possible, but probably for only 2 or 3 boats.

The depth in the bay rises quickly to the reef. The bottom is a silty/sandy mix which, many times, has proved to be very poor holding ground.

Be aware if you choose to anchor on either the west side or in the middle of the bay. Strong winds come up quickly, for no apparent reason, from the North or North East and cause total chaos. It is not advisable to leave the yacht unattended.

Anchoring is possible either side of the point, the most suitable depends on the wind direction.

Cruisers report anchoring in front of the Monarch Grill Restaurant, where you can leave your dinghy on their beach. They have 24 hour security, meals, drinks and music. Also, the Coral Sea Resort may let you use their jetty for your dinghy - good coffee, meals and drinks and a great place to relax.

Mooring Buoys

There are two moorings available on the western side of the harbour.

One is yellow and operated by the Point Cruz Yacht Club. Be careful when approaching it as the reef is not far behind. This side of the bay gets a lot of swell so it may be quite uncomfortable on the mooring. Be sure to check with the YC when it was last inspected.

The other is owned by Fred Douglas of the Breakwater Cafe (see "M" in port map above).  If you take a stern line ashore to Fred's Cafe, this will keep you pointed into the swell. Ask permission, and you can leave your dinghy at Fred's dock.

Safety

There is significant motor-canoe traffic in this area and security may be an issue at night. As with many anchorages, it is advisable to hoist one's dinghy out of the water and to lock it to the boat. The engine and fuel tank should be locked to the dinghy as well. Loose items should not be left on deck at any time.  It is advisable to return to your boat before dark. Hiring a local you know and trust for security may be advisable.

The dinghy dock is reported to be secure as long as you lock your dinghy and outboard.

Last updated:  November 2024