Map of Solomon Islands – Islands, Provinces & Cities
Explore the Solomon Islands with this interactive map showing the capital Honiara, major islands, provincial areas, coastal settlements and surrounding South Pacific waters. Use it to understand where the islands lie, how they are spread across the archipelago and which places are important for travel and geography.
The Solomon Islands are an independent island country in Melanesia, in the south-west Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia and east of Papua New Guinea. The country extends over a long chain of mountainous islands, lagoons, reefs and remote coral atolls. Its widely separated islands make maps particularly useful for understanding distances and transport connections.
The Solomon Islands are located in the south-west Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia. Their capital, Honiara, is on Guadalcanal. The country has nine provinces, plus Honiara as a separately administered capital city, and stretches from islands near Papua New Guinea towards the Santa Cruz Islands near Vanuatu.
Interactive Map of Solomon Islands
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Zoom and drag to explore individual islands, towns, roads and coastlines. View larger map.
Where Are the Solomon Islands?
The country occupies part of the western Pacific's island arc east of Papua New Guinea. Its northern and western islands lie nearer to Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, while the eastern Temotu island group approaches Vanuatu. The Solomon Sea lies to the west and south-west of much of the country, with the wider Pacific Ocean to the east.
Although individual islands can appear close together on a small map, stretches of open water often separate communities. The archipelago includes large volcanic islands, smaller forested islands and low coral formations. Coastlines are irregular, with sheltered bays, narrow channels and extensive reef systems.
Capital and Important Towns
- Honiara: National capital on the north-western coast of Guadalcanal, with the principal international airport and major government services.
- Gizo: Western Province capital and a gateway to nearby islands, reefs and diving areas.
- Munda: A settlement in Western Province associated with air connections, lagoons and Second World War sites.
- Auki: Provincial capital of Malaita and an important centre for communities on that island.
- Tulagi: Settlement in Central Province, on a small island north of Guadalcanal.
- Kirakira and Lata: Provincial centres serving Makira-Ulawa and the remote Temotu group respectively.
Major Islands and Geographic Features
Guadalcanal is the largest island and contains Honiara, mountains, rivers and the country's best-known World War II battle locations. Malaita, to the east, has a mountainous interior and numerous coastal and lagoon communities. Santa Isabel and Choiseul are long, forested islands farther northwest.
New Georgia and neighbouring islands form part of the Western Province group, known for intricate coastlines and lagoons. Makira lies southeast of Guadalcanal, while Rennell and Bellona are coral islands farther south. Temotu, in the far east, includes the Santa Cruz Islands and Vanikoro, making the country's eastern extent easy to overlook on maps focused only on Guadalcanal.
Among notable natural features are the Marovo Lagoon in Western Province and Lake Tegano on East Rennell. Tropical forests, steep ridges, coral reefs and deep channels shape the islands' scenery and influence where people live and travel.
The Nine Provinces
For administration, Solomon Islands has nine provinces. Honiara is governed separately as the national capital city.
| Province | Geographic focus |
|---|---|
| Guadalcanal | Largest island and surrounding areas |
| Central | Nggela, Savo and Russell Islands |
| Western | New Georgia group, Gizo and lagoons |
| Isabel | Santa Isabel and nearby islands |
| Choiseul | Choiseul and adjacent islands |
| Malaita | Malaita and northern outlying atolls |
| Makira-Ulawa | Makira, Ulawa and nearby islands |
| Rennell-Bellona | Southern raised coral islands |
| Temotu | Far eastern Santa Cruz island group |
Transport and Using the Map
Travel between islands commonly involves domestic flights or boats; there is no road network linking the country across the sea. Roads connect some settlements within larger islands, but many smaller communities depend on coastal routes. Honiara International Airport, also known as Henderson Airport, is the main international entry point. Domestic services and shipping arrangements may change, especially in remote areas.
On the interactive map, zoom in around Honiara to inspect the city and nearby roads. Move west to find Gizo, Munda and New Georgia, or east towards Malaita, Makira and Temotu. For trip planning, verify transport schedules, local access conditions and weather with current operators rather than relying on map distances alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solomon Islands one island?
No. It is an archipelago of many islands and atolls spread across a broad area of the Pacific Ocean.
What is the capital of Solomon Islands?
Honiara, situated on the island of Guadalcanal, is the national capital.
Are the Solomon Islands near Australia?
Yes. They are northeast of Australia in the south-west Pacific, although substantial ocean distances separate them.
How many provinces are there?
There are nine provinces. Honiara has a separate city administration.
Which is the largest island?
Guadalcanal is the country's largest island.
Can you drive between the islands?
No. Inter-island journeys require sea or air transport; roads only serve areas within individual islands.
Does the map include the Santa Cruz Islands?
Yes. The map covers the eastern Temotu group, including the Santa Cruz Islands, although zooming or panning may be helpful.
Map Information and Disclaimer
This page is provided for general geographic and educational reference. Place names, boundaries, transport services and map detail may change or vary between sources. Verify important travel, navigation or administrative information using current official sources. OpenStreetMap is maintained independently; external links do not imply affiliation or endorsement.