Berlin, Lau Lagoon

The Lau Lagoon

Lau Lagoon is located on the north-east coast of Malaita Island. Lau is more than 35 km long and contains about 60 islands built on the reef.

These islands were originally formed one rock at a time. A family would paddle their canoe out, retrieve one rock at a time, paddle it back to their selected site and drop it into the water. This formed the 60 islands. Berlin is located in the spectacular Lau Lagoon amidst unique and ancient man-made islands and stilted villages, fringed by a massive reef system on one side and spectacular mountains on the other.

On the mainland are gardens in which the Lau women grow their fruit and vegetables, including papaya, bananas, coconut and green vegetables. The local men fish in the lagoon or the ocean.

Staying at Berlin

Travel here by long boat from the local airport, approx. 1 hour’s drive.

Berlin boasts one of the best views from your bath in the world — relax in the bath with views across the Lau Lagoon. There is also a small convenience store on the island.

Activities

• Visit a local market where the Solwata people (the island people) trade with the bush people (the people who live on land).
• Church service, which is a special gathering of all the local mothers’ unions in the area.
• Visit the local school or clinic.
• Fishing for big pelagic and reef fish.
• Go snorkelling, swimming or paddling in the lagoon in a dugout canoe.
• Take a rainforest and waterfall trek.
• Surfing — Lau Lagoon is an incredible surfing playground with more than a dozen world-class reef set-ups.

Find out more about surfing in the Solomon Islands ↗