Leleana Resort

Four or five days at Leleana lets you slow down and take in the charm of Kolombangara: the lap of a wave, the natural air-conditioning of a mountain breeze, the squeak of a gecko, the splash of a jumping fish, a pod of dolphins passing. That is the pace of this largely uninhabited slice of the Solomons — or, for the more adventurous, endless hiking to waterfalls and a volcano.

Where you stay

Three oceanfront timber bungalows. The Couples Bungalow has a queen bed, private bathroom, luggage rack and clothing storage, and solar power, with a private deck looking out from Gizo to Double Island over some of the bluest water you will see. The Family Residence is a two-bedroom option with wide verandas on both the ocean side and the lake side with mountain views, any bedding configuration you need, and a private bathroom with a shower or bath.

Eating

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the Vinarpoha Restaurant — a high timber-vaulted ceiling and carvings showcasing the natural timbers of Kolombangara. Lily and her team hold to the true meaning of Vinarpoha, a place of gathering: the kitchen is open-plan and you are welcome in it any time. Quality local food is Lily’s speciality.

Diving and snorkelling

The reef starts steps from your bungalow — vibrant coral, diverse marine life, colourful fish, sea turtles and the occasional shy octopus. Leleana sits in one of the major diving areas of the Western Province, including around Gizo and Munda, with exclusive access to the sunken American warplane, the Hellcat, lying in shallow water at Double Island directly in front of the resort. Working with Fatboys, the resort can arrange dive gear, dive sites and transport.

Fishing

Location is what makes the fishing here. Set between the ocean and the lakes of Kolombangara, there is excellent surface fishing at your bungalow doorstep — you can watch giant trevally raid the baitfish swarming in the shallows. Head out towards Double Island, over the coral reefs and lagoons, for bluefin trevally, red bass, coral trout and Māori wrasse.

History and birds

Several marked trails lead to WWII remnants, and a guided tour fills in the stories behind them. Birdwatchers find a high concentration of endemics here; Leleana hosts annual visits from Heritage Expeditions, where upwards of 70 birdwatchers use the resort as their base, and the Roviana grassbird can be seen at Kongu Kovuru village.

Leleana Resort in pictures

A few photographs from Kolombangara Island, Western Province.