Solomon Islands/Accommodation/Sanbis Resort
Sanbis Resort
Six private beach bungalows on their own secluded stretch of Gizo Lagoon — diving, fishing and surfing all on the doorstep.
Approximately seven minutes from Gizo airstrip by boat, Sanbis Resort offers some of the premier accommodation in the country — each bungalow with its own private beach, a luxury ensuite bathroom with hot water, and a terrace looking out across the lagoon. Snorkel in front of your bungalow in 30°C water, arrange activities through the resort, or simply relax — this is about as far from the crowd as the Pacific gets.
Accommodation
To keep things exclusive, the resort has just six bungalows, generally limited to 12 guests at any one time. Each incorporates a modern ensuite with hot shower, its own secluded beach, and complete separation from the others. Two of the six are a little larger — ideal for 3–4 divers, a small fishing group, or a family with older children.
Bungalows are built from local materials, apart from the European-style bathroom fit-outs, with ceiling fans running around the clock. Fresh drinking water is provided daily, and staff visit each evening to tidy up, spray for mosquitoes and light a lantern — all lighting runs on the resort's solar battery bank. Beds are dressed in 360-thread-count cotton sheets under mosquito nets, with a set of beach towels alongside the bath towels. In keeping with the resort's eco approach, bungalows don't have in-room refrigeration, but a shared fridge/freezer is available at the restaurant.
Sanbis runs as a largely "kids free" resort (no children under 12) outside Queensland school holidays, when children 4 and over are welcome — ask about the kids specials during those periods. There's also The Lodge, an exclusive complex about 250m from the main bar/restaurant, well suited to families or small groups after a private-island feel.
Dining
Lavish breakfasts with tropical fruit, fresh juice, bread from the in-house wood-fired oven and fresh coffee, overlooking the beach and lagoon. Only in-house guests use the restaurant and bar at the beach end of the jetty — including pizzas from the only genuine wood-fired oven in the Western Province. The chef turns out exotic seafood, spicy island barbecue in the reef hut, and western-style meals with an island touch — sashimi through to hearty soups, and yes, you can eat your own catch, cooked however you like.
Diving
Gizo, in the Western Province, is a must on any diver's calendar — 29°C, crystal-clear water, numerous WWII wrecks, planes and ships, and an incredible spread of sea whips, gorgonian fans and hard and soft corals. Sanbis arranges diving through Dive Gizo, the Solomons' longest-operating dive centre. All sites are a short boat ride away; light lunches are provided, and multi-day divers get a beach BBQ on a nearby island during surface intervals. Gear is available for hire, or bring your own for a discount. Beyond diving, the resort also runs game fishing, windsurfing, SUP, snorkelling, kayaking, waterskiing and knee-boarding.
Fishing
Reef fishing runs from an 8m Oceantech longboat (twin 100hp four-strokes) or a 22ft Yamaha longboat with a single 100hp engine, shade canopy and centre console for walk-around fishing — with tackle from 25kg down. Most fishing is trolling, though popper casting and light spinning have picked up strongly. The reef chain around Gizo Lagoon sits right at the resort's doorstep, and trips are kept to a maximum of three anglers for three lines. Trolling has produced marlin, sailfish and yellowfin, with Spanish mackerel, dogtooth tuna and great barracuda closer in; poppering has taken giant trevally to 30kg, and jigging has accounted for dogtooth and yellowfin tuna to 28kg.
Surfing
Surfers regularly stay at Sanbis — bring spare fins, wax and a spare leg rope. Ravia, one of the resort's staff and a rescue diver, is one of Gizo's best surfers and usually guides surfing guests to the breaks. There are three reliable breaks nearby: Titiana (left-hand, ~13 minutes by boat), Paelongge (right-hand, ~20 minutes) and Outside Naru (right-hand, ~7 minutes). Best conditions run November to April with N/NW winds, and can be exceptional when a cyclone or low sits south towards Australia. Surf transfers (up to 8 surfers per boat) are for in-house guests only.
Activities
Beyond diving, fishing and surfing, Sanbis arranges day trips including a guided adventure to the Arnavon Islands, the abandoned WWII Japanese airstrip on Balalai Island in the Shortlands, and camping at the Paraso volcanic area — plus Skull Island and Simbo Volcano Island day trips, a World Fish Centre tour, snorkelling at Olasana Island, island walks, SUP, snorkelling, waterskiing, knee-boarding, windsurfing and kayaking.
Environment
Sanbis runs on solar power throughout, treats its sewerage on-site (the last stage used in the resort's gardens), and keeps its reef pristine as a result. For every tree cleared during construction, roughly five were planted back. Despite the eco-friendly build, there's no shortage of comfort — proper ceiling fans run 24 hours (on inverters overnight), and wireless internet plus device charging are available at the bar/restaurant.
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