Gizo - General Info
Where is Gizo?
Gizo is the capital of the Western Province and the second largest city in the Solomons, but it is much smaller than Honiara. It is on the southern tip of the island of the same name and lies south of the island of Vella Lavella.
Gizo is the tourism hub attracting surfers and scuba divers. The town itself is spread along the waterfront with steep hills behind. There is a large fresh market but not much in the way of sights to see in town. Motor traffic is so light that most drivers use the middle of the road!
Gizo Cruiser Highlights
- This is a port of entry/exit.
- Gizo offers options for provisioning, bars, restaurants and fuel. There is a dinghy dock near the local market.
- Gizo is a major transport hub with regular flights and ferries connecting Gizo to other parts of the country. Gizo airport is very close to the town, so easy for a crew change to fly in and out.
- There is a hospital here.
- Nearby Liapari islands has a boatyard and secure boat storage.
- Some of the nearby smaller islands and resorts welcome yachts.
Entrance Notes or Cautions:
- While this is a port of entry/exit, the Immigration officer here is corrupt. It is better to deal with immigration and visa extensions in Noro.
- The Gizo area, including the many small islands southeast of the island of Gizo, is laced with reefs. The waters have red and green navigation markers and occasionally various posts and sticks. However, a few markers are no longer in place.
- Not all charts are accurate and the use of satellite images to help with navigation is recommended.
- Anchoring close to town overnight may be noisy or pose security risks. Thieves operate at night time. The bays further north are quieter.
Position:
08° 06′ S, 156° 50′ 34″E (Gizo town waterfront anchorage)
Last updated: November 2023
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Related to following destinations: Gizo, Solomon Islands, Western Province (New Georgia)
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Fuel- No.3 fuel depot, contact: Anthony. Can arrange filtered diesel delivered to your yacht by Skipper: Davis, so you don’t have to pull up on a dock or cart jerries. Delivery fee SI$100 within the bay. Can be delivered elsewhere by negotiation.
Food & drink – PT109 sells the cheapest beers in town. If it is closed you may be able to find someone to open it if there are a few people or you want to eat. Closed Saturdays & Sundays. The Waterfront Bar serves good food (but gets rather noisy at night time) You can berth the dingy right next to the waterside gate.
Computer/ Photo/ Video – Bobo at the DVD shop/ printers behind PT109 (door at the Figtree) Contact: 7466391 or ask at PT109 bar. Computer technician. He has a special interest & skills. He wants to build up his knowledge & business. He may be able to help!
Hospital – Gizo hospital is Japanese built & is the most prominent building on the coastline. Its facilities include laboratory, surgical suite, emergency, pharmacy, imaging. Non-Solomon residents pay a small fee for services.
Fuel at Gizo.
Often diesel and petrol are full of rust and water as it all comes from drums that sit around for months or years. This last year the big fuel depot west of town has been pumping directly from these drums with no filtration.
“No.3” filters their diesel with a Baja/Racor filter and will, on request, their petrol. They are between PT109 and the fuel depot with “No.3” on their waterside grey wall. Good wooden dock and very friendly family. They will negotiate a price.
Big fuel depot to the west has a wooden dock but usually force customers on to their concrete dock by mooring their barge and daddies’ pleasure yacht on the wooden dock.