21 Oct 2014

Honiara Changeover

The morning began bright and early for the birders as they headed ashore at 0530 to the thriving metropolis of Honiara for a morning visit to Mt Austin. Located not far from the town, Mt Austin offers the opportunity to see a wide range of Solomon Islands bird species and this morning delivered many as the group enjoyed a pleasant stroll down from the summit. Back aboard the ship a final breakfast was enjoyed as many of our number placed their luggage in the corridors and prepared to head home after the morning tour of Honiara's World War II history. Later we reconvened at the Breakwater Cafe and enjoyed a little respite from the hustle and bustle of Honiara before those headed to the airport bid their farewells and departed.

At lunchtime we were joined by the first of our new expeditioners who headed out to tour Honiara with visits to the Parliament, museum and markets. By 1530 the remainder of our new arrivals had joined the group and with the old hands continuing on from the ‘Melanesia Discoverer’ voyage showing the way, they were ferried to the ship by Zodiac. The late afternoon was occupied with briefings and introductions to life aboard the Spirit of Enderby before we sailed for our first port of call for this ‘Secrets of Melanesia’ expedition - Santa Isabel Island.