Agnes Gateway Lodge

When you land in Munda, you only have a short three-minute walk to Agnes Gateway Lodge. The property is situated right on the waterfront with stunning views out over Roviana Lagoon.

The original Lodge was started by Agnes Kera who, for nearly 30 years, had been the cook and custodian of the original British Solomons Government Resthouse, the building which is now known as the Orchid Wing. Following Agnes’ retirement, her family continued the Anglo-Solomon hospitality traditions. Agnes Lodge is still a 100% Solomon Islands owned lodging and is now a hotel with 38 rooms, located in several wings and catering for a range of budgets.

Not only is the Lodge local in most of its ways, you will be staying very close to adjacent local villages where you can observe traditional Solomon Islands life and become involved in the local culture.

Getting to Agnes Gateway Lodge

Daily flights from Honiara to Munda take approximately one hour and from Gizo only 15 minutes. From Munda Airport, it is just a short three minute stroll to Agnes Gateway Lodge.

Amenities at Agnes Gateway Lodge

A traditional leaf thatched building on the water’s edge, accommodates the lounge bar and an adjoining fully licensed restaurant specialising in local seafood.

The Roviana Restaurant is open from early morning until late, serving a range of local dishes and English cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Munda Bar is a wonderful place to meet other travellers and is open from early morning to late in the evenings. Sit in the Vetu Valusa leaf house out over the lagoon watching the day unfold with an early morning “cuppa” or enjoy a sundowner drink whilst viewing the spectacular sunsets.

Other on-site services include a Dive Shop with its qualified staff of instructors and dive masters, and Go West Tours with its fleet of boats and canoes to take you anywhere throughout the New Georgia group of islands. Regular scheduled services are offered to the nearby towns of Noro, Ringi Cove and Gizo.

Accommodation at Agnes Gateway Lodge

Agnes Lodge offers a range of accommodation from suites and stand-alone cottages to budget rooms and backpackers dormitories.

Zazala Wing

Two Lower Floor Backpacker Rooms have two single bunk beds in one room (i.e. quad share) and one Backpacker Room has a king single bed with shared unisex bathroom; self-catering kitchenette with sink, cook-top and refrigerator; communal lounge / dining area.

Upper Floor Rooms are air-conditioned garden view rooms with ensuite. Three rooms have queen beds and one room has a queen bed and two single beds. The rooms have tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, writing desk, balcony.

Tatangala Wing

Four Lower Floor Budget Rooms are fan cooled with twin beds and shared facilities.

Four Upper Floor Budget Rooms are fan cooled with twin or triple beds and shared facilities, tea/coffee making facilities, writing desk, balcony.

Naru Wing

Four Standard Rooms with twin beds and ensuite; lagoon views, ceiling fan, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator.

Ibibu Wing

Six Ibibu Wing Rooms with a double bed, ensuite and air conditioning.

Eight Ibibu Cottages – 4 double rooms with queen bed and 4 twin bedded rooms; air conditioned studios with ensuite, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, writing desk, balcony. Child’s bed available on request.

Orchid Wing

The Orchid Seafront Suite is the original (refurbished) rest house located on the lagoon shore. There is easy ramp access to the Suite. The Suite has two bedrooms separated by a lounge area. One bedroom has a queen bed and single bed settee and the other has two single beds. The Suite has ceiling fans and is air conditioned with tea/coffee making facilities, living room/sitting area, refrigerator.

All rooms are mosquito netted and serviced daily.

Activities at Agnes Gateway Lodge

Diving and Snorkelling

Munda’s reefs are in pristine condition, with lush hard and soft corals and gigantic sea fans. Snorkelers will be mesmerised by the extensive, intact coral gardens in the shallows. For divers, spectacular walls drop off to over 600 metres. Grey, Blacktip and Whitetip Reef sharks routinely patrol, as do Hammerheads. Eagle rays, Dogtooth Tuna, Barracuda and other pelagics are also common. In addition to the reefs and abundant marine life, Munda’s seabed is littered with wrecks from WWII, with fighter planes, bombers, a Japanese freighter and a recently discovered dump site with tanks. Visibility varies from 15 to 40+ metres.

A range of off-the-beaten track adventures, cultural experiences and historical WWII fully guided half and full day tours is offered by Go West Tours. Charter boat hire for fishing trips or design your own tour

Munda Villages Walk – Half day tour

Paddle your canoe or go by boat to the US Second Landing at the village edge of the inner lagoon. A guided easy walk through lush tropical gardens, kastom villages, the ‘American dump’, WWII museum, crocodile farm.(Minimum 2 people)

Rainforest and Waterfall Walk – Half day tour

A short boat trip and then a guided easy walk through tropical rainforest, across flowing streams to magnificent Bopo waterfall. Cool off in the refreshing pools. (Minimum 2 people)

Roviana Rivers – Half day tour

Travelling by boat, explore the remote Hura or Piraka Rivers. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a tropical jungle. Expect to see saltwater crocodiles, native birds, rare orchids, towering rainforest trees and more. (Minimum 2 people)

Roviana Lagoon – Half day tour

Travel by boat into the heart of Roviana Lagoon visiting traditional villages, learning about Roviana history and culture. View a traditional war canoe and see fish farms and artificial islands.(Minimum 2 people)

Hopei Island

Feel like Robinson Crusoe and take a quick boat ride to Hopei Island. Explore the coral reef just offshore, snorkel, fish, swim or just sunbathe on the sand. Kayaking around the island can also be arranged if requested. Bring snorkelling and fishing gear, bathers, lunch and water. Take all rubbish out with you. There is a pit toilet and two sheltered platforms on the island. (Minimum 2 people, Maximum 10 people)

Vona Vona Lagoon, Skull Island History, Rainforest walks – Half and Full day tour

Take a scenic lagoon tour by boat before visiting Skull Island and learn about the centuries old shrines of the great Roviana chiefs. Also see the great War Canoe at the village of Bethany. Visit Bikini Island and swim or just laze on its white sand beach. On the full day tour cruise the lagoon and visit the attractive tropical gardens and rainforest walks of Lolomo Resort noted for their birdwatching.

Kula Gulf War Sites – Half and Full day tour

Snorkel over a sunken war ship, view massive anti-naval guns and visit a disused wartime airfield. The full day tour will visit the P.T. boat base on Rendova Island or the Japanese base sites on Kolombangara island. View the Japanese tunnel medical clinic and the Kennedy base and bunker.

Mt Bao Trek – Full day tour

A hard four hour trek through rainforest to reach Mt Bau. Stones and pillars stand on raised platforms atop Mt Bau representing ancestral spirits. Ancient and definitely off the beaten track! Not for the faint hearted – only for the physically fit. Sturdy walking shoes needed.

Other Activities – Sport fishing, Bike hire

Charter a boat for a minimum of two hours for some sport fishing within the lagoons outer reefs. Longer overnight fishing trips can be arranged on request. Bring your rods – handlines provided.

Go West Tours also offer mountain bikes, kayaks and snorkelling sets for hire.

Gizo Town – a two hour lagoon boat trip to the capital of the Western Province. Boat leaves 7.30am and returns 3pm Monday and often Friday. Advance booking required.

Getting There

Getting to Agnes Gateway Lodge

Daily flights from Honiara to Munda take approximately one hour and from Gizo only 15 minutes. From Munda Airport, it is just a short three minute stroll to Agnes Gateway Lodge.

Amenities

Amenities at Agnes Gateway Lodge

A traditional leaf thatched building on the water’s edge, accommodates the lounge bar and an adjoining fully licensed restaurant specialising in local seafood.

The Roviana Restaurant is open from early morning until late, serving a range of local dishes and English cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Munda Bar is a wonderful place to meet other travellers and is open from early morning to late in the evenings. Sit in the Vetu Valusa leaf house out over the lagoon watching the day unfold with an early morning “cuppa” or enjoy a sundowner drink whilst viewing the spectacular sunsets.

Other on-site services include a Dive Shop with its qualified staff of instructors and dive masters, and Go West Tours with its fleet of boats and canoes to take you anywhere throughout the New Georgia group of islands. Regular scheduled services are offered to the nearby towns of Noro, Ringi Cove and Gizo.

Accommodation

Accommodation at Agnes Gateway Lodge

Agnes Lodge offers a range of accommodation from suites and stand-alone cottages to budget rooms and backpackers dormitories.

Zazala Wing

Two Lower Floor Backpacker Rooms have two single bunk beds in one room (i.e. quad share) and one Backpacker Room has a king single bed with shared unisex bathroom; self-catering kitchenette with sink, cook-top and refrigerator; communal lounge / dining area.

Upper Floor Rooms are air-conditioned garden view rooms with ensuite. Three rooms have queen beds and one room has a queen bed and two single beds. The rooms have tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, writing desk, balcony.

Tatangala Wing

Four Lower Floor Budget Rooms are fan cooled with twin beds and shared facilities.

Four Upper Floor Budget Rooms are fan cooled with twin or triple beds and shared facilities, tea/coffee making facilities, writing desk, balcony.

Naru Wing

Four Standard Rooms with twin beds and ensuite; lagoon views, ceiling fan, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator.

Ibibu Wing

Six Ibibu Wing Rooms with a double bed, ensuite and air conditioning.

Eight Ibibu Cottages – 4 double rooms with queen bed and 4 twin bedded rooms; air conditioned studios with ensuite, tea/coffee making facilities, refrigerator, writing desk, balcony. Child’s bed available on request.

Orchid Wing

The Orchid Seafront Suite is the original (refurbished) rest house located on the lagoon shore. There is easy ramp access to the Suite. The Suite has two bedrooms separated by a lounge area. One bedroom has a queen bed and single bed settee and the other has two single beds. The Suite has ceiling fans and is air conditioned with tea/coffee making facilities, living room/sitting area, refrigerator.

All rooms are mosquito netted and serviced daily.

Activities

Activities at Agnes Gateway Lodge

Diving and Snorkelling

Munda’s reefs are in pristine condition, with lush hard and soft corals and gigantic sea fans. Snorkelers will be mesmerised by the extensive, intact coral gardens in the shallows. For divers, spectacular walls drop off to over 600 metres. Grey, Blacktip and Whitetip Reef sharks routinely patrol, as do Hammerheads. Eagle rays, Dogtooth Tuna, Barracuda and other pelagics are also common. In addition to the reefs and abundant marine life, Munda’s seabed is littered with wrecks from WWII, with fighter planes, bombers, a Japanese freighter and a recently discovered dump site with tanks. Visibility varies from 15 to 40+ metres.

A range of off-the-beaten track adventures, cultural experiences and historical WWII fully guided half and full day tours is offered by Go West Tours. Charter boat hire for fishing trips or design your own tour

Munda Villages Walk – Half day tour

Paddle your canoe or go by boat to the US Second Landing at the village edge of the inner lagoon. A guided easy walk through lush tropical gardens, kastom villages, the ‘American dump’, WWII museum, crocodile farm.(Minimum 2 people)

Rainforest and Waterfall Walk – Half day tour

A short boat trip and then a guided easy walk through tropical rainforest, across flowing streams to magnificent Bopo waterfall. Cool off in the refreshing pools. (Minimum 2 people)

Roviana Rivers – Half day tour

Travelling by boat, explore the remote Hura or Piraka Rivers. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a tropical jungle. Expect to see saltwater crocodiles, native birds, rare orchids, towering rainforest trees and more. (Minimum 2 people)

Roviana Lagoon – Half day tour

Travel by boat into the heart of Roviana Lagoon visiting traditional villages, learning about Roviana history and culture. View a traditional war canoe and see fish farms and artificial islands.(Minimum 2 people)

Hopei Island

Feel like Robinson Crusoe and take a quick boat ride to Hopei Island. Explore the coral reef just offshore, snorkel, fish, swim or just sunbathe on the sand. Kayaking around the island can also be arranged if requested. Bring snorkelling and fishing gear, bathers, lunch and water. Take all rubbish out with you. There is a pit toilet and two sheltered platforms on the island. (Minimum 2 people, Maximum 10 people)

Vona Vona Lagoon, Skull Island History, Rainforest walks – Half and Full day tour

Take a scenic lagoon tour by boat before visiting Skull Island and learn about the centuries old shrines of the great Roviana chiefs. Also see the great War Canoe at the village of Bethany. Visit Bikini Island and swim or just laze on its white sand beach. On the full day tour cruise the lagoon and visit the attractive tropical gardens and rainforest walks of Lolomo Resort noted for their birdwatching.

Kula Gulf War Sites – Half and Full day tour

Snorkel over a sunken war ship, view massive anti-naval guns and visit a disused wartime airfield. The full day tour will visit the P.T. boat base on Rendova Island or the Japanese base sites on Kolombangara island. View the Japanese tunnel medical clinic and the Kennedy base and bunker.

Mt Bao Trek – Full day tour

A hard four hour trek through rainforest to reach Mt Bau. Stones and pillars stand on raised platforms atop Mt Bau representing ancestral spirits. Ancient and definitely off the beaten track! Not for the faint hearted – only for the physically fit. Sturdy walking shoes needed.

Other Activities – Sport fishing, Bike hire

Charter a boat for a minimum of two hours for some sport fishing within the lagoons outer reefs. Longer overnight fishing trips can be arranged on request. Bring your rods – handlines provided.

Go West Tours also offer mountain bikes, kayaks and snorkelling sets for hire.

Gizo Town – a two hour lagoon boat trip to the capital of the Western Province. Boat leaves 7.30am and returns 3pm Monday and often Friday. Advance booking required.