Getting to Uepi Island Resort

There are direct flights from Brisbane to Honiara (the capital of the Solomon Islands) several times a week. Flights are also available from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

From Honiara, visitors to Uepi travel by light plane (60 minute flight) to Seghe on the south east tip of New Georgia. Visitors should be prepared for the fact that Seghe is a small crushed coral airstrip with only a few private houses on the edge of the strip.

On arrival at Seghe, guests will be transported approximately 18 kilometres across the lagoon in open 7 metre outboard engine powered long boats, the standard transport in the area.Whilst most boats have overhead covers, be prepared for the chance of getting a little wet from spray on the way to the island!

Amenities at Uepi Island Resort

The lagoon side of Uepi Island has a sandy beach, with clear shallow water suitable for swimming, paddle and sail boarding, and canoeing. The resort’s Dive shop offers packages and courses to suit all levels, while the restaurant’s food is based around fresh local seafood, fruit and vegetables prepared by talented local chefs.

A meal package is included on Uepi. All meals are based on fresh locally grown organic produce and seafood, sourced from nearby villages. Uepi has a kitchen garden on site, growing most of the resort’s salad vegetables and a variety of other fruits and vegetables used in the kitchen. Chickens, eggs and pork is also produced locally for the resort. Special dietary requirements can be catered for with notice.

Breakfast and dinner are social affairs served on the dining deck of the main leaf haus. The adjoining bar is a popular meeting place from which to enjoy a cold beer, wine or spirits. Lunches are delivered to your bungalow.

There is also an extensive library comprising local interests, marine and terrestrial natural history, periodicals and fiction books and board games for guests use.

Accommodation at Uepi Island Resort

Uepi Island Resort offers clean comfortable, fan cooled accommodation. One of the attractions of Uepi is the small number of guests sharing this beautiful island. Although there are 26 beds, approximately 20 guests is considered to be a full house.

There are 6 well appointed individual and private bungalows, 2 units and 2 guest rooms. Each room has private amenities with ambient temperature showers, tea/coffee making facilities, fridge and private balcony overlooking the magnificent New Georgia Mountains. Bathrooms are supplied with a range of natural plant/mineral based toiletries; hand wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Beach towels are provided in all rooms.

POWER: 24 hour power is provided by way of 240v generator. All rooms are equipped with Australian style power points.

4 x Beachfront Bungalows
Vanua 1 – has a large main room with sitting area, desk, tea and coffee making facilities, refrigerator and up to 2 single beds. The main bedroom has a king or twin beds depending on room configuration required. The bungalow has a bathroom with separate toilet. A large shaded deck area is accessed from the main room. Perfect for a family with young children.

Vanua 2 – has 2 separate rooms, joined by a 1 metre wide covered corridor. The main room is similar to Vanua 3 & 6 mentioned below. The additional room has a 2.5 metre high dividing wall in the sleeping area; either side can accommodate up to 2 people as twin or double occupancy and a small shared lounge area. Both rooms open out onto a large shaded deck area. To maximise airflow in the second room, a semi-detached timber bathroom with separate toilet and shower has been added. This is easily accessed via a covered deck area.

Vanua 2 is perfect for a family or for 2 couples travelling together, who would like the privacy of their own bedrooms and bathrooms, but are happy to share the deck area.

Vanua 3 and Vanua 6 – are perfect for a couple (with king size bed) or as a twin share. The bungalows have a large sitting area plus a desk area suitable for laptops, photographers etc and easy access to a private deck area – quicker access to the hammock! Bathrooms have been completely refurbished – island style!

2 x Garden Bungalows
Vanua 4 and Vanua 5 – these 2 timber bungalows are set a little way back, approx. 40 metres, from the water’s edge in their own garden setting, but with easy access to the beach. Each vanua has a king size bed (or twin share as required), separate shower and toilet, luggage rack and clothing storage space. There are easy chairs and a coffee table inside the bungalows. A large shaded deck area has its own outdoor furniture and hammock.

A highlight of these Vanua is that they each enjoy opposing water views to both the lagoon and the nearby channel and benefit from any breezes from both these directions.

2 x Dual Units
Unit 8A and Unit 8B – the 2 units share a common wall but are completely private in all other respects. Each unit has one open space room, a bathroom and separate toilet. In the large room is a sleeping area with either a king size bed or two singles as required. Along one wall is a wet area including a sink, tea & coffee making facilities and a bench. There is also a luggage rack and a clothing storage space. Cane chairs and a small table completes these self-contained, airy units.

An overhead fan is positioned to allow continuous airflow.

The units are situated on a raised area close to the beach (but not beachfront) which affords an excellent view of the Marovo Lagoon and the enjoyment of any prevailing breezes. Individual outside shaded decks provide generous space for a hammock and outside furniture.

2 x Guest Rooms
Room 7A and Room 7B – these units share a common wall. 7A & 7B are not beachfront but have excellent views over the Marovo Lagoon.

7A is as large as a bungalow, with ensuite shower & separate toilet. It has a spacious kitchenette area, a King Size bed, overhead fan and a leaf deck out from the front door. Because it is on a slight rise it gets very good breezes and the cross ventilation makes it a cool room.

7B is a smaller room with ensuite shower/toilet. Its entrance opens onto its own large breezy deck. This room has two single beds. It has an overhead fan and also has good breezes and a beautiful view. There is no sink in this room but there is a hand basin in the bathroom.

This complex is perfect for a family, where the parents want some privacy but want to be near their children, or for a group of friends or others not seeking strict privacy.

Activities at Uepi Island Resort

Swimming and Snorkelling
Uepi Island drops off into 50 metres of water at the Welcome Jetty and 2,000 metres at The Point. A fringing reef extends along Charapoana Passage and the ocean side of Uepi. Coral “gardens” are found at Uepi Point and Divers Bay. Simply fall off the edge of the island to access to some of the most fascinating underwater ecosystems to be found anywhere in the world. Hover amongst huge schools of fish, cruise past large gorgonian fans, check out the vase sponges, nudibranchs, feather stars, octopus and the never ending array of colourful tropical fish.

The Divers Bay area, also known as Kopi Tape (Bay of Rays) is an excellent area for snorkelling and just a short boat trip from the dive jetty. Here you may be lucky enough to snorkel with pygmy manta rays. The sandy bottomed Marovo Lagoon area also has some bombies and reef areas good for snorkelling.

Scuba Diving
Uepi has magnificent reef diving. Dive sites vary from coral gardens with magnificent drop-offs, ledges and gutters featuring an enormous diversity of reef fish. Turtles, mantas and eagle rays are fairly common sights, as well as the (friendly) Uepi hammerheads (usually between May and July / August).

Many of Uepi’s dives are conveniently located within a 5 to 10 minute boat ride from the resort. Uepi also has some wreck diving. There are three wrecks lying in Wickham Harbour, approximately 1 hour by boat. All are Japanese freighters sunk by the US during World War II. The wrecks sit upright, are relatively intact and display varying degrees of artefacts and marine life.

Sea Kayaking
Kayak Solomons offers Uepi Resort guests to experience kayaking at its best. No previous experience is required. All trips are guided. Options include:

Uepi or Charapoana Islands – either of these islands can be circumnavigated. A dawn paddle is an excellent time to interact with nature with dolphin pods, flying fish and turtles often sighted.

Chachole River – Situated on Vangunu Island, this river is a beautiful place to visit. The bird life (especially for kingfishers) is prolific. Small rapids pop up on the river occasionally. Kayakers have the opportunity to meet some of the Michi village people and learn about their culture. Half day or full day trip.

Rarusu Keoro – Kayak to a sandy beach lining the fringing lagoon of an untouched barrier reef island. Snorkel the shallow adjacent coral gardens or venture to the deep water reef edge.

Expeditions through Marovo and Nono Lagoons – individually tailored to suit each group of kayaker’s level of expertise and fitness, and their interests.The lagoon waters are calm and the sea-life abundant. The islands are surrounded by magnificent beaches and rainforest. Expeditions offer the opportunity to sample genuine Pacific Island hospitality and culture whilst staying in Eco-lodges within villages dotted throughout the lagoon. Expeditions include all food, accommodation, kayaks and equipment, guide and taxes. Minimum 3 nights.

Jungle Trails
The island itself is covered in rainforest right down to the high water mark. There is a system of well prepared and mapped out walking trails which are sign posted at strategic points. Maps are available at the resort.

Guests can book at the resort for trips to the nearby villages and rivers to enjoy the local culture and natural beauty. Other activities offered include wakeboarding/tubing, hobie cat sailing, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, fishing and volleyball.