Gunungsitoli Harbour

The harbour at Gunungsitoli is the main arrival point for visitors coming by sea from Sibolga on the Sumatran mainland. Ferries on the crossing — a journey of around 10 hours — arrive here, and the waterfront area around the terminal is the liveliest part of Gunungsitoli, particularly in the early morning when boats arrive and the market activity is at its peak.

The harbour promenade has a handful of warungs serving fresh fish, rice, and the grilled seafood that is the staple of Nias coastal cooking. The view from the waterfront looks west across the Indian Ocean; the horizon is open sea all the way to the Maldives. Binaka Airport, a few kilometres south, has regular flights to Medan that are faster than the ferry crossing and similarly priced.

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A story
The ferry route between Gunungsitoli and Sibolga on the Sumatran mainland was for many decades the only reliable connection between Nias and the outside world. The 2005 earthquake that devastated southern Nias (magnitude 8.7, killing nearly 1,000 people) was felt most strongly in the areas served by the southern port of Teluk Dalam, but the damage to Gunungsitoli's infrastructure disrupted the ferry service and cut the island's supply lines for weeks. The rebuilt harbour is more capable than its predecessor.