Roviana Lagoon stretches along the southern shore of New Georgia, a sheltered expanse of turquoise water enclosed by barrier reefs and small islands. It is one of the most culturally significant lagoons in the Solomon Islands — the Roviana people were historically among the most powerful in the western Solomons, known for seafaring, trade, and, in earlier centuries, headhunting raids that extended as far as the Shortland Islands.
The lagoon is lined with traditional villages where wood carving remains an active tradition. Roviana carvers are known for intricate inlaid work using nautilus shell, producing war clubs, canoe prow ornaments, and decorative panels sold across the Solomons. You can visit carving workshops in villages along the lagoon shore — most are welcoming to visitors who arrive with a local guide.
Skull shrines are among the most distinctive sights. These ancestral sites hold the skulls of past chiefs and warriors, kept in small stone enclosures or purpose-built structures. They are sacred places and should be visited only with local permission and a guide. Several are accessible from Munda; your lodge can arrange introductions.
The lagoon itself offers excellent snorkelling directly off the shore — coral gardens, reef fish, and occasional turtles are visible without a boat. Boat trips deeper into the lagoon reach more pristine reef systems and isolated sandy islets where you may have the beach to yourself.