Ecotourism on Tetepare

Imagine a postcard-perfect tropical island in the Pacific, swathed in virgin rainforest and surrounded by sparkling turquoise lagoons and pristine reefs.

A place where ancient, critically endangered leatherback turtles haul up onto the beaches to lay their eggs, where rare dugongs loll in the warm seagrass meadows and green turtles swim and feed, where the forest is filled with the songs of birds and thunder of waves on the fringing reef.

Tetepare is this place.

The Tetepare Island Ecolodge attracts visitors from around the world, who come to enjoy the pristine beauty and wildlife watching opportunities of this very special island. Ecolodge guests stay in traditional Melanesian leaf houses, set on the edge of the rainforest, close to the shores of a sparkling lagoon.

At night, our guests drift off to sleep to the sound of waves crashing on the fringing reef of the lagoon and wake in the morning to the songs of birds.

To ensure guests experience the true tranquillity of the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific, visitor numbers are limited to a maximum of 16 guests at any one time. The ecolodge is a small, intimate retreat, with just six guest rooms.

photo: www.anthonyplummer.com

Tetepare is a wilderness-lover’s paradise, with bush walks through lush tropical forests and snorkelling in a marine environment teeming with life. A visit also provides a unique opportunity for the adventurous visitor to participate in on-going conservation activities with the Tetepare Descendants’ Association’s rangers. For more information on ecotourism activities on Tetepare, click here.

Tetepare Island is home to some of Solomon Islands' most unique marine and terrestrial animals. Marine turtles, such as the critically endangered leatherback, nest on its volcanic black sand beaches. Green and hawksbill turtles feed in its sheltered lagoons, while dugongs graze in its sea grass beds. Sharks, crocodiles and myriad fish species make the island’s reefs their home, while rare and endemic bird and bat species are found in its forests.

Untouched by logging, Tetepare retains almost all of its primary tropical lowland rainforest, some of the last of its kind in the country.

Meals for ecolodge guests are prepared by our specially-trained local cooks, using fresh organic local ingredients, including vegetables grown in village gardens on nearby Rendova Island, and seafood caught fresh from the waters around Tetepare. We can cater for vegetarians.

All guests have a knowledgeable local guide at their disposal throughout their stay. Your guide will be available to accompany you on bush walks, boat trips, wildlife watching trips and other activities.

All staff at the Tetepare Ecolodge are descendants of the island's original inhabitants, and have intimate knowledge of Tetepare's traditions, history and customs.

Your visit to the Tetepare Ecolodge will raise money that goes directly to conservation efforts on the island, and to support local communities conserving their natural heritage.

Tetepare Visitor Guidebook (3285 KB)