Botanical Gardens, Honiara

The Honiara Botanical Gardens occupy a wooded valley near the centre of the capital, offering shaded walking trails through native and cultivated tropical plants. Streams, orchid collections and stands of forest make the gardens a cool retreat from the heat of the city. Once well developed and later neglected, the grounds retain mature trees and a network of paths popular with walkers and birdwatchers. As one of the few dedicated green spaces in Honiara, the gardens preserve a pocket of the island's rich vegetation near the town centre.