Sights in Buka Island
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Sohano Island
You can also take a boat ride to explore the idyllic islands near the southern mouth of the passage and beyond. Good swimming spots are on these islands. The most easily accessible is Sohano Island, a few minutes by boat from Buka. It was the provincial capital from WWII until 1960. It's a beautiful place with lawns and gardens, a Japanese monument, and war relics, steep craggy cliffs and panoramic views over town, the passage and Bougainville Island. There are some colonial-period buildings.
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Buka passage
A particular highlight in Buka is the Buka passage, which refers to the channel that separates Buka Island from Bougainville Island. The water runs at about 6 knots when the tide is fast, making deep undulations on the water's surface. Riding in a banana boat in Buka Passage is a buzz. Banana boats congregate near the animated market and the passage is abuzz with these small crafts plying between the town and Kokopau village (opposite Buka on Bougainville Island).
A word of warning: avoid snorkelling in Buka Passage; you could wind up lost at sea because of the current, and the boat traffic on the surface is pretty intense.
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Tchibo Rock
The weird Tchibo Rock stands just offshore from Sohano's northernmost point and figures in many local legends. It's said to have magical properties.
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