Plizio Visual Lab

Stirling Island

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Landmark

Weather…

Stirling Island, part of the Treasury Islands, served as a vital forward base for Allied forces during their advance through the Solomon Islands. In October 1943, as part of Operation Goodtime, New Zealand and American troops landed on the island to seize it from Japanese defenders. Stirling's flat topography and coral-rich soil made it a well-suited candidate for an airfield, which was constructed by U.S. Navy Seabees in a remarkably short period. Stirling Field became a significant base for fighters and bombers launching missions against Japanese strongholds on Bougainville and Rabaul. In addition to its aviation role, the island provided a secure harbor for PT boats and functioned as a logistics center for supplying the northern front lines. Today, the island is largely uninhabited, but the wartime runway is still used occasionally, and the remains of bunkers and military hardware serve as a reminder of its strategic importance during the Pacific War.

Location: Solomon Islands
Nearby: Mono (9 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, Nov, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	29	28	28	28	29	28	28	28	28	28	28	29
Rain mm	310	328	318	274	388	378	380	351	294	295	245	239

📋 Practical info

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Visiting

Stirling Island is a remote coral island and mostly uninhabited; it can be visited by local boat. The remains of the former Allied airfield are freely accessible in several spots, offering insight into war history.

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Typical hours

There are no fixed opening hours as the island is not managed. The best time to visit is early morning to enjoy the peace and avoid heat - plan your return before dark.

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Photography

Photography is allowed on the entire island, especially the decaying runways and military structures. The flat coral landscape provides interesting subjects for wide-angle and aerial shots.

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Time needed

Exploring the main remains on Stirling Island typically takes one to two hours. Add the boat journey, which depending on the starting point (e.g. Mono Island) takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

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Combine with

Combine Stirling Island with a visit to the neighboring Treasury Islands, especially Mono Island, which also has a rich war history and beautiful beaches. Diving trips to surrounding wrecks are also popular.

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Getting there

Stirling Island is best reached by chartered boat from Mono Island or Gizo. The crossing can take between 30 minutes and one hour depending on weather - best arranged through local accommodation.

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Insider tip

Take a compass or GPS device as the island is uninhabited and has no trail markers. Inform someone of your travel plans as mobile coverage on the Treasury Islands is very poor.

Geography

Coordinates

-7.41000, 155.61000

Facts

Operation Goodtime for the liberation of the Treasury Islands began on October 27, 1943.
Stirling Island was the first territory recaptured by New Zealand forces during WWII.
The airfield on Stirling was constructed by U.S. Navy Seabees in only 26 days.
The runway was approximately 6,000 feet long and surfaced with crushed coral.
The island hosted Pappy Boyington's famous 'Black Sheep' squadron (VMF-214).
Significant amounts of wartime equipment were scuttled in the waters around Stirling after the war.