Papua New GuineaTravel Tips

Prvinces of Papua New Guinea

Manus
Papua New Guinea's smallest province, both in terms of land mass and population, but has a vast sea area rich with marine life and beautiful coral reefs.  The province consist of a group of islands, known as the Admiralty Islands and a scattering of low lying atolls, mostly uninhabited with the northern border reaching the equator. Manus, the largest of the islands, is rugged and heavily timbered with central hills rising to over 700 metres and many sharp ridges and streams. The airport is at Momote on Los Negros Island. A good road connects Los Negros to the main town of Lorengau on Manus Island. The islands are connected by a bridge crossing the Loniu Passage. There is a waterfall and a fresh water pool on the Lorengau River a few kilometres upstream from Lorengau town. During World War II, Manus was occupied by the Japanese and later by American and Australian armed forces, who spent millions of dollars constructing a huge base, airport and dock facilities at Seedler Harbour. During wartime activity up to 600 ships anchored in the harbour. Today it is a peaceful place ringed by small islets and a magnificent reef. The rusting remains of the base can still be seen nearby.

New Ireland Province 
Long, narrow and mountainous, New Ireland boasts undeniable beauty, peaceful people, never ending beaches, the popular Malagan show, the unique annual shark Calling festival and a history visited by explorers, missionaries, traders and Japanese armed forces. Although "discovered" by Dutch explorers in 1516, it was 1877 when the first missionaries arrived. With the development of copra plantations it soon became one of Germany's most profitable PNG colonies. During World War II, New Ireland fell to the Japanese and many of the islands towns, infrastructure and industry was destroyed. New Ireland was also the setting for the saga of the Marquis de Ray who advertised Cape Breton as a thriving settlement, sold hundred of hectares of land to gullible settlers who were dumped with three weeks supplies, including a mill, note books and bricks, into a tangled jungle, with perpetual rainfall and unfriendly neighbours. Most died of starvation or malaria before being rescued and sent to Australia. Parts of the grinding stone for the never used grain mill can still be found in Kavieng. As for the Marquis de Ray, he ended his days in a lunatic asylum in France. The provincial centre of Kavieng is situated at the northern tip of the island. It has often been described as a "typical Somerset Maughan south sea island port".
It has a large, beautiful harbour and along the edge of the harbour is Kavieng's Harbour Drive, a curving road, shaded by huge trees, which passes many points of historical interest. A couple of kilometres out of Kavieng, along the Buluminski Highway, a little pathway leads off the road to a limestone cave filed with crystal clear water. At Utu village, the high school has a small museum with exhibitions of Malagan carvings - carved totem-like polls used in initiation ceremonies and rituals; ancient stone tools and vessels and a shark catching propeller. Karu villlage close to Nanatamai provides small gusthouses for those who want to experience the most beautiful beaches and chat a little with the owner very sympatic Thomas Molis and his large family.New Ireland is the centre for the art of shark calling. Certain men have the ability to "call up" sharks. The unfortunate shark swims up to the caller's boat where they can be speared and netted. Alternatively the shark propeller is used - a noose is hung with half coconut shells which make a rattling noise, attracting the shark up through the noose. A rope attached to the noose is connected to a wooden propeller which s spun round to tighten the noose and simultaneously pull in the rope. The shark, unable to keep moving, effectively drowns.  New Ireland Province includes a number of offshore islands. From the northeast coast are the islands of Tabar, Tanga, Feni and Lihir. Lihir Island is the site of the Lihir gold mine, reputed to have the second largest gold deposit in the world. 

New Ireland Province 
North Solomons Province has two main islands, Buka and Bougainville plus a scattering of smaller islands and atolls. It is located north east of mainland Papua New Guinea. A decade ago, North Solomon Province was the most frequently visited destination in Papua New Guinea. However, internal conflicts have temporarily suspended services to the province and it is currently closed to tourism.

Sandaun Province
Vanimo, the capital of Sandaun Province, sits on a neat little peninsula with beautiful beaches on either side. To the west, wade past vine draped limestone headlands to reach the final resting place of a rusted Japanese landing barge. Vanimo, 30 kilometres from the "Indonesian" border is PNG's entry port from Jayapura in Irian Jaya (formerly West Papua). This area of the world has seen little development in international tourism, other than visitors en route from Irian Jaya to other parts of Papua New Guinea, or the 
intrepid traveller. The 260 kilometre shoreline is pounded by heavy seas caused by the blustery north west winds during December to March. Several small islands lie offshore from the town of Aitape, the only other town in Sandaun Province. Aitape was established as a station by the Germans in 1905 and was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Bits of aircraft wreckage can be found near the wartime Tadji airstrip and a war memorial stands nearby.  The headwaters of the Sepik River are in West Sepik Province. Here the river narrows into dense, mountainous country and only small boats can navigate upstream from the village of Ambunti. There are no roads in the Upper Sepik and much of the province is covered with rainforest. The villages here are known for their specialist religious cults. The people of Maio and Yessan have a yam cult and the isolated village of Swagup is the home of the insect people, whose art form incorporates the figures of the sago beetle, dragonfly, praying mantis and other insects. Among the distinctive artefacts from Sandaun are painted canoes of Sissano Lagoon and large shields from the Telefomin district. The shields have broad zigzag, spiral or V designs that represent their ancestors' bodies. 

East Sepik Province

One of the world's largest waterways, the Sepik, snakes it's way through East Sepik Province. Dense rainforest covers the north coast and the mountains north and south of the river basin. The Sepik River, often compared to the Amazon and Congo Rivers, presents nature untamed, unspoilt. Wewak, with its palm fringed beaches is the main town of East Sepik. Not far from Wewak is Cape Wom, the site of the Japanese surrender where Lieutenant General Adachi signed the surrender documents and handed his sword to Major General Robertson on September 13th 1945. A war memorial marks the site and the wartime airstrip is still in place. Another memorial in town has been erected at the site of the Japanese war graves and nearby is the Japanese/PNG Peace Park. Wewak, provides adequate facilities as a base for trips to one of the fifteen islands off the coast of Wewak. Ideal tropical islands become a reality when you travel by boat to Kairuru Island with its waterfalls and hot springs. Virtually unknown and untouched, the waters and reefs display an abundance of sea life-turtles, sharks, manta rays, tuna, corals as well as sunken wrecks from WWII. Further afield is Wuvulu Island. which rises straight up from an undersea plateau 2000 metres deep. As there are no rivers or creeks the water is uncommonly clear. Wet season is April to November. East Sepik's fertile environment is reflected in its rich cultural traditions. Crocodiles, birds, turtles and other wild animals feature in East Sepik artwork. Sepik rivers are world renown for their fine craftsmanship. The regions most famous artefacts are the woven fibre ceremonial masks used symbolically in the yam festivals. Jewellery, pottery and canework can be found in the village markets around town. Wewak has a pier for overseas and coastal shipping. 

Madang Province

Madang Province consists of reef-fringed lowlands backed by some of the most rugged mountains in Papua New Guinea and offshore volcanics islands. Colourful Madang township has been called the 'prettiest town in the South Pacific". It's peninsula setting is a show-place of parks, waterways, luxuriant shade trees and sparkling tropical islands. Although small, the town has modern urban facilities, including hotels, department stores, markets and artefact shops. There are several hotels in Madang, a few budget guest houses and some small village guest houses on several of the islands on Madang lagoon. The area is world famous for its coral reefs and superb visibility making diving good all year round. Those who like diving on wrecks will find the reefs liberally dotted with sunken ships. Hansa Bay, the resting place for at least 34 Japanese ships, is within striking distance up the coast. Ships lie in shallow water and are now covered in corals and fish.  The two volcanic islands of Manam and Karkar have volcanic cones rising 1800 metres above sea level and provide a spectacular sight. Local markets sell artefacts, shell jewellery, cavings and pottery. The south Coast road leads to the Balek Wildlife Sanctuary, which has strange fish-filled sulphurous caves, jungle walks, and hot springs. The Sanctuary was also the location for filming scenes into he Pierce Brosnan movie "Robinson Crusoe". Madang hosts the Mabarosa Festival each year, a colourful display of dancing, singsings and bamboo bands.  Madang is linked by road to Lae and the Highland provinces. 

West New Britain Province 

In contrast to East New Britain, West New Britain is virtually untouched, unexplored and unknown. The exception is Walindi Plantation Dive Resort, which is located on a private owned oil palm plantation on the shores of Kimbe Bay. The Bay is fringed by volcanic mountains, some still active. The Muruk cave system in the Nakanai area of West New Britain is believed to be the deepest recorded in the southern hemisphere. A French cave expedition team recently explored the system and believe there is a canyon about 1,200 metres below the entrance of the cave. The pretty little town of Talasea looks across the bay with its' many islands from Williamez Peninsula, an active volcanic region. Talasea is the centre for the manufacture of shell money. It was from this area that obsidian, volcanic glass used in the manufacture of knives, spears and arrows used for trade from about 3,000 BC until recent times, was found. In the hills behind Talasea are the wrecks of two US bombers, one of them a B24 Liberator. On Pangula Island, across from Talasea is the Valley of Wabua, meaning "Valley of Hot Water", a mass of thermal geysers. There are also a number of coastal ships which call in at Kimbe on their way to and from Lae and Rabaul. 

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