Itinary

Have just booked my ticket to POM and am really excited after reading all the posts about this country. I can't believe the incredible detail in the trip reports and info. available from the posts. This would have to be the best on any branch I've looked at. In a bit of a quandary in that I can only manage 16 days away and am leaving Brisbane on 22 September to POM and flying out on 7 October. (Would love to have more time but work restraints won't allow). This is my first time to PNG so thought I would like to do the easy/friendly way and am looking at seeing possibly Madang/New Ireland/Rabaul and Alotua. Seems like a lot but want to see as much as possible on the East side and next time do the top end and Sepic. I tried to get the 4 coupon air pass but Airlines NG are not issuing it any more as they say they have reduced the internal flight costs by as much as 12-60% and the pass now costs more than the individual flights. It looks as though the only way I'm going to see a lot is to fly so will have to bear the costs. I am travelling by myself and don't mind budget type accommodation but really need some idea of a possible travel route to see as much as possible and any recommendations as to amount of time to spend in each place with any suggestions as to accommodation would really be appreciated. Hope you can help. Thanks.

Well done on choosing PNG as a holiday destinantion. I am sure that if you are prepared to get out there and have a go that you will have a great experience here.

Travel is always problematic in PNG and if you have limited time, flying is the only way to go. Having said that, travel routes are not ideal. For example, you can't fly from Madang to New Ireland. If in Madang you have to return to Port Moresby and then fly back to New Ireland. Unbelievable but true. I have done it!

The best help I can give you in planning your itinary is the web sites for Airlines PNG and Air Niugini. Both sites have schedules so you can work out what connections are possible.

For Budget accomodation in Madang I recommend the CWA Guesthouse. It is clean, has self catering facilities, is right in town and economical, about K50 a night. If possible you should book in advance as it is often full. Contact details in the LP.

In New Ireland, I recommend the Kavieng Club in Kavieng, the guesthouse in Bol village and the guesthouse in Dalom village. Stayed at the only hotel in Namatania. It was expensive and we didn't get much for our money. For example they didn't serve meals - we had to arrange something with a local cafe.

In New Britain we stayed in the Kaibira Guesthouse. Great location right on the beach with a reef just off shore. they will collect you from Rabaul. Details in the LP. In Rabaul we stayed in the Hamamas Hotel, also known as the Rabual Hotel. We hated it, thinking it very expensive for not much, but many other posters who have stayed there loved it. Just shows that there are horses for courses.

I posted a trip reoport in Feb this year on my trip in New Ireland / New Britain. Check that out for more details if you like.

Recently got back from Alotau:

In Alotau stay at Napatana lodge, an ecotoursit place, with loads of helpful advice. Not much to do though around here, so use as a starting off point. 80 kina for backpacker room (very fine, with ensuite and tv).

Make your way to the Market wharf and tey and get a PMV boat (6 kina) across to wagawaga and stay at the treetop lodge (this can be set up by helpful napatana staff). 70 kina a night, but very isolated (in a great way), so bring a book. Totally serene.

Go to Tawali resort, which is upscale dive resort. Bit pricey to saty overnight (45o kina), but you can get great day trip from Alotau. They pick you up and return you and provide lunch, all for 5o kina, which is great value. Once at Tawali go diving or snorkelling. We went snorkelling. 50 kina for person for baot to take you to incredible reefs and 12.50k for snorkelling gear, including wetsuit. THe snorkelling was absolutely incredible.

With Air Niugini flights, the wantok fare (discount fare) often requires staying over saturday night. You can buy tickets online and if you try different combinations you get different prices, so try a few.
First night stayed at Napatana lodge. (Eco-tourist lodge

Thanks Northmelbournedn & Aubs. Really appreciate your advices. With 4 places to see, Madang, Keviang,Rabaul & Alotua, would you recommend 3 nights in each place or is it better to cut back on one or more and spend extra time in another. I am no longer young but still enjoy snorkelling and getting around and it may well be that an overnight on one/some island/s might be an option rather than sit around in a town a bit bored. Also to see the above I don't want to backtrack to POM each time (except fpr Alotua which seems the only way to get there without spnding a lot of time on the road) so you might have some thoughts there. Thanks for the info. to date.

Dear Tourist,
Dear All,

Be carefully !!!!! Don’t trust !!!!!

Don’t book a trip with every kind of Papua New Guinea Travel Agency.
PNG Tourist Promotion Authority and other Travel Agency are involved on fraudulent cases.
PNG Tourist Promotion Authority promote and publicized some Travel Agency, like PNG Holidays Ltd of Mr.Benjamin Nikints.
Mr. Benjamin Nikints and his team take your money and after disappear..
I’m writing from Italy , since last June 2006 we’re waiting to recover our money (5000$) but there isn’t developments about this case.
Other tourist from America and Holland had loosen a lot of money….
Try you to understand…..
The PNG community is shared from clan….
What does it means….
It means that every clan do it possible to cover every kind of matter happened to his component..
Papua New Guinea is much corrupted and dangerous.

Hi....we were in Kavieng, New Ireland approx 2 years ago...and stayed at the Kavieng Hotel. The owners, Leo and Rhondi, were great hosts, and told us of many places to see. The accomdation was cheap and is withing walking distance of the harbour.

You must do the Sunday night seafood buffett at the hotel, even you stay elswhere..its the best i have ever had! Those pacific oysters are HUGE.

If you have the chance, also find a way to see the eels. I am not sure of what they ae called...but Leo will know.

Also, if you have the room, take cheap pencisl and pens (that dont take up much room) for the local schools. They don't have much and do aprreciated the thought.

Hope you enjoy New Ireland, i cant wait to go back and eat the tasty fruit and wonderful seafood.

Cheers,

Sharon

Hi Sharon. Thanks for the info. about Kevieng Hotel. Is that different to the Kevieng Club? I've had good reports about both. Will take up your suggestion and take pencils/pens. Great idea.

Hi Brabes,
Kavieng Htel is completely different to the Club. For that matter i didnt even know it existed, but then we were only there for a week. Another place to visit is Noosa Island. We went across the bay for a days outing on the island. We were given a map by the resort on the island and went inland for an easy walk.
We met plenty of friendly locals who were selling hand made beads in the villages.

cheers

Sharon