More general questions about PNG and West Papua

johnnyrotten06:45 UTC16 Jan 2011

Hello!

I am an Englishman currently living and working in Melbourne, just starting to plan my next move, PNG and West Papua. I've had some very friendly and very helpful responses from this branch before so thought I'd give it another go. What I'm hoping for really is to just put my ideas up here and have someone who knows more than me point me in the right direction, fill me in on some details etc. If of course you dont mind. I've started looking at guidebooks and into flight prices etc and I'm hoping to spend a month to six weeks on the Island from the beginning of May, flying in from cairns to Port Moresby, moving north and west towards vanimo where I'll cross over into the Indonesian part of the island at jayapura, then make my way accross the island to sorong where I will fly on to jakarta and onwards.

Now obviously that is just the bare bones of a plan, I havent filled in any of the gaps yet, I like to take my time reading guidebooks prior to leaving and it usually falls into place, I've been reading about some epic sounding places already and getting really excited.

If I had any specific queries or points I would particularly like advice on though it would be firstly cost, I know that it isnt a cheap place to travel but how much might you expect that it would cost for say one month or budget travel? Including all of the internal flights, guide fees etc etc. I know that one of the main attractions for many people are the cultural festivals, what are the big ones and where are they? If you wanted to travel the island would you distribute your time equally between the two halfs or is there more to see and do on one side than the other? What have been people highlights? Obviously I want to get off the beaten track, what there is of a beaten track anyway, has anyone any experience of this?

I know these are basic questions, once I begin reading properly ill decide on the details I just really value the opinion of people who have been there and done it.

Thanks in advance

johnnyrotten

Laszlo18:49 UTC16 Jan 2011

Budget advice including flights and guides is impossible to give as it depends on how often you fly and hire guides, etc.

The most famous festivals are the Goroka and Mount Hagen shows, held around August I think. However, there are many, many others that are less famous, less touristy but still great. You can only find out about most locally.

Virtually ALL of PNG, and all of West Papua away from the Baliem Valley is off the beaten track.

I think you'd get more out of spending longer in PNG than in West Papua.
The latter is less developed, has less info available about its more remote bits in guidebooks, and requires Indonesian language skills for truly off the beaten track travel.
See the Papua link in my signo line for more.

skerah03:43 UTC21 Feb 2011

Hi, if you would like to have a look at the cultural festivals for this year in Papua New Guinea, take a look at this http://www.skerah.com/article.php?id=18

skerah
http://facebook.com/myskerah

retiree9905:12 UTC30 Apr 2011

Hi I have just return to Aust from PNG travelling to Goroka (EHD), Chimbu, Madang, Lae and Moresby. Lutheran Mision Guest Houses in Goroka, Madang and Lae supply B&B for arounf $96 kina a night. Travel by PMV between towns varies but look at about 25 kina Goroka to Kundiawa 35 to Madang from Goroka and around 40 - 50 Madang to Lae. These costs vary. A good guide (personal) in Goroka for the Highlands area a Caspar Duma. His web site is www.casparguide.com, phone (mobile) 675 72866127. He is trustworthy and reliable and can organise stays in villages etc if wanted.

More general questions about PNG and West Papua Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea
johnnyrotten06:45 UTC16 Jan 2011	Hello! I am an Englishman currently living and working in Melbourne, just starting to plan my next move, PNG and West Papua. I've had some very friendly and very helpful responses from this branch before so thought I'd give it another go. What I'm hoping for really is to just put my ideas up here and have someone who knows more than me point me in the right direction, fill me in on some details etc. If of course you dont mind. I've started looking at guidebooks and into flight prices etc and I'm hoping to spend a month to six weeks on the Island from the beginning of May, flying in from cairns to Port Moresby, moving north and west towards vanimo where I'll cross over into the Indonesian part of the island at jayapura, then make my way accross the island to sorong where I will fly on to jakarta and onwards. Now obviously that is just the bare bones of a plan, I havent filled in any of the gaps yet, I like to take my time reading guidebooks prior to leaving and it usually falls into place, I've been reading about some epic sounding places already and getting really excited. If I had any specific queries or points I would particularly like advice on though it would be firstly cost, I know that it isnt a cheap place to travel but how much might you expect that it would cost for say one month or budget travel? Including all of the internal flights, guide fees etc etc. I know that one of the main attractions for many people are the cultural festivals, what are the big ones and where are they? If you wanted to travel the island would you distribute your time equally between the two halfs or is there more to see and do on one side than the other? What have been people highlights? Obviously I want to get off the beaten track, what there is of a beaten track anyway, has anyone any experience of this? I know these are basic questions, once I begin reading properly ill decide on the details I just really value the opinion of people who have been there and done it. Thanks in advance johnnyrotten
Laszlo18:49 UTC16 Jan 2011	Budget advice including flights and guides is impossible to give as it depends on how often you fly and hire guides, etc. The most famous festivals are the Goroka and Mount Hagen shows, held around August I think. However, there are many, many others that are less famous, less touristy but still great. You can only find out about most locally. Virtually ALL of PNG, and all of West Papua away from the Baliem Valley is off the beaten track. I think you'd get more out of spending longer in PNG than in West Papua. The latter is less developed, has less info available about its more remote bits in guidebooks, and requires Indonesian language skills for truly off the beaten track travel. See the Papua link in my signo line for more.	1
skerah03:43 UTC21 Feb 2011	Hi, if you would like to have a look at the cultural festivals for this year in Papua New Guinea, take a look at this http://www.skerah.com/article.php?id=18 skerah http://facebook.com/myskerah	2
retiree9905:12 UTC30 Apr 2011	Hi I have just return to Aust from PNG travelling to Goroka (EHD), Chimbu, Madang, Lae and Moresby. Lutheran Mision Guest Houses in Goroka, Madang and Lae supply B&B for arounf $96 kina a night. Travel by PMV between towns varies but look at about 25 kina Goroka to Kundiawa 35 to Madang from Goroka and around 40 - 50 Madang to Lae. These costs vary. A good guide (personal) in Goroka for the Highlands area a Caspar Duma. His web site is www.casparguide.com, phone (mobile) 675 72866127. He is trustworthy and reliable and can organise stays in villages etc if wanted.	3