New Ireland & East New Britain

Hello, need some help

I will go to above mentioned provinces - nov/dec - and have some questions as the LP doesnt satisfy me so far to use a discreet word
- any other travel guide available ?

• around Rabaul/ Kokopo : anyone been to Duke of York islands ? boat ? acco ? in particular am interested in Kerawara
  and Kakabon due to this amazing story [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Engelhardt] - its unfortunately in german only
  but its about the founder of the "coconut sect", he was living and preaching his "coconut gospel" there during the german colonial rule.

• around Kavieng : anyone been to New Hanover/ Lavongai Island or even to the outlying East Islands ?
  boat ? acco ? beaches ?

• west coast of New Ireland : road conditions ? poss to go around by public transport ?

• off shore islands like Tabar - Lihir - Tanga : boat ? from where ? beaches and acco ?

• how is PMV transport system : something comparable in other countries ?

• is the border to the Solomons "open" ? where are the places for emigration and immigration ? to be worth the "stress" or
  should I consider to fly ?

• Port Moresby : good mid range acco ? to be worth to stay longer than needed ?

• is it poss to extend the 60 days VOA ?

SO sorry for the tons of questions and SO grateful for any reply and help in advance

The old LP PNG guide (without Solomons) has more detail on the whole country.

Duke of Yorks accessible from Kokopo.

New Hannover accessible from Kavieng.

Not been to west coast NI, but am quite sure there are PMVs.

Been to Tatau in the Tabars. It had one guesthouse and occassional boats from the mainland village opposite.

The PMV system is OK for PNG but that's not much to say. Even on the east coast road there were long waits.

The crossing to the Solomons remains technically illegal, though people are getting through. Surely less stress to fly if the cost doesn't hurt.

Never had an extension in PNG but heard it's a pain and should be done in Moresby by all accounts.

Re Solomons - PNG border crossing, check this thread

Thank you for the replies

Laszlo, the boat to Tatau was leaving from Konos wasnt it ? "occassional boats" means once/twice a week ?
How are the beaches on the island ? snorkeling ? "culture" ?
Can you recommend any decent - mid range - beach acco on NI ?

Have you personally been to New Hanover ?

Yes. Occasional simply means no real schedule - every 2-3 days when weather allows, maybe. Beaches just OK, snorkelling very good, culture very good too (as I was there during a celebration involving traditional dance/music) - but don't expect grass skirts etc.
I was invited to New Hannover by locals heading there but chose to go to the Tabars instead. In PNG one always has to make choices even when spending the full 60 days allowed on a visa in the country!

re time frame and choice : thats why I will draw my attention to one/ two provinces only and not to the entire country,
sometimes its quality not quantity that counts..............

I am grateful for your help / inspiration

oh, you are writing "Hannover" - its the german spelling - besides my place of birth (D), so I cant resist the
temptation to visit the papuan namesake....

In the Islands now...

Duke of York Islands - Just spent five days there. I went down to the beach in Kokopo and asked around about place to stay. Within five minutes I was offered a floor space in somebodies house. There is also a guesthouse listed in the LP. Beautiful Islands!

New Hanover - Tsoi Islands are beautiful but the beaches aren't what they used to be because of a king tide last year. There are two guesthouses, one in Mansava and one in Tsoi Lik. The one in Mansava is more like a village stay. You can walk/swim/canoe to the other islands in the Tsoi group. Lavongai is awesome but be preparred for some serious, serious hiking and more rain than you can measure.

West Coast New Ireland - the road doesn't currently go all the way through because a few bridges were taken out by floods. You can access some villages from the Kavieng side and some from the Namatanai side, but you can not do the entire thing by PMV at the moment.

Off shore Islands - I don't know if I'd go to them...I've met a few people who have been and they didn't have much to say about them. Lihir is a giant gold mine. You can access Lihir from Namatanai and you can easily ask around Namatanai to find out how to get to the other ones.

Visa Extension - I've overstayed my visa nd am hoping to god that I can escape via the Shorthands without having to pay any fines or spend any time in dodgy jail cells.

Try and do your best to avoid the police then.
They did check my passport when I was in Buin looking for the Shortland boats.

#6 Thanks a lot - great infos, have sent you a pm

Yeah, got arrested in Buin but got out of it. The main problem was not actually my expired visa but the fact that I had stayed in the same village as this looney cult leader who has hired a personal army of Fijian mercenaries, taken over a United Church mission station and declared himself king. The police thought I was with this guy for some reason.
Anyway, next time I have an expired visa in PNG I'll be sneaking out some other way.