Papua New Guinea from Australia

Me and my boyfriend are doing a RTW trip from October 2012 to August 2013.

We will be in Australia from Jan to Feb 2013 and were contemplating going over to PNG. We are only in Oz for 5 weeks and were wanting advice on whether it would be worth cutting this a week short to travel to PNG.

We have heard that PNG is quite dangerous but also worth it for the unspoiled and off the beaten track nature of it.

If we go, we would also like reccommendations of an itinerary and which tour companies etc are reputable to go with.

We are mainly interested in the PNG culture - potentially visiting a tribal community and spending some time snorkelling around the coastal areas.

Any advice/tips would be great.

Thanks

No..the cost of getting to PNG from Cairns or Brisbane is going to cost you around $700 each, its not a country set up for backpackers and air travel is the most common way of getting around so be prepared to pay for that. Yes it is a dangerous country - dont go roaming the streets of Port Moresby after dark. The only tour companies are Kokoda trail which takes more than a week or dive resorts. There is no shopping or backpacker scene in PNG. Stay in Aus you will be wasting your money by trying to do PNG on the cheap.

While you can't do PNG cheaply, if you have the cash to fly there, and take a domestic flight from Port Moresby, a one week visit could still be worthwhile.
If you fly to somewhere laid-back like New Ireland, it will be perfectly safe and a tour company unnecessary.
Otherwise, you could do a brief Sepik or Highlands tour (unlike the poster above states, such packages are on offer) but tours in PNG are expensive.

I have heard that New Ireland is worth a visit and I am also aware of the dangers of Port Moresby.

Do you know if it is possible to fly from Port Moresby to the New Ireland area?

We definitely have the cash to do it - it is more the time but we thought that it would be some extremely different and probably one of only a few places left in the world that is untouched by tourism, and wanted to see what this would be like.

Yes, check Air Niugini's website for flights to Kavieng.
PNG is not entirely "untouched by tourism" but is certainly less touched by it than most countries, and largely unspoilt. Kavieng does get a regular trickle of visitors, but remains incredibly friendly. Consider Rabaul as a worthy possible stopover on the way there, or better, back.

The website of this recommended local "resort" may be of interest to you:
http://www.nusaislandretreat.com.pg/index.htm

Ah, and of course see the official tourism site, too:

www.newirelandtourism.org.pg

For a PNG tour is Wewak at the north coast a good destination to go first on Sepik tour and after that to go snorkelling on the islands near Wewak

In the Sepik region you can see untouched coutryside -especially at the Wag lake - and live together with the local people

Detailed informations can you find in this branch of this frum under the date of

So you have much informations for preparing your journey

Oh! But on a brighter note, learn to scuba dive, because they have some of the best reefs in the world. And they're totally untouched.

:)

I would definitely cut off one of those five weeks to visit PNG if you: are adventurous, have a bit of experience, can give up some comfort, are willing to spend a bit (specially on flights), and will be quite cautious in dangerous areas (or just completely avoid them). In any case, have a great trip!I PNG is a very special country.

I am willing to share some contacts/advice from my travels to PNG if you are interested. I traveled solo and covered quite a bit in a short time.

Sorry wrong thread.

Edited by: wookulele

Hi , sorry about late reply to post! I was in New Ireland, and New Britian in June & July and loved it! We were 2 females traveling without a tour company but we had booked accomadation from Cairns thru PNG Travel who are great to deal with. Stayed at Nusa Island retreat, fantastic but breaky and lunch a bit exxy for what u get, dinner makes up for up it! tons of seafood. Fantastic diving , friendly people, great bungalows and free use of sea kyacks. also Rabaul was was great , would have liked to have stayed longer, and Walindi is fantastic but not cheap! Best diving! great staff, cant wait to go back! Hope this helps

Go to Tufi Dive Resort, great culture, great resort, great diving. You can watch a bit about Tufi here http://skerah.com/article_travel.php?id=469

Kavieng is good too.