PNG report - vanimo

Hi

Im just back from 10 wonderful days in PNG in September 2014.
After getting so much useful help from this forum, here are some info in return.

• flight in and out via Jayapura, much cheaper than any flight to Port Moresby. I had Indonesian visa in advance so didnt need to go to immigration office in jayapura. Officer at the border confirmed to me that if I had a VOA for Indonesia, I would have needed to go to immigration office in jayapura before.
• changed Rupiah to Kina in a money changer near Entrop bus station at 4550r/k. Later I found out that you can change at indonesia immigration office at the border at even better rate of 4500.
• taxi abepura- skouw border costed 200 000 rupiah. less than 2 hours trip.
• immigration was fast on both sides.
• No PNG visa on arrival is given at the border (only at airport), I applied at the PNG embassy in Singapore, visa was free and ready in 5 days. visa may be given only to singapore residents though.
• got a minibus -PMV- without waiting from border (wutung) to vanimo. 10Kina -abt 1hour.
• From 21 jul 2014, visa fees from Indonesia consulate in vanimo increased from 70 to 120 kina. Applied on a afternoon, visa was ready next morning. you need a photo. consulate is easy to find, next to the beach and hotels.

-boats from vanimo to Aitape cost 150 Kina and leave when full of cargo and people, I saw boats leaving in the afternoon, but more boats leave around 8-9h am. It took us 3h15 to reach aitape.
- aitape to wewak is 50 kina but arriving at noon was too late for buses, the only PMV leave aitape early morning.
we managed to hitch hike, it took 5 hours on a poor road with 4WD.
-I read before that it would take 4-5 hours between madang and goroka, it actually took 8 hours to go, and 10 hours to come back including long waits and some trouble on the road. Cost is 50 kina.
-goroka show was incredible. you can buy tickets for 5 kina, but if you prefer you can pay 100 kina for VIP tickets.
-no delays or issues to note on internal flights with airlines PNG and with Air Niugini. Paid abt 80eur for wewak-madang and 150eur wewak-vanimo, one way.
-My only withdrawal of cash at an ATM of BSP bank in Wewak with my visa card was successful. Theres a 15 kina fee.
-(Head) lamp is needed. electricity cuts happened everywhere, everynight or almost.

-I didnt go to sepik due to crazy prices of 2000 kina for a 2 days ride on a river.
Instead of Sepik, from Wewak, I decided to spend 3 nights on Yuo Island, fantastic place with amazing snorkeling, food and people.

Crossing vanimo to Jayapura:
-took a PMV from vanimo to wutung/border post (10k).
-official opening hours for border PNG time is 9h00, but the immigration guy only arrived at 9h45. and crossing to indonesia side, it was still not open (ard 8h50 indo time).
-taxi will charge 400 000 rupiah or more at the border to jayapura, but we found a driver who accepted to take us to entrop (jayapura) for 150 000 r. speaking a bit of indonesian helped.
-a cheaper option maybe to reach by taxi the first indonesian town of Koya, 30km from border, then look for public transport.

Cheers!

Awesome trip report! I'd never heard of Yuo island, thanks for sharing!
Let us know if you post any pictures!

thanks - very helpful info on the land crossing - looks like you did a lot of travelling in 10 days !

any more info on yuo ? how to get there prices etc ?

Yuo is very small, maybe 1km long. its not on the maps, and is located west of muschu island. Its not mentioned in Lonely planet either. Shortest access is a 45 min ride in PMV heading west from wewak, (10kina). stop off Boiken catholic mission. Then the boat trip is 15-20 min, arranged by Robert or his sons. Robert, the owner of the guesthouse can pick you up in town. He is very friendly. his phone +675 7261 483. Price per night per person 50 kina in a nice beach bungalow, with mosquito net in the room. Boat transfer to/from Yuo 50 kina each way (we shared it as we were 4 people). you can bring your own food there, but I recommend to buy diner from the family (15 kina), delicious fish every night. Great coral and fishes easily accessible just off the island.