Vanimo to Alotau

I suppose we'd be able to cross the border to PNG with the visa we get at the consulate in Jayapura.
Than I suppose we'd reach Vanimo by road.
Then since we don't fly, how is it with the boat connections from Vanimo to the East? Do we need to wait for days to find some connection to Milne Bay area or there are any regular connections?
I don't really know about the scale of Papua, how long would it take to go from Vanimo to Alotau?
And is May-June good time to do this?
Thanks a lot.

Read the PNG link in my signo line.

You will never find anything direct from Vanimo to Alotau.
Without flying, you will have to change boats at least twice, and depending on your luck with connections, it could take weeks.

Any time is a good time.

6 minutes from posting a question to getting an answer. Laszlo, you going for a world record or what?

Best option for getting to Alotau from Vanimo would be via Lae. You should be able to get a schedule from the Luship/Star Ships agent in Vanimo. If there is a big gap between ships arriving in Lae and ships going to Alotau then just go as far as Madang and hang out there, then get a PMV (bus) to Lae a day (or two) before the ship to Alotau departs.

Oh, I think I have caught some faster than that - all a matter of luck, I guess! ;-)

I might add that with a few days to wait around Madang/Lae, going up to Goroka by PMV could also be an interesting diversion from the coast.

Hi

I'm also planning to visit PNG from West Papua in April. Can anyone give advice on how long the boat trip is from Vanimo to Wewek and from Wewek to Madang. How regularly do the ferries plough this route and rough estimate of costs for backpacker, if not rock bottom, cabins.

ta muchly
Ali

Vanimo to Wewak is totally irregular, Wewak to Madang once or twice a week.

The ships I have been on had NO cabins for passengers, just dorm-like accomodation on bunks.
It cost 30-50 USD/leg, depending on class - the better ones had an air-con, smaller dorm in addition to deck class.

Ships in PNG are a lot more basic than in Indonesia.

Check out StarShips, a subsidiary or Rabaul Shipping. they travel Lae to Alotau once a week. A long and uncomfortable journey but cheap. kulapom@online.net.pg might have details. The fastest way round from Cape Vogel or Rabaraba is to catch local dinghy to Awaiama then PMV across the range to Alotau. This will cut a day off the travelling time. Maybe get off at Tufi and spend some time there. A beautiful place. Then travel by local means to Cape Vogel and on to Alotau. Gretta

It seems that quite a few of us plan to cross into PNG from Iriyan Jaya. After we end up in Vanimo what boats are available? How long does it take and how much does the cheapest bunk cost to Lae? I think the LP needs more in the getting there and away section for Vanimo!

Also does anyone know if the LP estimate of backpackers having to spend at least US$50 per day right!?

Thanks
Ruth

Ruth, please read the PNG link in my signo line.
Pretty much all your Qs are answered there - some of them are answered in this very same thread above!