Where to go in Papua New Guinea

HI there,

I am currently in Australia, and am thinking about travelling to Papua New Guinea for a couple of weeks. However i heard it can be very dangerous, can anyone recommend the places to stick to for safety, and where is really worth seeing, without putting myself in danger too much?

The safest parts of PNG are the off-shore islands like those in Milne Bay, New Ireland, etc.
These are as laid-back as anywhere in the South Pacific.

That said, I would say even back on the mainland only the cities and parts of the Highlands are of real concern, and I personally never had any trouble even there. Depending on what you are interested in, the mainland obviously has most to offer, but if a safe, easy holiday is your top priority, just stick to the islands.

See also the PNG link in my signo, and a guidebook.

And note that Australians, of all nations, tend to have truly weird ideas of PNG without ever having been there in the first place.

Hi!

I agree with Laszlo. We spent one month in PNG last year and it was the highlight of our "Around The World In 365 Days" trip we did. The places we liked most was The Highlands, escpecially Tari in Southern Highlands.

To go deep up on Sepik River to Upper Sepik is also a great adventure - tough conditions but worth the effort.

Alotau in Milne Bay is very relaxed and the diving world class.

If you want to know more about our experience from PNG send us an email or have a look at our website: Around The World In 365 Days.

Best regards

EvAnders

Hi,

we have been there for about 6 weeks last year: New Ireland, New Britain, Tari, Milne Bay and they were all great, we didn't have any kind of problem with the local people there. Actually we have never seen such friendly people before! We were scared about lots of posts here on violence, but we made all on our own, and all people were really friendly, helping us out when we missed a bus, etc. They take care for you once you belong to their community!

We dived for one week in Kavieng (Lissenung), then we travelled all the way down from Kavieng to the south of the island and then took a little boat to New Britain (this was the most scary thing of our journey, as a storm came out), we stayed some time around Rabaul, then we went to Milne Bay (fantastic diving, we discovered muck diving there), Tari (really something different, basic accomodation, but very good experiences with people, life there), back again to New Britain, this time to Walindi Resort, which is a great place with great diving!

Everything you need there, as basic as it is, will be imported, that's why it makes everything quite pricy, so if you want to travel down New Ireland, e.g. bring your own food, as people might not have food for you, if they don't know before that you'll come. Take something more than rice and canned tuna fish (which we read in some posts), because all you bring, will be the only things you'll eat there.

Have a nice time and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

T.

Hello:

GO TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA! Is it a game changer in terms of travel experiences. I just got back from there in September after spending around 2.5 weeks there. It is probably one of the last great 'adventure' travel destinations.. in that people aren't jaded from tourism, are EXTREMELY friendly. My wife and I had zero problems with violence, although it is wise to be careful in the cities (especially Port Moresby, where I wouldn't wander around by yourself).

The Following Were my Favorite Desinations in PNG:
1. Kegsugl @ Betty's Place in the Highlands (start off point for climbing Mt. Wilhelm... exhilirating!)
2. Mt. Hagen (only in August or September for the singsing competition.. otherwise don't bother.. Betty (from above) also has a lodge here.. well recommended)
3. Kavieng (Laid back town on New Ireland with FANTASTIC diving)
4. Madang (Quiet town on mainland with great diving... but stay in town not at the Madang Lodge)

If you do in fact try to book with betty... get the Lonely Planet guide and FAX all communications to her.. she dosen't have reliable phone or internet connections.

Last of all... HAVE FUN!

I am actually planning to take a trip to PNG this December with a few friends and was wondering if point us in the right direction?The tours we are finding are really expensive-like minimum 5,000USD not including flights-- and we wonder if it was possible to just fly into Port Moseby and find a tour operator there and plan the whole trip for a cheaper price than what we are finding here on the internet. Or is that not a good idea? Or if there are any tour agencies that are local, if you had their email addresses or a place of where to find them. We just want to have a trip but want to find a better price. We are using the Lonely Planet book for help too, but finding information is difficult.

The itineraries that we came up with are these, as we were reading and it looks good to cover the highlands, Sepik (if possible-maybe the season is too wet for going there in Dec?) and the coast for snorkling and diving.

Sorry such a long email!

Papua New Guinea - with the Sepik

Dec 25, 2010 – depart Los Angeles on Qantas Airlines # 16 at 1130pm.

Dec 27 – arrive in Brisbane, Australia at 620am. Connect to Air Niugini # 04 departing Brisbane at 1025am and arrive in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 125pm.Connect to Air Niugini # 182 departing Port Moresby at 315pm and arrive in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea at 415pm. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Rondon Ridge. Overnight at Rondon Ridge with all meals included.

Dec 28 – this morning you will have a tour of the Waghi Valley to visit the fascinating cultures that live in this remote region of Papua New Guinea. Overnight at Rondon Ridge with all meals included.

Dec 29 – this morning you will be transferred to the airport for your charter flight to Karawari. Afternoon tour of the Sepik region. Overnight at Karawari Lodge with all meals included.

Dec 30 – full day tour of the remote villages of the Middle Sepik. Overnight at Karawari Lodge with all meals included.

Dec 31 – this morning you will be transferred to the charter flight to Ambua Lodge. You will be met on arrival and transferred to the Lodge. Afternoon tour of the Tari Region. Overnight at the Ambua Lodge with all meals included.

Jan 01 – full day tour of the Tari region and the Huli Wigman. Overnight at the Ambua Lodge with all meals included.

Jan 02 – this morning you will be transferred to the Tari Airport in time to meet Air Niugini # 865 departing Tari at 1150am and arrive in Port Moresby at 120pm. You will be met on arrival by Airways and transferred to Airways Hotel, Port Moresby. Overnight at Airways Hotel.

Jan 03 – you will be transferred to the airport in time to meet Air Niugini # 03 departing Port Moresby at 630am and arrive in Brisbane at 925am. Connect to Qantas Airlines # 15 departing Brisbane at 1100am and arrive in Los Angeles at 700am.

Estimated cost is $5900.00 per person based on double occupancy including all flights, transfers, tours, lodges and meals except for the meals at Airways Hotel on Jan 02.

I am estimating $1000.00 per person for the Qantas flights Los Angeles > Brisbane > Los Angeles. These flights will be purchased online for best pricing and the price could change.

Papua New Guinea wtihout the Sepil (December is the wet season, no?)

Dec 25, 2010 – depart Los Angeles on Qantas Airlines # 16 at 1130pm.

Dec 27 – arrive in Brisbane, Australia at 620am. Connect to Air Niugini # 04 departing Brisbane at 1025am and arrive in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at 125pm.Connect to Air Niugini # 182 departing Port Moresby at 315pm and arrive in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea at 415pm. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Rondon Ridge. Overnight at Rondon Ridge with all meals included.

Dec 28 – this morning you will have a tour of the Waghi Valley to visit the fascinating cultures that live in this remote region of Papua New Guinea. Overnight at Rondon Ridge with all meals included.

Dec 29 – this morning you will be transferred to the charter flight to Ambua Lodge. You will be met on arrival and transferred to the Lodge. Afternoon tour of the Tari Region. Overnight at the Ambua Lodge with all meals included.

Dec 30 – full day tour of the Tari region and the Huli Wigman. Overnight at the Ambua Lodge with all meals included.

Dec 31 – this morning you will be transferred to the Tari Airport in time to meet Air Niugini # 865 departing Tari at 1150am and arrive in Port Moresby at 120pm. Connect to Airlines of Papua New Guinea departing Port Moresby at 300pm and arrive in Tufi at 400pm. You will be met on arrival and walk to the resort. Overnight at Tufi Resort with all meals included.

Jan 01 – full day of snorkeling at Keikos Island. Overnight at Tufi Resort with all meals included.

Jan 02 – This morning you will visit JeboVillage. This afternoon your kayak in the fjords. Overnight at Tufi Resort with all meals included.

Jan 03 – this morning you will be transferred to the airport in time to meet Airlines of Papua New Guinea departing Tufi at 715am and arrive in Port Moresby at 815am. You will be met on arrival by Airways and transferred to Airways Hotel, Port Moresby. Overnight at Airways Hotel.

Jan 04 – you will be transferred to the airport in time to meet Air Niugini # 03 departing Port Moresby at 630am and arrive in Brisbane at 925am. Connect to Qantas Airlines # 15 departing Brisbane at 1100am and arrive in Los Angeles at 700am.

Any help or advice would very much be appreciated.
Thanks again for your help and hope to hear from you soon.

If you really want PNG to be cheaper, you will have to forget tours and DIY.
It is quite possible as most places you mention are fairly acessible, and English is widely spoken in the country.
Much cheaper accommodation also exists at the places listed in those itineraries.
You will however either have to allow more time or be ready to drop a few places from the itinerary if sorting things out by yourself.
You could still enlist the help of local operators once you are in the gateway towns like Wewak or Tari.
The LP guidebook for PNG, though not without errors, should give you ideas.

If you do insist on pre-arranged tours, you will just have to pay up.
PNG is not a cheap country in general, especially not if wishing to stay at places like Ambua Lodge, Karawari Lodge and Tufi Resort, and if you want someone to make all prior arrangements for you it is natural that theyu will want to make a profit on it.

thanks for your help--do you think we can just arrive at port moseby and go into a local tour operator and set up the tour from there? or would that be just as expensive, if not more expensive? do you have any suggestions as to whom to go with? LP mentions some stuff in the books, but I did not find it all that helpful, Laszlo. Any other suggestions?
Thanks again!

I think that if you are trying to arrange tours from Port Moresby, they may end up costing the same or similar amount what it would cost from abroad - but I never did so can't say for sure. And I doubt you will find many tour-operators to choose from.

Since you seem so deperate to pre-arrange things, I'd say just do it from home and pay what it costs.