Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Longest ever New Guinea expedition/trek?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

Hello there,

Just after a hard-to-find bit of information: what is the longest/world-record trek ever on the island of New Guinea (ie. both West Papua and PNG)? I read about a trek from port Moresby to the north coast in the 40s, and although gruelling, was only 120 miles. I was just thinking about the plausability of a west to east trek - ie. Fak-Fak/Sorong to Milne Bay. I know this is impossible, but I just wonder if anyone has ever even attempted it.

Anyway, any info. on the subject in general would be great cause I can't find anything on it.

Thanks!

Jack

I don't think anyone has ever walked west to east, though some have done north to south coast or vice versa.
Nowadays visa issues alone would make the west-east trek very tricky.

I once trekked eastwards from Wamena and made it all the way to Merauke overland (obviously not walking all that way) which already made me pretty happy.

In PNG, much of that route would nowadays be driveable along the Highlands Highway.

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