The island experience in Papua

Hi there

I am off to Papua for a month, in May. I basically want to do a bit of hiking in the mainland and go to some island(s) to chill. Dont want to get too many things into my schedule, esp. knowing how wrong things go if u plan too many things in such places, so i will probably decide on one complex of islands, such as:

1. New Ireland & the Lavongai islands

2. Trobriand islands

3. Any other island or complex of islands you particularly enjoyed (e.g. book & press reviews on north solomon province inc. bougainville give off mixed feelings, but would rather rely on info from some independent that has actually been there!)

Practical info such as getting there by ferry/air & reliability of travel, where to go, where to stay as well as how to make the most out of my time there would be most welcome!

Thanx

Nikos

Hi,
I'm a journalist and traveled to PNG three years ago to film on the Carterets Islands. I would suggest skipping Bougainville. On one hand it is beautiful, but security situation there is not stable and any form of tourism is still many years away. People still seemed pretty scarred by the civil conflict. Our pilot said that some of the other islands are more welcoming. We took Air Niugini and flights ran on schedule.

Good luck.

Edited by: honeill

My vote goes for New Ireland, with East New Britain added.

My impressions of Bougainville were just as #1 wrote, I would not go there looking for paradise.

Don't forget, your reported experiences of Bougainville were 3 years ago, and the security situation is improving.
A lot can change in the islands in 3 years.

I am pretty sure the atmosphere would be similar though.
In fact, some more recent travellers reported the situation to have worsened, eg they could not even reach Buin in the far south.
Nor could all the destruction have disappeared.

Other islands are sure to remain a better choice for a holiday!

Thanx for the responses, guys (and girls?).

Would probably try move around by boat (ferry/fishermen) to go around the islands and a plane to get my ass back, i guess. Whatever the case, I shall give u an update.

Respect

N.