PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Travel’s last frontier
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
With its sublime landscapes, intriguing indigenous cultures and off-the-beaten track feel, Papua New Guinea truly is a destination for intrepid adventurers
Writer: Dani Redd | Project Manager: Matt Cole-Wilkin
Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s final travel frontiers; a place where you really can go off the beaten track. It’s located on the eastern half of the world’s second largest island, New Guinea. Although it’s only separated from mainland Australia by a narrow strait, it feels like a world apart.
The country is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse in the world, with over 800 indigenous languages: a quarter of the
world’s spoken tongues. Papua New Guinea has a fascinating tribal culture, renowned for their colourful body painting – a fascinating visual language that differs from region to region.
Another of the destination’s selling points is its biodiversity. Intrepid travellers will love exploring its remote, cloud-shrouded mountains, forested valleys, smouldering volcanoes and untouched beaches.
But it’s not all about tribal culture
and remote landscapes. In Papua New Guinea you’ll also discover some amazing dive sites and upmarket eco-lodges. You might even spot one of the colourful birds of paradise that the island is renowned for. Meanwhile, the capital Port Moresby has an abundance of bars, restaurants and hotels to greet you when you return from adventures in the country’s far-flung corners.
Luxury Adventures in Papua New Guinea
Encounter one of the world’s most fascinating countries and cultures in incomparable Abercrombie & Kent style and safety on a journey through remote, breathtaking Papua New Guinea.
Snorkel amid schools of tropical fish, explore the rainforests, waterfalls and birds-ofparadise of the highlands, and share the Karawari River waterways with local boatmen. Visit traditional villages and learn about ways of life still untouched by the modern world.
See more at abercrombiekent.com.au or call +61 3 9536 1805 to learn more.
FRANGIPANI FESTIVAL
If you’re looking for a quieter festival with more of a community feel, we recommend heading to the Frangipani Festival. It celebrates the rebirth of the coastal town of Rabaul, decimated after several devastating volcanic eruptions in 1994. The festival is named after the fragrant frangipani flower, the town’s signature bloom – said to be the first plant to grow in the ashes.
The festival is a day-long affair featuring sing-sings, concerts, fireworks, a canoe race in the harbour and ceremonial fire dances. It’s worth looking out for the Tolai whip dancers, where decorated young men receive choreographed lashes – a display of male initiation and strength.
WHERE: Rabual, East New Britain
WHEN: 18th – 20th September 2020
WEB: www.papuanewguinea.travel/ frangipani-festival-rabaul
MASK FESTIVAL
This extravaganza is a cultural tribute to the Tolai, Baining and Pomio peoples of East New Britain. It celebrates Papua New Guinea’s symbolic masks, which have traditionally been used in storytelling and dance performances. Each mask showcases a different story, and those donning them are said to adopt their ancestor’s spiritual powers.
SEPIK CROCODILE FESTIVAL
The Sepik River is home to some of the world’s crocodile populations. The crocodile holds huge cultural significance for the Sepik people – to them, it is a sacred animal symbolising strength, power and manhood. Some communities still hold ceremonial skin-cutting rituals, where male initiates have scars cut into their skin resembling the back of a crocodile.
The festival was started in 2007 to promote tourism and conservation in the region, and to showcase the unique relationship the people of
The first day of the festival begins with a dawn performance known as the Kinavai. It showcases the arrival of the Tolai clan, disguised as Tubuan and Duk-Duk spirits in ceremonial masks. Later in the day, the Baining fire-dancers perform mesmerising dances, as they plunge gracefully through bonfires.
WHERE: Rabual, East New Britain
WHEN: 8th – 10th July 2020
WEB: www.pngcultureadventures. com/rabaul-mask-festival
East Sepik have with crocodiles. Singsing groups from different villages perform dances about their way of life. You’ll catch sight of people who have participated in the skin-cutting ritual, and people dancing with baby crocodiles attached to their chests.
WHERE: Ambunti, East Sepik Province
WHEN: 6th – 7th August 2020
WEB: www.facebook.com/events
OUTLOOK RECOMMENDS
EAT:
FOR BUDGET TRAVELLERS…
FOR AUTHENTIC INDIAN DISHES…
Courtyard Restaurant at Shady Rest
FINE DINING WITH EASTERN AND WESTERN INFLUENCES…
Rapala Restaurant
FOR TASTY ASIAN CUISINE…
Fusion Bistro
SLEEP:
FOR ECO-TOURISM ADVENTURES…
Kumul Lodge
FOR FANTASTIC VIEWS…
Ulumani-Treetops Rainforest Resort
FOR REDEFINING URBAN LUXURY…
The Sanctuary Hotel Resort and Spa, located in one of Port Moresby’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, is the ultimate urban escape. An outdoor pool is nestled amid tropical gardens, where you’ll also find a small bird sanctuary. Add in the luxurious rooms, relaxing spa and Simple & Healthy restaurant, and you’ll never want to leave.
DO:
FOR TOURS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S HIGHLANDS…
PNG Highlands Adventures
FOR LUXURY WILDERNESS VACATIONS…
Abercombie and Kent is a well-respected international travel organisation, which offers several tours to Papua New Guinea. You’ll witness intriguing cultural traditions, see dazzling bird life and visit remote villages on a small group tour. And you’ll do so in the utmost luxury, with someone to handle your baggage, and opportunities for breakfast in bed and hand-picked accommodation.
FOR BOUTIQUE SOFT ADVENTURE TOURS…
Ecotourism Melanesia
FOR RIVER EXPLORATION…
Sepik Adventure Tours
FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S ONLY THEME PARK…
Adventure Park, located in the capital of Port Moresby, is the place for a fun-filled day out. You’ll find themed fairground rides here, including a Ferris wheel and water slides. The park is renowned for its exotic flora and fauna, which includes rare orchids, the dazzling Ragianna bird-of-paradise and saltwater crocodiles, which are fed every afternoon at 3pm.
FLY:
FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S NATIONAL CARRIER
Air Niuguini
Papua New Guinea MADE EASY
See the Land of the Unexpected with PNG’s “can do” tour operator.
• Wide range of independent touring packages
• Sign-up escorted group tours
• Customized special-interest itineraries
• Focus on soft adventure, culture, wildlife & photography tours, remote village trekking
• Extensions to Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji etc
• 20 years’ experience, Port Moresby based
• Travel agent friendly
em.com.pg|ecotourism.melanesia@gmail.com
LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS
KOKODA TRACK
This 96-kilometre-long track is one of the world’s most challenging and spectacular hiking tracks, a single foot thoroughfare penetrating deep into the Owen Stanley Range. In 1942 it was the site of a bloody World War II battle between Japanese and Allied forces.
PNG Highlands Adventures
MUSCHU ISLAND
One of Papua New Guinea’s best-kept secrets, Muschu Island boasts palm-tree fringed beaches and translucent waters perfect for scuba diving.
Welcome to Papua New Guinea... The land of Different Million Journeys... Discover and Experience ...
Based in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea since 2008.
We are specialized in Trekking Adventures, Birding tours to Kumul Lodge, Birding to Rondon, Cultural Festivals, Diving, Bird Watching and White Water Rafting. Our specialized products are in Tari wilderness, Mt Hagen Festival, Kumul Lodge bird watching, Mt Wilheam Trek, Goroka Festival,Madang Cultural & Diving, Sepik River Safari, Crocodile Festival, Port Moresby, Rabaul Mask Festival, Tufi Diving and Kavieng cultural and Diving tours.
For Reservations, please contact:
Email: pnghighlandsadventures@gmail.com
Email: info@pnghighlandsadventuretours.com
Phone: +67570468746 / +67572397966 www.pnghighlandsadventuretours.com
ASARO VILLAGE
This village is renowned for the Asaro mudmen – warriors who traditionally covered themselves in grey mud and wore oversized ceramic masks to scare enemies in battle. Today’s inhabitants will re-create the scene for tourists.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
PAPUA NEW GUINEA is easily reached by airplane. The main airport, at Port Moresby, is well-connected to three Australian cities – Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney – and Asian destinations such as Manila and Hong Kong. The main flight carriers are Air Niugini, Airlines PNG and Qantas.
Air travel is also the best way to get around the islands, as the isolated, scattered village settlements aren’t always well-connected by road. Papua New Guinea has 21 paved runways and 562 airports – needless to say, domestic airlines such as Air Niugini serve many towns across the islands.
Another way to travel is to charter a fishing boat or dinghy and explore the islands by water. Shorter distances by road can be navigated by PMV (Public Motor Vehicles) –normally open trucks or minivans. Women are advised against travelling solo on PMVs.
A lot of tourists book guided tours of Papua New Guinea – either through an international operator or a local guide on arrival – which means that their transport is taken care of by their tour operator. This comes highly recommended if you are unused to wilderness travel or have a short window of time to see the country.
Outlook Creative Services
David Doubilet
Walindi Plantation Resort is an intimate dive resort situated on the shores of Kimbe Bay on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. The resort is famous for its quality of diving and warm hospitality. Snorkelling, birdwatching and nature tours are also featured activities.
