Tropical paradise
by Joanne Lane The flight crosses some of the roughest terrain in the world - battle scarred Kokoda slopes from WWII - but emerges in a tropical paradise... Madang. Even the name has an exotic ring to it. And it is. Islands litter the lagoon with coral reefs, sunken Japanese bombers and coconut fringed shores with friendly village people. The great thing is it`s only a few hours by flight from Australia on the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea. And it`s also a lot safer on this side of the country. Forget the razor wire and snapping guard dogs of the capital Port Moresby, locals here can leave their cars unlocked and wave to each other in the street carrying coconuts and huge bunches of bananas. There`s not a lot to do in Madang town itself but nearby villages are worth a visit. But the best place to spend your time is on or under the water. Marine biologists from around the world make pilgrimages to the Madang waters to study the sheer colour and diversity of life in the seas. The water is also very clear so diving visibility is high. The Madang Resort runs boat harbour cruises every day starting at K77 for half day trips. You can also rent local canoes if you want to be more independent, although for safety reasons it is not adviseable for solo travellers. Some of the sights worth seeing by boat include Kar Kar Island which has an internal lagoon with abundant wildlife and nature. Bagbag Island, 32 nautical miles off the coast, is a small island with excellent harbours used by the Japanese Navy during WWII. You could also try snorkelling on the coral reefs around Pig Island, Leper Island and Wangat Island. Popular diving spots include an American bomber out in the bay. You will need to ask a local for help finding all the best spots if you`re not using the resorts services. The Madang Resort also offers night dives, game fishing charters, jet ski, windsurf or water ski. Dives start at USD $46 per person. The Madang resort also runs full and half day land tours - adviseable if you do not have your own transport as local PMVs are not the most reliable source of transport. The tours take in local villages where you can see traditional pottery being made (Bilbil), WWII aircraft and runways, and the farming of barramundi. The Madang Resort also has a cruiser, the Melanesian Discoverer that takes journeys along the Sepik River, a meandering flow of water 1126km long. Onboard it`s all luxury but you do get a chance to see the exotic Sepik River people cultures. OTHER THINGS TO DO
The highland towns of Goroka and Mt Hagen are accessible by road and air from Madang. Go to Lae first and take a long distance PMV. Mt Hagen is the capital city of the Western Highlands Province in an area of coffee and tea plantations. The Saturday market is the focus of life in this region and the meeting place for traders from all over the province. Clans gather in traditional costume regularly for ritualistic dancing and singing called singsings. Rabaul in East New Britain is another interesting place to visit. It`s a treasure trove of WWII relics, tunnels and caverns that can be reached within driving distance of Rabaul. The region features evergreen rainforest and rugged mountains and imposing volcanoes that surround the town of Rabaul. Flights also link to Rabaul from around the country. GETTING THERE
The only international airport in Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby. Madang is a one hour flight from here and a steep K900 (AUD $450) return. Discounts are available for travellers with onward international tickets, weekend flights and 1 week trips. Air Nuigini also has a four stop ticket available for just USD$600. Each additional flight costs another USD $50. Contact the Air Nuigini office or nearest agent for more details. See ww.airnuigni.com.pg for details. www.airlink.com.pg is another domestic carrier and www.apng.com (Airlines PNG). GETTING AROUND
The best way to get around locally is to use the local PMVs (buses). These cost just 50 toiya for trips around town or between islands off Madang. There are long distance PMVs to places lake Lae and Goroka. To get to Rabaul or other locations on the east coast you can go by sea but the journeys can be long. The best option is to fly. The only way back to Port Moresby is by air unless you walk the Kokoda trail.
The Melanesian Explorer offices are based in Madang. This luxury boat does cruises up the Sepik River and down to the Trobiand Islands and Milne Bay Province. WHERE TO STAY
The Madang Resort is the most popular place to stay and has organised tours and activities. However it is a pricey USD $115 for a standard twin. See www.madangresort.com
The Jais Aben is another option 15km north of Madang Town. MORE INFORMATION
See the PNG tourism website www.pngtourism.org.pg for information on activities and events, getting around, accommodation and other facts and details for the traveller. PNG does suffer from violent outbursts from time to time so when planning a trip keep an eye out for travel warnings. It is adviseable not to travel alone in PNG and women travelllers should always take care. BOOK HERE |
