EM27 – TAURI RIVER FISHING WITH THE LOCALS PACKAGE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS 6 nights ex-Port Moresby The unspoiled Tauri River is only a 3 hour drive from Port Moresby. The river plays host to a small number of riverside hamlets who live off the abundant freshwater species in the river. Upstream, catfish are prevalent while barramundi and mangrove jack can be taken in the estuary. This budget fishing package takes you into the homes and dugout canoes of local people and gives you an opportunity to live off the river catch as they do. The locals cook and eat their catch fresh, or smoke the fish to preserve them. Dry season from May to December is the best time to visit, as rainy season flooding from January to April can make the waters unsuitable for fishing and difficult for canoeing. Although the locals now also make use of small motor boats to move up and down the river – and go fishing – this tour package sticks to paddle canoes and shore fishing both to keep the cost down and to give you a more interactive, traditional fishing experience. Mosquitoes are a problem in this area at night, so we carry appropriate netting and insect-proof tents. To see prices, trip notes and detailed list of inclusions, click here to download the itinerary for EM27 in Acrobat (PDF) format. ITINERARY:
Boarding a local public passenger truck (PMV) Terapo bridge	Day 1: PORT MORESBY / TERAPO BRIDGE Arrive Port Moresby on morning flight. Ecotourism Melanesia staff will meet and greet you on arrival, take you for a brief drive around the city and then help you board a local public passenger truck (PMV) for the drive to Tauri River. Two of our guides, plus a few boxes of supplies and equipment, will accompany you on the truck. The road trip to Tauri River takes between 3 and 4 hours depending on the current road condition, the weather, and any stops en route. Arrive Terapo Bridge around midday. Lunch at Makara Village Guest House. Our local fishing guide will give you a crash course in paddling native dugout canoes and then you will spend the afternoon and early evening fishing the Tauri River estuary (Port Chalmers) where mangrove jack and barramundi are likely to be taken. There is a myriad of small creeks which feed into the estuary, and any of these can be explored for bites. Some saltwater species like bream, salmon and mullet are also possible. Your fishing guide will keep you away from heavily fished areas close to the nearby large village of Moveave. Your fishing canoe will be closely followed by a support canoe with some refreshments, spare fishing gear and a change of clothes in case you happen to capsize your canoe or get swamped by a wave at the river mouth. For groups of two or more, we supply one canoe and one guide per visitor. Overnight Makara Village Guest House. (Barramundi or mangrove jack for dinner)
Makara village guest house	Day 2: TERAPO BRIDGE Second day paddling, exploring and fishing the Tauri River mouth and associated canals and mangrove labyrinths. Visit nearby Moveave village which is said to be the largest village in Papua New Guinea. See ladies washing and preparing sago, the staple food of the Gulf Province. Overnight Makara Village Guest House. (Barramundi or mangrove jack for dinner)
Tovala swamp	Day 3: TOVALA CREEK Rise early and paddle up Tovala Creek, a tributary of the Tauri River, for still water fishing in a secret area of brackish / swamp water where black bass and tilapia are in abundance. Overnight jungle hut. (Black bass or tilapia for dinner).
Tovala Creek	Day 4: TOVALA CREEK Second day of creek and swamp fishing in the Tovala Creek area. Your guide will take you to his secret spots. Fish from your canoe or from the shore, or standing on a log in the creek. Overnight jungle hut. (Black bass or tilapia for dinner).
Overland hiking to Hauta village Arrive Osi family home at Hauta village (Tauri riverside)	Day 5: TOVALA CREEK / LOWER TAURI RIVER This morning, continue fishing the creek and then hike overland to the Tauri River (some of the village boys will paddle the canoes back to Makara Guest House). The overland hike takes about 2 hours and passes through classic virgin swamp and jungle. You will get to see a variety of birds, lizards, butterflies and other insects but there are no large mammals in this area. The hike brings you out at Hauta, a family hamlet right on the main river bank. This afternoon, try some line fishing with heavy sinkers from the bank to bring up some catfish from the bottom of the fast-flowing river. Paddling is quite a chore around here with the current running at five to ten knots, so a favourite trick of the locals is to go out in a canoe tied to the shore or tied to a mid-stream log and fish from there. Overnight Osi family home, Lower Tauri River. (Catfish for dinner.)
Osi family home, lower Tauri river	Day 6: LOWER TAURI RIVER Second day of riverbank fishing and tied-canoe fishing in the lower Tauri River. By this time you are an expert and the competition is on between you and your guide for the biggest catch. Explore the rainforest in the hinterland and visit other hamlets along the riverbank. Overnight Tauri Village or Putei Mission. Overnight Osi family home, Lower Tauri River. (Catfish for dinner.)
Wating for your boarding call at the departure lounge	DAY 7: TERAPO BRIDGE / PORT MORESBY Road transfer to Port Moresby, arrive by midday and check in for your afternoon flight. Includes packed lunch at airport if required. Tour ends