Ecotourism Melanesia’s PAPUA NEW GUINEA

 

MILNE BAY PROVINCE

 

GETTING THERE

- Daily flights from Port Moresby to Alotau
- weekly flights from Popondetta to Alotau

- 3 times a week flights from Port Moresby to Losuia (Trobriand Islands)
- 3 times a week flights from Port Moresby to Misima

(no road links or passenger shipping services from outside the province)

Alotau – quiet, friendly provincial town, scuba diving base

Samarai Island – tiny, pretty former provincial capital

Fergusson Island – geothermal hotspots at Deidei, Malalauyewa and Bolousinamo (both inland from Waluma village, East Fergusson), bird watching at Alageda and Sebutuia (North Fergusson - rare Goldie species of bird of paradise and Curl Crested Manucode native to Normanby and Fergusson Islands can be seen here). There is a trekking route from Salamo to Basima via Sebutuia and also Waluma to Galea. Waluma to Malewabu is a good bird watching trek. Ebesaisai has a lookout point and good bird watching.

Goodenough Island – 2400 metre mountain peak

Normanby Island – uninterrupted beachwalking, climb Mt Jasen (sacred mountain where ancestors' spirits say farewell before passing in to destiny, orchids and other interesting flora here), Sewa Bay has excellent bird watching and you can do a canoe reconnaissance of the Bay over two days, village to village trekking

Trobriand Islands – unique culture

Misima Island – large gold and silver mine, gateway to remote islands
Visit all these islands by chartered workboat - an unparalleled experience!

Napatana Lodge
Saugere Guesthouse

Masurina Lodge

Alotau International Hotel

Kinanale Guest House, Samarai Island

Kiriwina Lodge, Kiriwina (Trobriands)
Vakuta Island Homestay (Trobriands)

Misima Guest House

Faiava Village Stay, Goodenough Island

Bolu Bolu Guest House, Goodenough Island

Salamo Women's Guest House, Salamo - operated by the United Church women, welcomes all travellers. Said to be run down.
Mumunu Guest House, Salamo - situated on a small island just off Salamo, surrounded by mangroves with birds and small crocodiles
Waluma Village Homestay, East Fergusson - operated by Mr Jones Liosi, retired high school teacher and former premier of Milne Bay Province

Esaala Women’s Guest House, Normanby Island - located on the waterfront at Esa'ala. Said to be run down.

Sehulea Guest House, Normanby Island - no information
Galahi Village Stay, near Samarai

Milne Bay (or “Millen Bay” as the locals pronounce it) is probably the quietest province in PNG. There are not many squatters from other provinces to cause trouble, since Milne Bay is very hard to get to. There are no road links to other provinces, and not much in the way of inwards passenger shipping. Milne Bay is not “on the way” to anywhere else, and the locals like it that way.

 

Most visitors land at Gurney Airport outside Alotau and then either head straight for the islands or spend a few days in Alotau first. Fergusson, Normanby, Goodenough, Misima and Kiriwina (Trobriands) are the easiest islands to visit as they all have airstrips with regular flights. The Trobriands are perhaps the most interesting islands culture-wise, while Goodenough and Fergusson have geographical attractions (high mountain peaks and geothermal activity respectively). Normanby Island is ringed by a narrow sandy beach which makes it ideal for beach hiking.

 

Misima is a nice tropical island with good facilities because of the mine, a resident population of Trobriand Islanders (and their magnificent carvings) and a small harbour with boats going in and out to more remote island groups. Misima Guest House is the only place to stay.

 

Kiriwina is the main island in the Trobriands group and we recommend staying at Butia Lodge, which is situated at the airport in the centre of the island and close to local villages with yam houses.

 

Samarai Island is too small for an airstrip but there are frequent small boat departures from Alotau.

 

Best buys: Trobriand Islands and Woodlark Island carvings.
Our favourite spots: Faiava Village Stay (Goodenough I.), Vakuta Island Homestay (Trobriand Is.)

 

PHOTO ALBUM

 

Budibudi atoll	Dancers on Budibudi atoll

 

Bweka underground spring, Trobriand Islands	Traditional canoe, Trobriand Islands	Exquisite carvings, Trobriand Islands

 

Pumping water, Trobriand Islands	Trobriand village

 

Alcester atoll	Visit remote islands in Milne Bay by chartering the MV John Vincent

 

Chartered workboat follows the Milne Bay coastline	Trolling behind a workboat	Caught some crayfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map of Milne Bay Province

Our PNG links

Frequently-Asked Questions about travel in PNG

Milne Bay Tourism Bureau website http://www.milnebaytourism.gov.pg