Orion Expedition CruisesPapua New Guinea and the Highland CulturesOverviewIn 11 short nights you’ll be touched by almost every aspect of Papua New Guinea and its rich culture. You’ll join Orion in Rabaul after flying from Cairns. From the crafts, beautiful beaches and perfect surf breaks at Kavieng you’ll find yourself immersed in a village on the Sepik River, meeting school children and perhaps shopping for mysterious Sepik artifacts. There’s a taste of the highlands in Madang but venture further to Goroka and you’ll encounter the mysterious Asaro Mud Men. Cape Nelson’s volcanic fjordland is a breathtaking contrast to the volcanic thermal springs you’ll discover the next day. Milne Bay seems saturated with WWII relics and heritage so be sure to savour the peace of the islands that were described as the most beautiful in the South Pacific. Detailed ItineraryDay 1 - RABAUL - Dry LandingSet at the eastern end of the island of New Britain, the tropical port town of Rabaul has always been famous for its spectacular setting. Nestled beside Simpson Harbour, the township is surrounded by six volcanoes, some of which are active today. During more than 100 years of settlement, Rabaul has been rocked by massive volcanic eruptions and war, a testament to the resilience of the townsfolk who have rebuilt after each event. The most recent volcanic eruption was in September 1994 when Tavurvur and Vulcan covered much of Rabaul and surrounding villages with volcanic ash. The wrecked buildings can still be seen. This eruption saw the growth of the nearby coastal town of Kokopo which has now become the administrative and tourism centre for Rabaul. While in Kokopo, take time to visit the Historical & Cultural Centre, a wide-ranging collection which covers New Britain’s past before and after European settlement, through to the Second World War. The area played a significant role in WWII and the Japanese occupation in 1942 saw the building of hundreds of kilometres of tunnels underneath the town and the Gazelle peninsula as protection against constant Allied bombing raids. It is almost hard to miss the rusting relics left over by the retreating forces. In one tunnel are five huge barges that were pulled along rails to the shore and back by prisoners of war. Dozens of sunken aircraft and ships dot the harbour and to the north are sea caves used as a drop-off point by Japanese submarines. It is now a popular diving and snorkelling site. Day 2 - KAVIENG - Wet Landing Bordering the Bismark Sea is New Ireland and at the northern tip of this island is Kavieng – often described as a "typical Somerset Maugham south sea island port". Perhaps this is why Errol Flynn spent some time here! The gorgeous tropical setting has it all - powdery white beaches, sparkling streams and soaring green mountains that run the entire length of the island. The ancient ritual of shark calling originated in this area and sorcery is also practiced. Carved Malagan artefacts are unique to New Ireland and have been keenly sought by visitors since the first European traders landed. Foodies will be drawn to the local market where coconut crabs, lobsters and reef fish are on display next to all types of tropical fruit and vegetables. The harbour hides many aircraft and ship wrecks, including a Japanese midget submarine. Across the harbour lies Nusa Island, well-known for its great surf breaks. The island has a beautiful beach for swimming and snorkelling, and from here Orion guests may set out on nature walks, go kayaking, charter a fishing boat or go diving amongst brilliant coral and marine creatures. Day 3 - AT SEA Day 4 - SEPIK RIVER – Wet Landing The meandering Sepik River is the longest river in Papua New Guinea and for years has been a major trading artery linking the coast and the interior. From the West Papuan border, the Sepik twists its way towards the coast where the river mouth is more than a mile wide. Orion will take position at the river mouth nearby the village of Watam, home to about 300. In Watam guests will enjoy a cultural display and meet some of the villagers to gain an appreciation of Sepik River village life. There’ll also be an opportunity to view and purchase pieces of highly collectable Sepik River art created by the villagers, and sourced from villages further up-river. The diversity of techniques and materials is astounding and is a true reflection of the region’s different sub-cultures. The dense vegetation and swampland to be seen along the river’s edge is home to many species of birds – watch for egrets, herons, kites, jacanas, darters, cormorants and kingfishers. Salt and freshwater crocodiles are also common. Day 5 - MADANG – Wet Landing Early this morning Orion will approach Madang through the spectacular Nagada Harbour, something worth climbing out of bed for. Madang itself is a pretty town set on a peninsula characterised by colonial buildings, lush gardens and magnificent vistas of tropical seascapes, islands and inlets. The market is a must-see – masses of colourful produce, shell jewellery, woven bags (bilum) from the highlands, carvings and bilbil clay pots which are a local specialty. The cemetery is close to the marketplace and the weathered stones are reminders of German and Australian colonial past. Divers come from around the world to dive sites just off-shore which encompass wartime wrecks, pelagic marine life, reef-filled shallow lagoons and drift-diving off deep drops. In the centre of the harbour is the wreck of a US minesweeper (USS Boston), still intact after over 50 years. From Madang there will be an optional flying excursion to Goroka in the central highlands, renowned for sing-sings and the mud men warriors of Asaro. Day 6 - NAGADA HARBOUR / LONG ISLAND Long Island is extremely remote and sparsely populated. Lake Wisdom was formed by a large crater with sheer cliffs in the middle of the island. The island boasts unique bird life and its beaches are breeding grounds for the rare leather backed turtle. Day 7 - CAPE NELSON / TUFI - Wet Landing The magnificent coast around Cape Nelson on the north coast of the mainland is a well-kept secret. More than 30 fjords are carved into the shoreline. Each fjord is surrounded by dense rainforest above sheer basalt walls, many with waterfalls plunging into the sea. Sandy beaches meet coral reefs and the crystal clear water is crammed with diverse marine life – a perfect combination for swimming, snorkelling and diving. Local villages are set in isolated areas along the coast and on the imposing slopes of Mount Trafalgar. The cultural heritage of the area is based on subsistence farming and fishing. Oro pottery and Tapa cloth making is also renowned throughout PNG. The world's largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing, inhabits the rainforest and specimens with a 30cm wingspan have been measured. The world's largest grasshopper, longest stick insect and longest beetle can also be found in the Tufi area. Day 8 - D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS The D’Entrecasteaux group consists of three large islands (Fergusson, Goodenough and Normanby) and they are famed as some of the mostly steeply-sided islands in the world, as well as being one of the last haunts of cannibals. The surrounding ocean is rich in marine life, being home to whales, dolphin and dugong. The islands were named after the French explorer Antoine Raymond Joseph de Bruni D'Entrecasteaux who visited the islands in 1793 after his exploration of the Tasmanian coastline. The topography is mountainous with rainforest coverage so dense that there has never been a biological survey of Fergusson Island, which is Orion’s destination. Fergusson Island is renowned for its hot springs, mud pools, geysers and extinct volcanoes. Not far from the main township of Sanaroa, the islanders still follow ancestral traditions and cook meals in a beachside lake of boiling water. Subsistence income on Fergusson Island is centred around trade in coconuts and pearl shells. Day 9 - SAMARAI & KWATO ISLANDS - Wet Landing In the early 1900’s Samarai Island was the thriving colonial capital of the territory of Papua and the town’s streetscape carries reminders of those bygone, halcyon days. Back then it was described as one of the most beautiful places in the South Pacific. Despite its faded-glory atmosphere, commerce is still the lifeblood of this tiny island, just 24 ha in area, with inter-island trading ships and seaplanes frequenting the harbour. A pleasant stroll through the town can be taken past the wharf and Trading Company opposite, to the sports ground which is still the scene of fiercely contested cricket matches. From here a relatively easy climb up the small hill near the old hospital is rewarded with wonderful views of the harbour and China Strait. The China Strait islands surrounding Samarai have a history of witchcraft which persists despite the best efforts of missionaries to debunk stories of ghost ships and mysterious lights. Just 3 kilometres west of Samarai is Kwato Island where European traders broke their journey en route to the South Pacific in search of gold and to trade in mother of pearl, sandalwood and sea cucumbers (beche de mer). In 1891 the Reverend Charles Abel and his wife, Beatrice, founded a church and mission, and established a series of self-sufficient coconut plantations to finance their religious work. Boat building was also begun and the mission's boats were used to transport and supply Australian Coastwatchers during WWII. But the Reverend Abel is best remembered for his theory that the game of cricket would have a civilizing influence over the tribes and a local variation of the game is still strong in PNG today. Today the island is peacefully quiet, with the remnants of boat-building equipment scattered about. A shady road leads to a hilltop clearing in the centre of the island and the impressive old stone church dating from 1937. Both the church and the sweeping views of the surrounding seas are worth the climb. During WWII this spot was used as a strategic gun position. Day 10 - MILNE BAY - Wet Landing Alotau, the capital of Milne Bay Province, is located at the eastern tip of mainland PNG. The rugged Owen Stanley Ranges to the west have isolated Alotau and there is no road access to the rest of the country. Many of the population of around 10,000 rely on the sea for their livelihood and as a result the busy harbour is the focal point of the town. Cargo movements drive harbour activity, and there’s an array of colourful vessels to be seen, ranging from tiny canoes to well-equipped dive and charter boats. Australian military history is closely linked to this area. The recently completed Australian War Memorial is close to the foreshore and has a detailed description of the Battle of Milne Bay. In August 1942, the battle over Gurney Airport saw the Australians win the first land-based victory over Japanese forces in the Pacific. Remnants of the battle are still being discovered with aircraft, vehicles and tanks to be found on land and on the seabed. "Australian troops had, at Milne Bay, inflicted on the Japanese their first undoubted defeat on land. Some of us may forget that, of all the allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army". Field-Marshal Sir William Slim, Defeat Into Victory Diving enthusiasts will appreciate Milne Bay’s diversity. Popular sites include war planes and shipwrecks (particularly the “Mascoota”, a WWII coal transport ship that sank in 1946). Close to Alotau are pristine coral reefs of all shapes and sizes, underwater volcanic vents and caves and abundant marine life - manta rays, brilliant tropical fish, whales and dolphins. Day 11 - AT SEA Day 12 - CAIRNS - Disembark for flight home Cost of This Itinerary11 Night Trip (includes one way flight):The least expensive cabin costs: The most expensive stateroom costs: |
