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Buin
About 260km south of Buka, Buin really feels the end of the line. It suffered less damage than Kieta and Arawa during the conflict. During WWII, Buin hosted a large Japanese army base and the area has many rusting relics. The Japanese had plans to resettle a huge number of civilian
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Kaileuna Island
Of the islands off Kiriwina, Kaileuna Island is the easiest and cheapest to access as boats carrying buai (betel nut) travel from Losuia most days. The villages of Kaisiga, in the south, and Tawema to the north have beautiful white-sand beaches and predictably relaxed locals. Ask a
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Vanimo Forest Products
The Malaysian logging company Vanimo Forest Products is logging the province and there are business opportunities with cross-border trade. Hopes are high for development even though the Indonesian and Malaysian business people seem to have a disdain for the local service workers th
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Mt Balbi
A good base, Wakunai is where you can arrange a three-day trek to Mt Balbi (2685m), or follow the Nooma Nooma track that crosses the island to Torokina, on the west coast (count on a three-day minimum). From Mt Balbi, you can see the active Mt Bagana (1730m). In Wakunai, your best
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Davit Wreck
Hansa Bay also has some spectacular wreck dives. A Japanese freighter has one davit projecting from the water (known as the Davit Wreck); it was sunk in 1943 by US bombers. You can swim through the wreck, which makes this an exciting dive in only 12m of water. The Madang dive shops
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Beehives
The two rocky pinnacles rising from the centre of Simpson Harbour are called the Beehives, or Dawapia Rocks, and are said to be the hard core of the original old volcano. You can visit them by boat and there is some good diving and swimming. Taklam Lodge and Rabaul Hotel can organi
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WWII Dump
Towards the end of WWII the area was used as a staging post for US troops and vast numbers of GIs passed through. The wars abrupt end left millions of dollars worth of aircraft and equipment redundant, so the whole lot was bulldozed into a huge hole; ask at Dregerhafen High School,
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Mt Wilhelm
Climbing to the 4509m (14,790ft) summit of Mt Wilhelm has long been a highlight for many visitors to the countrys Highlands. Its hard work, but on a clear day you can see both the north and south coasts of the mainland. If you dont plan on tackling the summit, the region around the
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skull caves
It is possible to visit the skull caves of Bebere and Kosame, where traditional burial rites are still observed. Custom dictates that the bodies of dead relatives are placed into the hull of a canoe and interred in a cave until the flesh has rotted from the bones. The skeletons are
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Laloki River gorge
A few kilometres past the Bomama War Cemetery cemetery, the road winds up the impressive Laloki River gorge and youre soon more than 600m above sea level. There are several viewing points looking into the gorge and up to the Rouna Falls and power station. Just beyond is a small sto
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Flying Fox Roosts
You can’t miss Madang’s bats, they’re everywhere; wheeling overhead all day, constantly disturbed by the town noises below and local boys who like to take pot shots at them with their slingshots (apparently the bats taste delicious). Locals told us that these Kwandi (spectacled fly
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Keu Caves
Caves around Kundiawa were used as burial places. At the time of research, it wasnt clear whether a local guide could take you there. Dont visit the caves without consulting local advice as it might be tambu (taboo). There are other large caves, suitable for caving, close to Kundia
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Wawela
The road south of Losuia is dotted with villages but seldom sees motorised transport. Wawela is on a beautiful, curving sand beach edging a cool, deep, protected lagoon. On a falling tide, beware of the channel out to sea from the bay: the current can be very strong. To get here yo
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Bomana War Cemetery
Its only 46km to Sogeri but there is enough to see to make it a full-day trip. The first stop is the large and carefully tended Bomana War Cemetery, where 4000 PNG and Australian WWII soldiers are buried; American soldiers who died in PNG were generally shipped home for burial. Its
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Panguna
High in the centre of the island, the dormant mine of Panguna (still off-limits at the time of writing) is one of the worlds largest artificial holes. Bougainville Copper Limited was the operator of the open-cut mine. Copper was discovered at Panguna in 1964. There are talks of reo
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Madang Museum
In the same building and operated by the Madang Visitors & Cultural Bureau, this small but fascinating place is worth visiting. Look for the ceremonial headdress from Bosmum village on the Lower Ramu River. These are worn during the ‘cleansing of the blood’, the time in which b
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New Guinea Club & Rabaul Museum
Just next door to the bunker is New Guinea Club and Rabaul Museum. Established in 1933, this club was a businessmen’s club with strict guidelines for membership. It was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt in the 1950s to its former glory, only to be destroyed again by fire in 1994. It ha
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museum
The grassed area in the centre of town houses a small museum that presents photos and descriptions of the campaign. Ask around to have it opened.
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Huli Wigmen
The Huli men are famed throughout PNG for their elaborate dress and spectacular wigs. Most of the wig schools are some distance from the town itself and difficult to find, so you will need to organise transport with your guesthouse or join a tour. Often some of the bachelor boys su
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Queen Emmas House
Head to the site of Queen Emmas house, located right where the road terminates at the Ralum Country Club. Emma Forsayth, from Samoa, started a trading business at Mioko in the Duke of York Islands in 1878 before extending her empire to include plantations, trade stores and ships. D
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