If you enjoy walking along long stretches of beach, taking
in the coastal scenery and the sea breeze, picking up shells and flotsam,
and meeting the locals as you go along, then Papua New Guinea has some
ideal spots for you.
Even though most
foreshore areas in PNG are privately owned, visitors are especially welcome
in areas where the local people run village guest houses and beach bungalows.
Beaches in and around the town areas are owned by the municipality and
have public access.
MAY WE SUGGEST:
Windjammer Beach,
Wewak town, East Sepik Province - A
5km long, wide grey-sand beach, fairly sterile with very little in the
way of shells or other "collectables", but great for jogging
and very popular with locals for strolling and picnics. Strong onshore
breezes, no waves for surfing but suitable for swimming. Accommodation
at the Windjammer Beach Motel (watching out for the mozzies), or at various
places in town.
East Cape, Milne
Bay Province - sandy beaches interspersed with rocky outcrops, with
several tourist guest houses to stay at. Road access from Alotau (2 hours).
Normanby Island,
Milne Bay Province - most of the coastline
of this island (seldom visited by tourists) consists of deserted sandy
beach. The southern coast is sparsely populated and particularly suited
to serious beach hiking. There are two airstrips on Normanby: one at Esa'ala
at the western end and the other at Sehulea on the eastern end. Flying
into one place, walking between the two and then flying out of the other
strip a week later (the flights are weekly) is a viable option. Esa'ala
is only a short boat ride from Salamo on Ferguson Island which has twice-weekly
flights from Alotau. There are guest houses at Salamo, Esa'ala and Sehulea.
Vanimo Beach, Sandaun
(West Sepik) Province - west from Vanimo town, the grey sand beach
extends for many kilometres out past the village of Lote. Most of the
coastal land is owned by the catholic mission and there is public access.
East of Vanimo town, grey sand beach continues for many kilometres although
some areas are privately owned and you may need to ask permission to pass
through.
Muschu Island,
off Wewak, East Sepik Province - brilliant
white beaches, coconut palms, and great local-style accommodation at the
Sup Village Guest House.
Finschhafen, Morobe
Province - long sandy white beaches, accommodation at the Finschhafen
Guest House or at the Finschhafen High School guest accommodation.
Kulau Beach, East
New Britain - long, wide grey-sand beach passing infront of the Kulau
Beach Resort and continuing in either direction past local fishing villages.
Submarine Base,
Nonga, East New Britain - sand and pebble
beach with plenty of fallen trees and rock outcrops to negotiate, in either
direction from the Submarine Base Resort. The resort is near the former
site of WW2 Japanese submarine pens.
Kerema to Ihu,
Gulf Province - a 2-day beach hike along
grey sand beaches and across river estuaries
