Alotau
– quiet, friendly
provincial town, scuba diving base
Samarai
Island – tiny,
pretty former provincial capital
Fergusson
Island – geothermal
hotspot
Goodenough
Island – 2400
metre mountain peak
Normanby
Island – uninterrupted
beachwalking
Trobriand
Islands – unique
culture
Misima
Island – large
gold and silver mine, gateway to remote islands
Kinanale
Guest House, Samarai Island
Misima
Guest House
Faiava
Village Stay, Goodenough Island
Bolu
Bolu Guest House, Goodenough Island
Mumunu
Guest House, Salamo
Esaala
Women’s Guest House, Normanby Island
Sehulea
Guest House, Normanby Island
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 a backwater, 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 the most
interesting culture-wise, while Goodenough and Fergusson have geographical
attractions (high mountain peaks and geothermal activity). 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 Bweka
Lodge, which is situated next to an underground spring with limestone cave,
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.)
