Page 131 - Pacific Paradises 2019
P. 131

— Papua New Guinea —







                                              Lorengau
                                     MANUS ISLAND
                                                                      Kavieng

                                                                               NEW IRELAND
                   Wewak

                                                                          Rabaul
                              Madang
                  Wabag                                                      EAST NEW BRITAIN
                           Mount Hagen                        Kimbe                              BOUGAINVILLE
                                  Goroka
                        Mendi
                                             Lae        WEST NEW BRITAIN
                                  Owen Stanley
                                    Range
                                                                              SOLOMON SEA
                                      Kerema
                                             Popondetta                 TROBRIAND ISLANDS
                                                                                  WOODLARK ISLAND
                                               Port Moresby
                                                                      D’ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS
                                                             Alotau

                                                                                     LOUISIADE ARCHIPELAGO







           PAPUA NEW GUINEA





             While the infrastructure for    Capital and major centres         ships and coral gardens to explore with
             travel throughout PNG is firmly   Port Moresby, PNG’s capital and gateway   superb visibility. Many of the most
             in place, travel as an industry   is situated on the western coast of the   rewarding cultural opportunities can
             is still in its infancy. As such,   mainland peninsula. Other popular   be found in the Highlands. Goroka is
             every visitor to PNG has the    coastal regions on the mainland include   the capital of the Eastern Highlands;
             opportunity to be part of the   Alotau, Lae, Wewak, Vanimo and    Mt. Hagen is the capital of the Western
             endless discovery.              Madang. Alotau, at the eastern tip of the   Highlands.
                                             Owen Stanley Range, is an upcoming   Papua New Guinea’s outer islands
           PNG occupies the eastern portion of   seaside resort town with rich culture   cover an enormous area, offering access
           New Guinea, the second largest island in   and gorgeous scenery. Lae is the second   to both the Solomon and Bismarck
           the world. Precariously situated on the   largest city, situated on the eastern coast,   Seas. In this region opportunities
           Pacific Rim of fire, it is the cumulative   at the mouth of the Markham River.   for exploration and adventure are
           result of two of the world’s largest   Wewak and Vanimo are in the Sepik   enormous. New Britain, the largest
           geological upheavals. The ensuing terrain   Basin famous for their art, customs and   island, has two tourism centres: Rabaul
           is a rich, rugged collage of towering   culture. The Sepik River runs 1126   on the eastern tip, and Kimbe in the
           mountain peaks, dense rainforests,   kilometres from source to sea and is one   west. Other popular spots include
           mangrove jungles, fertile valleys, white   of the world’s largest waterways.   Kavieng on New Ireland and Manus
           sands and glistening coral islands. The                             Island further north.
           underwater topography is a reflection of   Further north is Madang, which has
           the dramatic landscape. Hills and valleys   one of the South Pacific’s most beautiful   The people
           translate into majestic pinnacles, fish-  harbours with lush tropical vegetation.   Nationals are predominantly
           filled passes, lush colourful gardens and   It was the centre of heavy fighting   Melanesian, though in appearance they
           coral-draped walls.               during World War II and has 34 sunken   are varied. More than 800 indigenous

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