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Manus
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New
Ireland
I
North
Solomons
I
Sandaun
I
East
Sepik
I
Madang |
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East
New
Britain
I West
New
Britain I
Miline
Bay
I
Simbu
I
Morobe
I
Oro |
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Western
Highlands
I
Southern
Highlands
I
Eastern
Highlands
I
Gulf
I
Enga |
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Central
Province
I
Western
Province
I
National
Capital
District |
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Only
46
kilometres
from
Port
Moresby
is
the
Sogeri
Plateau.
At
800
metres
the
air
is
cool
and
pleasant.
Sogeri
is
the
starting
point
for
the
famous
Kokoda
Trail.
Nearby
is
the
Varirata
National
Park.
Covering
an
area
of
1,000
hectares,
it
was
the
original
hunting
grounds
of
its
tree-house
dwelling
landowners. |
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At
certain
times
of
the
day,
birds
of
paradise,
wallabies
and
deer
can
be
seen
along
the
walking
trails.
At
the
end
of
the
trail
the
lookout
presents
a
panoramic
view
of
Port
Moresby
and
the
coastline.
The
road
to
Sogeri
passes
the
historic
Bomana
War
Cemetery
and
Gardens
and
the
Moitaka
Wildlife
Farm,
a
crocodile
research
farm
which
also
has
a
collection
of
native
animals
and
birds.
On
Fridays
visitors
are
able
to
see
the
crocodiles
at
lunch. |
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Yule
Island,
two
hours
drive
west
along
the
Hiritano
Highway
was
one
of
the
first
areas
to
have
European
contact.
Catholic
missionaries
settled
here
in
1885
and
still
maintain
a
presence
in
the
area.
It
is a
popular
spot
for
peaceful
getaways
and
seafood
delights.
To
the
east,
only
fifteen
minutes
drive
from
Port
Moresby
is
Loloata
Island
Resort,
a
popular
destination
for
Port
Moresby
residents
and
a
relaxing
alternative
for
transiting
visitors.
Surrounded
by
coral
reefs
it
offers
snorkelling,
diving,
fishing
and
other
water
sports. |
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Milne
Bay
Air
operates
flights
into
the
towns
of
Tapini
and
Woitape.
After
a
short
flight
climbing
into
the
Owen
Stanley
Ranges,
the
light
aircraft
lands,
with
little
descent,
onto
an
airstrip
cut
into
the
side
of
the
mountain.
These
are
popular
destinations
for
bush
walking,
fishing
and
relaxing. |
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The
Hiri
or
trade
voyage
of
the
Motu
people
from
the
Central
Province
began
early
in
the
18th
century
when
food
supplies
had
dwindled
along
the
coast.
Yam
harvests
had
failed
and
the
people
were
dying
from
starvation
and
disease.
Motuan
legend
has
it
that
during
this
time
of
hardship
a
fisherman
called
Edai
Boera
was
out
on
the
water
minding
his
own
business
when
Divara
(he
eel
spirit)capsized
his
boat
and
dragged
him
to
the
depths
where
he
was
schooled
in
the
skills
of
making
a
large
ocean
going
vessel
called
a
Lakatoi
.
The
vessel,
said
the
giant
eel,
would
be
the
answer
to
all
their
problems.
Edai
then
returned
to
the
surface
and
his
village
where
he
shared
his
experience
before
setting
about
constructing
the
giant
vessel. |
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Two
large
canoes
were
carved
and
lashed
together
into
a
single
hull.
A
platform,
a
shelter,
two
large
masts
and
the
characteristic
Crab
Claw
sails
were
added.
The
Lakatoi
was
then
loaded
with
ornaments
and
clay
pots (specialties
of
the
area)
and
set
off
on
the
journey
to
the
Gulf
to
trade
for
the
much
needed
supplies. |
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Several
months
after
the
Lakatoi's
departure,
the
easterly
winds
turned
north-westerly and
it
returned
crammed
with
treasures
of
taro,
sago,
betelnut
and
timber. The
historic
journey
was
repeated
until
the
1950s.
Today
it
is
still
commemorated
as
part
of
Papua
New
Guinea's
Independence
Day
celebrations. |
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Exploring
Central
Province |
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Sogeri
Plateau:
Lying
at
600m
and
46km
inland,
Sogeri
is
much
cooler
and
greener
than
Moresby.
Sogeri
Road
leaves
Sir
Hubert
Murray
Highway
near
the
airport
and
follows
the
Laloki
River,
climbing
above
the
gorge
with
a
view
of
spectacular
Rouna
Falls.
Soon
after
the
falls
a
road
to
the
right
leads
to
Varirata
National
Park.
The
next
road
left,
marked
by
the
Kokoda
monument,
goes
to
Owers
Corner
and
the
start
of
the
Kokoda
Trail.
Crystal
Rapids,
where
you
can
picnic
and
swim
for
a
small
fee,
and
Sirinumu
Dam
are
along
the
next
road
right,
or
continue
straight
ahead
to
Sogeri.
On
Sundays
a
small
market
here
sells
fruit
and
vegetables.
Varirata
National
Park:
There
is
some
pleasant
walking
here,
with
a
network
of
trails,
grassy
picnic
areas
and
shelters
with
barbecues,
and
lookouts
giving
fine
views
to
Port
Moresby
and
out
to
sea.
Wallabies
are
common
and
birdlife
is
plentiful.
Early
morning
is
the
best
time
to
see
birds
of
paradise.
You
can
camp
in
the
park
or
stay
in
the
small
park
lodge.
For
bookings
phone
(675)
325
9340
or
fax
(675)
325
4247.
Loloata
Island:
This
pleasant
retreat
from
Moresby
is
great
for
a
day
or a
weekend.
It
lies
off
Bootless
Bay
and
offers
diving,
snorkelling,
fishing,
sailboarding
or
just
relaxing.
Bootless
Bay
is
about
20km
from
Moresby,
reached
by
turning
left
at
Six
Mile
and
following
the
Magi
Highway.
The
resort
ferry
leaves
the
Tahira
Boating
Centre
at
8:30am
and
15:30pm,
or
17:15pm
Fridays.
Hisiu
Beach:
The
small
beach
resort
100km
from
Moresby
is
village
operated
and
has
bungalows
almost
on
the
sand.
Fishing,
swimming
and
surfing
are
popular.
You
need
to
take
food,
cooking
utensils
and
bedding.
Bookings
are
through
Westpac
Travel
in
Boroko,
phone
(65)
325
4500.
Call
Chris
on
(675)
321
4782
Department
Administrator.
Yule
Island:
The
large
Catholic
mission
here
was
founded
in
1885
and
for
a
while
the
island
was
a
government
headquarters.
Accommodation
at
the
Carmelite
convent,
phone
325
8023,
is
in
the
original
nuns'
cells.
Fishing,
swimming,
history
and
good
scenery
are
the
attractions.
The
drive
from
Moresby
is
160km
(3
hours)
via
the
Hiritano
Highway,
turning
off
to
Poukama
where
a
canoe
will
take
you
to
the
island.
Otherwise,
fly
directly
to
Kairuku
Village. |
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Things
to
do |
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Golf:
Moresby's
18-hole
golf
course,
located
in
Waigani
at
the
end
of
Magani
Crescent
behind
Parliament
House,
is
more
challenging
than
it
looks.
Walking:
For
weekend
walks
contact
Pamela
Christie
of
PNG
Trekking
Adventures
tel
325
1284
or
www.pngtrekking.com.pg
.in
the
vicinity
of
town
and
further
out
contact
the
PNG
Bushwalkers
Association,
PO
Box
1335,
Boroko.
Otherwise
ask
at
the
Australian
or
New
Zealand
High
Commission
Embassies.
Diving:
There
is
excellent
diving
close
to
Moresby
on
the
reef
behind
Fisherman's
Island,
at
the
east
side
of
Basilisk
Passage
(the
entrance
to
the
harbour),
and
at
The
Finger,
a
long
coral
ridge
with
a
drop-off
on
one
side
and
white
sand
on
the
other.
A
sunken
trawler,
the
New
Marine
No7
and
the
small
MV
Kupiki
offer
wreck
dives.
Loloata
Island
Resort
only
15
minutes
away
from
Jacksons
International
Airport
and
Port
Moresby
can
tailor
itineraries
to
over
twenty-five
dive
sites
to
suite
your
requirements.
Off
Bootless
Bay
is
Horseshoe
Reef
with
a
number
of
different
dives
including
the
End
Bommie
and
the
wreck
of
the
Pacific
Gas.
The
Dive
Centre
at
Airways
Poolside,
Ph:
(675)
323
1355
offers
day
trips
on
MV
Solatai.
Live-aboard
boats
operate
out
of
Port
Moresby
and
travel
to
the
Eastern
Fields,
Milne
Bay
and
other
excellent
locations
along
the
coast.
Trekking:
The
famous
96km
Kokoda
Trail,
taking
from
5 to
10
days
to
walk
(depending
on
fitness
and
conditions),
crosses
the
spine
of
the
country
from
the
Central
Province
side
of
the
trail
into
the
behind
Moresby
to
Kokoda
in
Oro
Province.
It
passes
through
remote,
rugged
country
and
it's
advisable
to
use
guides.
A
short
day
walk
can
be
done
on
the
first
part
of
the
trail
from
Owers
Corner
to
Imita
Ridge.
For
more
information,
click
here
to
check
out
the
Kokoda
Trail
contacts
.
The
Goilala
District
has
excellent
hiking
around
Woitape
and
Tapini
on
trails
established
by
missionaries,
or
you
can
climb
Mount
Albert
Edward
(3990m).
Accommodation
is
available
in
these
remote
villages.
You
are
advised
to
take
a
guide
and
use
a
tour
company.
Flight-seeing:
The
Milk
Run
to
Woitape,
Ononge,
Fane
and
Tapini
villages
by
air
is a
great
way
to
visit
some
remote
country
if
you
are
short
of
time.
Some
of
these
village
airstrips
are
very
exciting.
Surfing:
The
best
beaches
are
at
Hula,
100km
east
of
Port
Moresby,
from
June
to
September.
Closer
to
town
at
Taurama
Point
you'll
find
Sero
Surf
Club,
or
contact
the
Surfing
Association
of
PNG,
phone
(675)
326
0884
or
visit
the
websitewww.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg
Fishing:
Galley
Reach,
a
few
hours
from
Port
Moresby,
offers
a
variety
of
fishing. |
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