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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
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Morobe
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Oro |
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Western
Highlands
I
Southern
Highlands
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Eastern
Highlands
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Gulf
I
Enga |
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Central
Province
I
Western
Province
I
National
Capital
District |
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Cannibalism
was
a
way
of
life
for
the
fierce
gulf
people
until
the
arrival
of
Christianity.
Although
head-hunting
has
not
survived
European
civilisation,
seven
distinct
styles
of
artistic
craftsmanship
have
been
categorised.
A
thriving
market
for
carved
masks,
bull
roarers,
headrests,
skull
racks
and
gope
boards
keeps
local
craftsmen
busy. |
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Gope
boards
are
elliptical
in
shape
and
incised
with
brightly
coloured
abstract
patterns.
Warriors
were
entitled
to
have
a
gope
board
for
each
act
of
bravery
and
a
board
from
the
vanquished
enemies
canoe
held
particular
significance,
transferring
some
of
its
previous
owners
strength
to
the
victor. |
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Gulf
Province,
located
on
the
southern
coast
of
Papua
New
Guinea
is
dominated
by
highland
mountains,
lowland
river
deltas
and
wide
expanses
of
seasonally
flooded
grass
plains.
The
Turama,
the
Kikori,
the
Purari
and
the
Vailala
are
just
some
of
the
great
rivers
that
flow
into
the
swampy,
delta-land
of
the
Papuan
Gulf. |
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The
people
of
the
delta-land
build
their
houses
on
piles
high
above
the
muddy
river
banks.
As
the
rivers
change
course
they
frequently
have
to
move
their
villages.
Each
village
is
centred
around
the
men's
longhouse,
known
as a
dobu
or
ravi,
where
weapons,
important
artefacts,
ceremonial
objects
and,
in
the
past,
the
skulls
of
enemies
were
stored.
Men
slept
in
the
longhouse,
women
in
smaller,
individual
huts
outside. |
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Very
few
tourists
visit
the
Gulf
and
tourism
facilities
are
not
readily
available.
Keen
fishermen
and
canoeists
visit
the
area
and
bushwalking
expeditions
have
retraced
the
journeys
of
earlier
explorers.
Trekking
to
Wau
through
the
Bulldog
Road,
created
in
the
early
1900s
during
the
gold
exploration
epic,
is
one
such
route.
There
are
some
guest
houses
available
and
village
stays
can
be
arranged. |
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The
Moale
Festival
commemorates
the
traditional
Motuan
trade
voyage
from
Central
Province
to
the
Gulf,
in
search
of
sago
in
exchange
for
the
Motuan
clay
pots.
This
event
is
held
every
September.
In
November
the
Provincial
School
of
Arts
and
Crafts
holds
its
annual
festival. |
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Thing
to
see
and
do |
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Arts
and
crafts:
Art
is
still
strong
in
the
Gulf
region
with
several
distinct
styles.
Main
items
are
masks,
bullroarers,
headrests,
skull
racks
and
gope
boards.
The
latter
were
made
for
each
act
of
bravery
or
successful
conquest
of
an
enemy
and
are
elliptical
and
carved
with
abstract
patterns
or
stylized
figures.
Kaintiba:
This
area
in
the
mountains
behind
the
coast
is
good
for
walking.
There
are
many
villages
and
most
have
missions
where
it
is
possible
to
stay.
Lakekamu
Basin:
This
huge
forested
basin
is
rich
in
birds
and
wildlife.
During
World
War
II,
the
Bulldog
Track
was
pushed
from
Malalaua
to
Edie
Creek
near
Wau
in
Morobe
Province
to
carry
provisions.
Guesthouses
in
this
area
are
located
at
Makara,
Kakoro
and
Tekaku
villages.
Gulf
Province
has
about
500
kms
of
roads,
mainly
along
the
eastern
coast
and
mountains.
River,
land
and
sea
transportation
is
the
popular
mode
of
travel. |
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