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Manus
I
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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Vanimo,
the
capital
of
Sandaun
Province,
sits
on a
neat
little
peninsula
with
beautiful
beaches
on
either
side.
A
pleasant
walk
around
the
headland
brings
the
snorkelling
enthusiast
to
several
good
spots.
To
the
west,
wade
past
vine
draped
limestone
headlands
to
reach
the
final
resting
place
of a
rusted
Japanese
landing
barge. |
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Vanimo,
30
kilometres
from
the
Indonesian
border
is
PNG's
entry
port
from
Jayapura
in
Irian
Jaya
(formerly
West
Papua).
This
area
of
the
world
has
seen
little
development
in
international
tourism,
other
than
visitors
enroute
from
Irian
Jaya
to
other
parts
of
Papua
New
Guinea,
or
the
intrepid
traveller
or
surfer
in
search
of
the
perfect
wave. |
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Superb
beaches
west
of
Vanimo,
towards
Wutung,
attract
surf
board
riders
from
PNG
and
overseas
during
the
months
of
September
to
January.
The
260
kilometre
shoreline
is
pounded
by
heavy
seas
caused
by
the
blustery
north
west
winds
during
December
to
March.
However
safe
all-year
round
anchorage
can
be
had
in
Vanimo.
Several
little
islands
lie
offshore
from
the
town
of
Aitape,
the
only
other
town
in
the
Sandaun
Province. |
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Most
of
tiny
Vanimo’s
services,
including
an
Indonesian
Consulate,
ph
(675)
856
1371,
are
located
on
the
flat
land
at
the
base
of
the
headland
overlooking
the
harbour.
Excellent
swimming
beaches
lie
on
either
side
of
the
headland.
Narimo
Island
lies
offshore
and
is
good
for
swimming
and
picnicking
but
take
food
and
water.
Check
with
your
hotel
or
hire
a
boat
from
West
Deco
village
near
the
main
wharf. |
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Aitape:
Reached
by
boat
from
Vanimo
or
rough
road
from
Wewak,
Aitape
was
once
a
German
station
and
later
used
by
the
Japanese
during
World
War
II.
Tadji
Airstrip
still
has
aircraft
wreckage
from
the
war.
A
B-24
bomber
stands
outside
Aitape
High
School
between
the
airstrip
and
town.
Aitape
was
established
as a
station
by
the
Germans
in
1905
and
was
occupied
by
the
Japanese
during
World
War
2.
Bits
of
aircraft
wreckage
can
be
found
near
the
wartime
Tadji
airstrip
and
a
war
memorial
stands
nearby.
The
headwaters
of
the
Sepik
River
are
in
Sandaun
Province.
Here
the
river
narrows
into
dense,
mountainous
country
and
only
small
boats
can
navigate
upstream
from
the
village
of
Ambunti.
There
are
no
roads
in
the
Upper
Sepik
and
much
of
the
province
is
covered
in
rainforest. |
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Telefomin
&
Oksapmin:
These
remote
stations
are
more
easily
reached
by
air
from
Tari
in
Southern
Highlands
Province.
The
area
is
rugged
with
spectacular
valleys.
Caves
in
the
Okspamin
Valley
can
be
reached
with
guides.
The
villages
here
are
known
for
their
specialist
religious
cults.
The
people
of
Maio
and
Yessan
have
a
yam
cult
and
the
isolated
villages
of
Swagup
is
the
home
of
the
insect
people,
whose
art
form
incorporates
the
figures
of
the
sago
beetle,
dragonfly,
praying
mantis
and
other
insects.
Among
the
distinctive
artifacts
from
Sandaun
are
painted
canoes
of
Sissano
Lagoon
and
large
shields
from
the
Telefomin
district.
The
shields
have
broad
zigzag,
spiral
or V
designs
that
represent
their
ancestors
bodies. |
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Things
to
do |
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Walking:
A
circuit
of
the
headland
at
Vanimo
is
pleasant
or
go
west
past
the
airport
to a
vine-draped
headland.
You
can
wade
around
to a
beautiful
beach.
Surfing:
Lido
Village,
8km
west
of
Vanimo,
has
a
good
surf
beach
and
a
guesthouse
catering
for
surfers.
They
hire
surfboards
and
bicycles.
Aitape
also
has
surf
beaches
and
accommodation.
Visit
the
Indonesian
border:
Superb
beaches,
lagoons,
views
and
picturesque
villages
can
be
seen
along
the
way,
although
the
border
is
not
open
to
tourists. |
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