YOUR GUIDE Dick Lang has been working in Papua New Guinea for over FORTY years. He was introduced to the beauties and subtleties of this magnificent country by such legends as Bill Gammage, Chris Vass (ex Kiap), Bob Bates and Dik Knight. His thirty seven years of safari work has given him a healthy respect for the great care and attention needed in this environment. On the ground he has a deep and sympathetic knowledge of the traditions and life-styles of the local tribal people.
ADELAIDE – BRISBANE – PORT MORESBY – START OF KOKODA TRACK – GOROKA – CHIMBU – WAHGI VALLEY – MT HAGEN – WILDERNESS BIRD OF PARADISE LODGE – WABAG – ENGA/WABAG CULTURAL SHOW – RONDON RIDGE LODGE - SEPIK RIVER AREA – KARAWARI LODGE – MT HAGEN – PORT MORESBY – BRISBANE – ADELAIDE.
DEPARTS MONDAY AUGUST 5, 2019.
DAY 1 ADELAIDE – BRISBANE
Please be at Adelaide Airport at 9.15am for a departure on Qantas Flight QF662, at 10.15am arriving Brisbane Airport at 12.35pm. We will overnight at the Airport Novatel Hotel, as this is central for all passengers flying in from interstate. You may wish to relax or transport for a drive into Brisbane Central City. Passengers from Brisbane, if they are able, are welcome to meet us for dinner at the Novotel Brisbane Airport Restaurant for dinner at 6.00pm.
DAY 2 BRISBANE – PORT MORESBY
All passengers (including Brisbane passengers) meet in the QANTAS Check-In area at 8.00am. Our departure for Papua New Guinea is at 9.25am, so we present for Customs and Immigration at 8.00am.
(Note that you pay for your own personal Departure Tax from Australia). We board QANTAS Flight 0057, across the Coral Sea to land at Port Moresby at 12.35pm, where within 10 minutes you are in a different world – time and appointments take on a new meaning. An interesting tour around modern
Port Moresby to view the original coastal village, the port, the business centre. The impressive Owen Stanleys form the northern skyline. Overnight in a large modern motel on the edge of Port Moresby.
DAY 3 PORT MORESBY – KOKODA TRACK
We set out on a drive up a torturous pass into the high mountains that back onto Moresby. We visit the very sad, but beautifully maintained, WWII Bomana war cemetery, where thousands of young Australian men are interred. We continue up the steep gorge that reaches into the Owen Stanleys, along the clay and dirt road that runs past Ower’s corner (a WWII staging post). A last steep pinch onto the head of the Kokoda Track, with its memorials and huge mountains in the background. Please note that, if there is any rain, we cannot drive this route. Overnight Moresby.
DAY 4 PORT MORESBY – GOROKA.
An early breakfast, making good use of the excellent, fresh PNG coffee, before transferring to Jackson’s Airport terminal. Transfer to Air Niugini’s flight up into the mountains at Goroka.
Goroka has perhaps one of the world’s more pleasant climates. It is sunny and cool during the mornings and then at 2pm most afternoons, giant clouds bring rain to the surrounding mountains and gardens. Here we are met by a friend, Aringe, and transfer to our vehicles. We will visit the huge local market which is a riot of people, colour, produce and keen sellers – never to be missed.
Lunch at the Bird, followed by a visit to the very interesting Jack McCarthy Museum. Hear of Adelaide’s involvement. A visit to a small local coffee factory, where you can see the whole process down to even possibly, selecting your very own ground and packed Highlands coffee. What a great story to pass on! Overnight at the majestic old “Bird”.
DAY 5 GOROKA – BIRD OF PARADISE LODGE
Depart early from Goroka for an interesting drive high above Goroka at the Asaro Pass – one of the higher passes in PNG. We then descend down through Kundiawa and Minj along the famous Wahgi
Valley. This is spectacular PNG with mountains rising up to 14,793’ on our right and many over 12,000’ along our track. As we approach Mt Hagen, we travel through the oldest known form of cultivated garden in the world. Mt Hagen is the largest town in the Highlands and the third largest in PNG. We make a brief stop at the modern garden market for supplies. Departing Hagen township, we start a very long wind up the side of beautiful Mt Hagen itself.
We climb to the highest point to our Bird of Paradise Lodge. Everywhere is the strong, dominant influence of the very important garden culture of these farming people. It is so impressive to see their cultivation of high, steep mountain slopes to create areas for gardens. Near the peaks of the mountains, well above clouds, we come to our pleasant, locally-owned lodge. This is built conventionally, but of traditional bush materials. Each room is self-contained. Please note that it is a huge difference from the night before, but it is clean, comfortable and they try very hard to please us. The advantage is that in the grounds there are a large number of spectacular Birds of Paradise. There are more birds to be seen here than anywhere else in PNG. It is another of the highlights of our journey in PNG. It will be quite cool and very pleasant.
Note that there may be interruptions to the hot water supply, due to power problems. However, in this case, they will fire up a huge old hot water boiler. Make certain you have a torch – and shower when you have hot water!
DAY 6 WAPENAMANDA TO THE ENGA-WABAG CULTURAL SING-SING
Through Wapenamanda to one of the most remote parts of PNG – to remote Wabag. Here, at their new Cultural Sing-Sing there is a stunning show of tribal men and women with their huge human hair wigs, painted faces and pounding drums. It is absolutely awe-inspiring. This show is so remote and so amazing that we are sponsors, to encourage and assist its operation. Please note that we have not included the Show Entry as it has not yet been set (Usually about $100 – well worth it). Our passengers are given special treatment by the local committee, because we are sponsors. By mid-afternoon, some of the tribal groups are moving off, so we return to our vehicles for our drive back through majestic mountain passes, to our mountain lodge.
DAY 7 B.O.P. LODGE – RONDON RIDGE
A relaxed morning, checking out the several different Birds of Paradise as well as other local colourful birds (on lucky occasions, the rare Crested Bird of Paradise or the rare and beautiful Pacific Parrot). We drive down from our lodge, opposite the peak of Mount Hagen, in the morning, often swirling in cloud. The colourful mountain garden plots are all around us. Through the main township of Mt Hagen, across the Kagamuga agricultural land to start our wind up into the high walls of the southern escarpment. We eventually reach Rondon Ridge, the most beautiful of all of the Lodges in PNG. It is situated in the Kubor Range looking down into the distant Wahgi Valley. The architecture of the main lodge is outstanding. Short walks may reveal other Birds Of Paradise.
Excellent coffee and meals with great rooms. Perhaps the best accommodation on our PNG safari.
DAY 8 RONDON RIDGE LODGE – KARAWARI LODGE
It is easy to use superlatives when describing Papua New Guinea, but after driving down from our high mountain lodge we fly by special aircraft to one of the lowest point of PNG near the Sepik River.
Karawari Lodge is one of the most remote lodges in the world. The owner, Bob Bates, is an old mate
and we have been associated with Karawari since he first bought it nearly 50 years ago.
We land on a small airstrip, transfer to River trucks and boat upstream to the Lodge. This is set high on a ridge looking out over the vast Sepik basin. The rooms, professionally built of bush material with fans, mosquito netting and are all self-contained. For our adventure here make certain that you have packed a sunhat, plenty of sunscreen and good insect repellent.
DAY 9 KARAWARI ADVENTURE
Today we will again board our powerful river trucks and will be taken to a number of local villages. You will be shown traditional dances and village life, including the making of sago, which is a staple food item for all people in lowland PNG. It is a full day amongst some of the most remote people of PNG. If you haven’t worn out your camera (or phone) at the Wabag Cultural Sing Sing, you will give it a good try here today. It is a very special day experienced by very few.
Overnight high above the river.
DAY 10 KARAWARI – MT HAGEN – PORT MORESBY
Transfer by river truck to our special aircraft, taking off from the remote grass strip of Karawari, we fly high up into the mountains to Mt Hagen. Here we board our Air Niuginu jet for a comfortable short flight back to Port Moresby.
We return to our very pleasant Hotel on the outskirts of Port Moresby. An early dinner.
DAY 11 Port Moresby – BRISBANE
Transfer to Jackson’s International Airport. Please make certain that you check your bag for unwanted or inappropriate material to clear Customs. (Note: Because it varies so much, according to diplomatic arguments with Australia, you pay for your own departure tax, which we will advise you of – it won’t be a lot).
Fly back over the Coral Sea to Brisbane, where you will find it hard to believe the change of life around you. We do take so much for granted here in Australia and we have left behind a hardworking, garden-based society, where anything they want has to be paid for in their own efforts and labour. Overnight at the Airport Motel.
DAY 12 BRISBANE – HOME PORTS
Take off across Queensland. We are back in the vast, sunburnt FLAT land of Australia.
We return to Adelaide or home ports. Arrival time in Adelaide is 4.35pm
DEPARTS: MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2019.
PRICE: From Adelaide: $11,190 p.p. (twin share); $11,990 (single).
If travelling from Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, etc., we will be writing to you to advise you of your
reduced fare, due to less accommodation, less flights, etc.