Six hour tour. Optional 30 min trek to the skull caves, which requires a medium level of fitness. Swimwear and walking shoes recommended.
A two hour drive
from Alotau, around the coastline, through jungle, past local villages,
along the Owen Stanley Ranges and into grassy land enhanced with pandanus
palms, lies East Cape – the most easterly point of the PNG mainland.
The tiny local village of Bilubilu is blessed with beautiful beaches,
pristine waters and local reefs, making it the perfect location to relax,
swim, or snorkel. And it is here, at one of the three marine time navigational
entrances to Milne Bay, you see the merging of the tides as the Solomon
and Coral Seas meet.
For the energetic, a short trek to a nearby skull cave adds some extra
adventure. Several skulls lies under the rock overhang, remnants of a
traditional burial ritual. Family members were buried in an upright position
with clay pots on their head. When the heads separated from the body,
the skulls were placed in a cave as a mark of respect.
By arrangement, and for a small fee, the villagers may let you paddle
their dug out canoes to the nearby island of Meymeyala.
The Alotau to East Cape Escape tour includes:
• Pick up from (and drop off to) your hotel
• Escorted four wheel drive trip to East Cape
• Driving through local villages along the way
• Time to relax at Bilubilu – snorkelling equipment provided
• Picnic lunch
• Entry to skull caves site
Six hour trip - choose to travel overland (one hour each way by 4WD) or by sea (30 min by banana boat or on board a 41ft vessel, Dreamtime).
Optional is a two hour trek, this tour requires high level fitness. Swimwear & walking shoes required.
Wagawaga South lies to the south of Alotau on Discovery Bay. Named by Explorer Captain John Moresby in 1873, Discovery Bay is a picturesque inlet embraced by a rugged, mountainous landscape.
The tiny settlement has a black sand beach, which glistens with fools gold, perfect for swimming and exploring the wreck of the sunken Mascoota vessel. The beach also has a picnic area. As one of the options, the adventurous visitor can venture into the mountains for an hours trek to the waterfall and pool. The more adventurous can take the more difficult option on a three hour trek to the "moonstones" or Dawa Nawalai as is locally known; although their origins are yet to be determined accurately, it is believed the markings on the rock represent a magnetic compass used for navigation by the early explorers.
Your Wagawaga Adventure includes:
• Pick up from (and drop off to) your hotel
• An overland four wheel drive or transfer by boat
• Entry to site including access to the waterfall
• Picnic lunch
• Time to relax – snorkelling and light fishing equipment provided upon request
• Pass through local villages.
Six hour boat tour (three & a half hours en route).
Swimwear and walking shoes recommended.
Located to the south east of Milne Bay in the China Strait lies tiny Samarai Island, just 54 hectares in size and a living piece of Milne Bay colonial history.
Little is documented about Samarai prior to the arrival of Captain John Moresby in 1873. Although he named it “Dinner” Island, it is commonly known as Samarai Island, meaning “peace”.
The island was first established in 1886, and it soon became a key pacific trading port. By the turn of the century, it was the administrative headquarters of the Eastern Papua region of British New Guinea and was tagged the “Pearl of the Pacific”.
The white resident population enjoyed a grand lifestyle until WWII when most of the town was destroyed by Australian troops fearing a Japanese invasion. Samarai was bombed by the Japanese, but never invaded.
Although rebuilding did take place after the war, the town never recovered its former glory. By the 1960’s it became clear that Samarai had outgrown itself and it was decided to relocate the capital to Alotau.
What remains is a quiet, pretty island with a small settlement, a few shops, a church, school and signs of a colonial past.
The Samarai Discovery
Tour includes:
• Pick up from (and drop off to) your hotel
• Boat trip to Samarai across Milne Bay, into the China Strait and
past numerous islands (Choose between a banana boat or game fishing vessel)
• Stop over at Kwato Island and visit to the historical Kwato church
• Picnic lunch and snacks
• Guided tour of Samarai Island
• Light fishing equipment provided upon request
