Travelling to Papua New Guinea

lilyesp on 23/05/2023 - 09:51
Last edited 23/05/2023 - 11:04

Hey All
Me and my family are travelling to PNG….via cruise. Wanted to get further info about how we can sight see…seems the options for private vehicle but expensive

The islands we are going include
Rabaul
Conflict islands

Seems most only forums the information is limited or out of date.

Our family really want to just see volcanoes and hike up close and snorkel. Not really that into the villages or WW2 relics (not enough time).

If anyone has recently gone there .few qs

1) Are there plenty of buses around Rabaul to get to the volcanoes

2) the two volcanoes we would like to see are tavurvur and Vulcan as well as hot springs. Is it easy to hike up there or do you need a guide. Is there a particular one to visit to get close up

3)(children are in their late teens) is safety a big concern? If we are a group of 4

4) will there be many hire companies etc or buses available like bus tour around island at the cruise dock. Or prices would be similar booking in advance (I'm getting for a pv or mini bus $100/person

4)In conflict islands do we need a guide or can we just walk to the snorkelling areas etc?

5) also going to kirowina island as well

Thanks, Lily xx

Travel Papua New Guinea

Comments

  • GG57 on 23/05/2023 - 10:34
    +1

    I don't know about your cruise but recommend that you look at the tour options provided as part of that. Most cruise ship ports have the tours organised which takes away any hassles about finding your own driver / vehicle, cost, etc.
    I'm not sure where your cruise will take you at Rabaul, as the capital was moved to Kokopo after the eruptions of 1994. You will see the volcanoes from your ship regardless. I would certainly take a tour to the devastated area of Rabaul (if safe to do so when you are there); one of the most interesting places I've ever seen but it isn't a place to walk around by yourself or stay for any length of time. I spent a week or so in Kokopo and loved it; never felt unsafe.
    I've never been to the Conflict group of islands. It seems to be an atoll so I think you cruise will shuttle you to a designated area for snorkelling etc.

  • WreckTangle on 23/05/2023 - 12:27
    +1

    Is PNG even safe for a family trip?

    • GG57 on 23/05/2023 - 14:23
      +1

      OP is on a cruise, not really visiting PNG

  • Donaldhump on 23/05/2023 - 13:14
    +5

    id do cruise tours thats it, PNG is the worst place I have seen to travel safety wise.

  • Ocker on 23/05/2023 - 13:21
    +1

    Hire ca car (etc) and if you hit and kill a local they will want and eye for an eye, viz. you are history

  • tallkid123 on 23/05/2023 - 13:28
    +5

    3)(children are in their late teens) is safety a big concern? If we are a group of 4

    Look, take it from me.

    I've had someone try to carjack my father and I in the PNG Highlands. Only difference between you and me OP however is that we had an armed escort and you won't.

    • Shoocat on 23/05/2023 - 14:17
      +1

      Carjackings are common, as are extortion scams where locals will block the road with a tree (for example) and then charge you a significant fee to remove the 'fallen' tree from the road.

      • tallkid123 on 23/05/2023 - 19:07

        My experience was an old guy just standing in the middle of the road. Again, my armed escort told him to piss off.

    • GG57 on 23/05/2023 - 14:25
      +4

      Another difference between you and OP is that they are only going to Rabaul and the Conflict Islands, on a cruise, with organised sightseeing.

  • Blokeinhisundies on 23/05/2023 - 13:57
    +6

    Safety and PNG don't even go together lol.

    Stick to trips organized by the cruise operator unless you want trouble.

    • lilyesp on 23/05/2023 - 18:00

      I wonder. Though the islands if any safer? Than the mainland

      • Blokeinhisundies on 23/05/2023 - 18:07
        +3

        A cruise ship company aren't going to take passengers somewhere that obviously endangers them as it would jeopardise their whole business. As I said, stick to tours organised by the cruise company, and you'll be fine.

      • Protractor on 23/05/2023 - 18:34

        Well there's been quite a few fishing shows on TV do shows in PNG backwaters. They always recommend the places they visit by name. So either the place is hell & the show's left that bit out, or some places are fine

  • Protractor on 23/05/2023 - 15:37
    +1

    Ask somewhere else
    eg,https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/is-papua-new-guinea-safe/

    and get less biased and more broad info and more relevant feedback. Start with Smart Traveller, and then search extensively 'tourism safety' PNG and go from there. You need a bigger pond.
    You should be asking ppl who either go there a lot, or have been there recently doing things you intend to try. You should also know what you are going to do, before you go aboard. Have a plan B for each outing type

    • GG57 on 23/05/2023 - 15:41

      You are correct, but OP is only visiting two sites, on a cruise, with arranged tours / activities.
      I can't imagine the cruise operator putting anyone in danger, as long as OP sticks with the arranged tour operators.

      OP isn't going the highlands or Lae or even Port Moresby.

      • Protractor on 23/05/2023 - 18:00

        If you read the MSM, the cruise liner is likely to run into one of the eighty gazillion Chinese warships up there.

  • WreckTangle on 23/05/2023 - 16:49
    +3

    Where’s next years family trip…Somalia?

    • thatonethere on 23/05/2023 - 17:09
      +6

      Balloon tour over ukraine

    • Protractor on 23/05/2023 - 17:41
      +1

      The front of Vic Parliament

  • Lunarboogie on 23/05/2023 - 21:27
    +4

    Good on you OP for visiting a near, but usually overlooked, neighbour. Write up a review of your journey - I'd be interested and so would many others. I've been to all the Melanesian countries except PNG so I'm keen to get there at some point.

  • 2esc on 24/05/2023 - 09:35

    Brother works in PNG for years not the safest place to visit these days stick with cruise ship organised tours and you should be right.

    • lilyesp on 24/05/2023 - 09:59

      Even in Rabaul island..I know mainland not too safe?

      • tallkid123 on 24/05/2023 - 10:47

        New Britain is a bit of a shitfight at the moment.

        For example, Kimbe (in West New Britain) is under curfew as of last month due to escalating violence.

  • afah0447 on 24/05/2023 - 10:04
    +1

    You're game. I know people who are too scared to go to Thailand!

  • Dslrfirst on 24/05/2023 - 10:24

    Conflict "Island(s)" is great. It would have to be one of the safest islands to visit since it is mostly your fellow cruise ship passengers & is. operating staff who would be on it. You wont need a guide as you could walk the whole side of the island with the pontoon landing in under 20 mins. There were a food & drink stalls & drinking water provided by the cruise ship when we visited last October. There are boat trips of various kinds, eg from the island to close snorkling areas. Take sun screen, goggles, flippers & a towel. If you get there early you might snag a deck chair - there aren't many. One of the best ways to spend a day on an island. Enjoy.

  • suntap on 24/05/2023 - 12:09
    +2

    I may be biased as I was born in Rabaul in the mid 1960's (to Aussie parents). My family lived there for about 13 years and have been back many times. Most of our friends left after the big eruption in 94 as most of Rabaul was buried.

    I was back there 2.5 years ago on a cruise. Your best bet is the organised "tour" through the cruise ship - a local driver with vehicle. It's a set price & a set itinerary; there are no tourist buses, hire companies or guides available in Rabaul. Having said that, I felt confident and asked about a driver at the local markets. They pointed me to a young guy in an old beat up car. But we negotiated a price and he was happy to drive us around everywhere we asked him to take us. We, Mum & I, felt safe at all times but would not advise walking anywhere other than the main street. Driving around we saw some local villagers had a stall selling Kulau, which is a husked coconut with a straw. Very refreshing on a hot day and much better than bottled coconut water.

    Papuans are the friendliest and happy people and it truly is a tropical paradise. Enjoy your cruise.

  • derrko on 18/06/2023 - 18:13

    Rabaul Scenic tours is very good.

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