Island groups and a vast expanse of sea

More than 250,000 square kilometres of sea surround 14,345 square kilometres of land in Milne Bay Province. The province lies at the southeastern tip of Papua New Guinea; its major island groups include the Trobriand Islands, the D’Entrecasteaux Islands and the Louisiade Archipelago. This geographical breadth offers two ways to get your bearings: the island groups and the relationship between land and sea.

Normanby Island and Fergusson Island offer access to trails in the island interiors and to volcanic landscapes. On these islands and on the province’s mainland, trails offer opportunities for rainforest walks, waterfall visits, cave exploration and birdwatching. These different nature experiences sit side by side: trails offer a different kind of exploration from waterfalls, caves or birdwatching.

Water, trails and group outings

Milne Bay Province has diving and snorkelling sites such as Tawali, Deacon’s Reef, Gonubalabala and Wahoo Point. They offer a different focus from the trails on Normanby and Fergusson: here, water-based activities contrast with island trails and volcanic landscapes. Sorting your interests this way can help you distinguish between marine sites and nature experiences on land.

Visitors gather at Kunawa Getaway Beach Site for picnics and family outings. This place offers another specific reason to visit, alongside nature activities: visitors meet here for a picnic or a family outing. This is a different focus from diving, snorkelling or hiking and may help shape your choice of experiences.

Alotau: capital and transport hub

Alotau is the capital of Milne Bay Province and its main transport and tourism hub. Gurney Airport is twelve kilometres from Alotau. Daily flights connect Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby with Gurney Airport. These details distinguish the airport’s location from Alotau as a regional point of reference. As flight connections can change, check the current schedule before your trip.

Festival and accommodation amid mangroves

The Kenu and Kundu Festival takes place annually in Alotau and features ceremonial races, dancing and storytelling. The festival is a specific cultural reference point in the provincial capital. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the current dates and programme in advance.

Nuli Sapi Retreat is located on Logeia Island in mangrove ecosystems. As accommodation, it offers a specific connection to the landscape, distinct from the inland trails and volcanic landscapes on Normanby Island and Fergusson Island. Milne Bay Province thus offers a range of different geographical settings: accommodation amid mangroves, trails and landscapes on islands, and named diving and snorkelling sites.

Discover more destinations: Alotau

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