The Tufi Fjords combine a striking coastal landscape with Tufi’s role as a gateway: they are a network of deep volcanic sea inlets along the headlands of Cape Nelson, cut into steep cliffs covered in rainforest. Tufi is the nearest settlement and the main gateway to the fjords. Those weighing up a destination for nature and culture can consider the town and the nearby fjord landscape together.
Getting to the Fjord Area
Visitors reach the Tufi Fjords area on domestic flights to Tufi Airstrip or by boat from nearby coastal communities. Tufi is the nearest settlement and the main gateway. This helps distinguish the town from the wider fjord area, which is the destination of the journey. Flying and traveling by boat are two different ways of getting there to consider when planning a trip: one route leads to the airstrip, while the other crosses the water from nearby coastal communities. This makes it possible to consider Tufi as the town and the fjord region as the destination of the journey.
Reefs and Macro Diving
A series of reefs lies 5–10 nautical miles offshore. The reef structures known as “bommies” rise from depths of up to 600 meters to within 5–7 meters of the water’s surface. These figures describe different dimensions: nautical miles indicate the distance offshore, while meters indicate the depth and the upper part of the reef structures. These offshore formations complement the steep, forested fjord cliffs with an underwater landscape spanning a great vertical range.
According to PADI, the Tufi Fjords are suitable for macro diving. Examples of what can be seen include gobies, nudibranchs, shrimp, and clams. The focus here is not only on the shape of the coast or the extent of the reefs, but also on individual marine animals. Those interested in the underwater world will find specific examples among the species mentioned of the life that can be observed on these dives.
Tapa Culture in Tufi
Tapa cloth and facial tattoos are key elements of traditional Tufi culture. Two specific forms of expression are at the heart of this: the design of cloth and facial tattooing. They offer a different perspective on the cultural theme from that of the landscape and underwater world. The Tufi Tapa and Tattoo Festival also connects these themes with a specific place: for the 2020 edition, Tufi Station at Cape Nelson in Northern (Oro) Province was scheduled as the venue.
Tufi as a Reference Point for Hotel Searches
If you are looking for hotels, Tufi provides a specific location to search in: it is the nearest settlement and the main gateway to the Tufi Fjords. You can choose your focus from there: the volcanic sea inlets and reefs as a nature theme, or Tapa culture as a cultural focus.
Discover more destinations: Matukar, Mount Hagen, Kokopo, Rabaul, Lae, Omili, Port Moresby, Pakanakapiaka.
Return to the main travel overview: Papua New Guinea.
