Mysterious Papua New Guinea is, in the truest sense, one of the last great wilderness areas on Earth and there is simply no better way to experience these magical and rarely visited lands than aboard the state-of-the-art small ship Coral Discoverer. Embark in Cairns for an outstanding 12-night South Pacific expedition to Wewak and discover for yourself the outstanding cultures and scenic beauty of rarely discovered Papua New Guinea.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
After boarding Coral Discoverer at 2:00 pm for a 3:00 pm departure, leave Cairns on the start of a Papua New Guinea adventure. Take the opportunity to explore your new home for the next 12 days. Enjoy an evening sunset drink before sitting down to the first of many delicious dinners.
Located 100 kilometers off the Queensland coast, visits to Osprey Reef are rare. Enjoy the opportunity to snorkel and SCUBA dive in the protected lagoon at the heart of the reef and enjoy glass bottom boat tours for spectacular views of a myriad of colorful marine life.
Having passed through the Great Barrier Reef, continue northeast towards the China Strait. Enjoy the facilities and get to know your traveling companions. This evening, join the Captain, his crew and new-found friends at the Captain’s Welcome Drinks.
Enjoy waking up to the scenery of the China Strait as the ship approaches its first Papua New Guinea landfall – Alotau. Experienced Guest Lecturers interpret the traditional welcome dances prior to leading a tour of historic Alotau.
Historically known as the ‘Islands of Love’, the Trobriands offer a glimpse of traditional culture largely unspoiled by outside influence. Witness traditional Trobriand dance performed by the colorfully costumed locals.
Be greeted by a flotilla of canoes as the ship approaches the Dobu anchorage. Guest Lecturers share the history of the Kula Ring where Dobu Island was a pivotal link between the north and south Kula trade routes. Meet the local primary school children who perform a traditional dance performance. Join Expedition Staff on an expedition to the Dei Dei Hot Springs where the landowner shares the mythical and spiritual tales of these hot water and mud springs.
Discover the scenic beauty of the rarely visited Tufi Fjords. Similar to Nordic fjords and featuring 25 individual canyons with sheer basalt cliffs, these are the only fjords in Papua New Guinea and offer a wealth of sightseeing opportunities. Soak up the spectacular views as the expedition ship cruises close to the towering cliffs before boarding Xplorer to travel ashore to meet the friendly locals. Then, enjoy the opportunity to discover the region’s numerous white sandy beaches, take a leisurely swim and snorkel over spectacular fringing reefs.
Awaken early and travel ashore to the picturesque village of Lababia, gateway to one of the most important conservation areas in PNG – the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area. In the company of Expedition Staff and local guides, walk the David Suzuki trail through the prehistoric rainforest. With luck see some of the prolific bird life resident here including hornbills, parrots, palm cockatoos and the iconic Raggiana bird of paradise.
Tuam and Tami, in the Siassi group of islands, offer a mix of both mainland and Bismark Archipelago cultures. Their prized trinkets and decorations include dog’s teeth, spondyllus shells and wonderful balsa wood and sago bark headdresses. Enjoy the welcome dances and village hospitality.
The historic town of Madang sits on a peninsula surrounded by a number of picturesque islands. Famed for its diving, the waters surrounding Madang offer excellent visibility and many WWII wrecks to explore. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving and a harbor exploration.
Sure to be a highlight, this morning enter the mouth of the mighty Sepik River – one of the world’s great river systems. Over the next two days Coral Discoverer will cruise approximately 100 kilometers upriver to the middle Sepik region, which is renowned for its unique artifacts. Visit the remote villages of Angoram and Bien where the local Sepik people are amongst the greatest primitive artists on earth and each village has its own distinct style. Enjoy the opportunity to purchase unique hand carvings. Anchor this evening in the river whilst overhead hundreds of flying foxes stream through the sky.
An early morning start offers a great opportunity for bird watching. Join the Expedition Staff to identify spotted blue-eyed cockatoos, wagtails, great egret, little egret, great billed heron, the enormous Blyth’s hornbill and others as the ship cruises back down river. On departing the Sepik pass the active volcano on Manam Island and enjoy the sunset.
Day 13: Wewak
1 Breakfast
Early this morning arrive in the picturesque port city of Wewak, where it is time to farewell fellow guests, the Captain and his crew at the conclusion of this remarkable South Pacific adventure.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Select a Date
Main Deck B
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Three cabins located on the Main Deck, equipped with twin portholes, desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Select a Date
Main Deck A
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Six cabins located on the Main Deck, equipped with twin porthole windows, desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Select a Date
Promenade Deck B
Averaging 160 sq. ft. Four cabins located on the Promenade Deck, equipped with picture windows, desk, telephone and Junior King bedding.
Select a Date
Promenade Deck A
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Eighteen cabins located on the Promenade Deck, equipped with picture windows, sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Select a Date
Bridge Deck
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Five cabins located on the Bridge Deck, equipped with picture windows, sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
Notes
Solo Travelers:
Solo cabin occupancy is limited and based on availability in Promenade Deck B cabins only. Single supplement is an additional 50%.
Important Fare Information:
Rates are posted based off of the current exchange rates from Australian or New Zealand Dollars. Please contact us for current exchange rates.
Initial deposit is variable, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.