Papua New Guinea

Arrive Rabaul and board your yacht and settle into your new home. We plan to take a gentle cruise out to nearby local islands for a relaxing afternoon of snorkelling and beachcombing and adjusting to local time before sundowners and an informal briefing on the days ahead during a welcome dinner.

Once known as the most beautiful town in the South Pacific, Rabaul was destroyed by the volcano Tavurvur in 1994. Now referred to as a ‘modern day Pompeii’, the ash covered town still offers one of the few deep-water ports in PNG, with Simpsons Harbour situated in the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano. Rabaul remains the heartland of the Tolai people, although the commercial center has moved 25kms away to Tokua. Our visit of the area will include Rabaul, the volcanoes, local market and WWII sites including the Japanese tunnels. Rabaul will also be the launch point for our excursion up into the rarely visited Baining Mountains. Here we will observe the Baining Fire dance, performed by young Baining men as an initiation into adulthood, late into the evening. We then set sail for what can only be described as ‘paradise found’. Idyllic tropical scenes, excellent diving and snorkeling, watersports and the chance to swim and unwind from the hectic travel pace.

After a late night at the Fire Dance we spend the day exploring the Duke of York Islands and begin our journey west along the north coast of New Britain.

The tiny settlement of Baia on New Britain’s north coast provides a good anchorage at this time of year. Home to renowned black bass fishing, Baia also features startlingly beautiful hidden waterfalls, cascades and crystal-clear springs of the inner hinterland.

Our arrival in the heart of Kimbe Bay offers a unique opportunity to relax and enjoy superb diving and snorkeling in one of PNG’s most iconic underwater locations. This area is world renowned as a prime Pacific dive site as over 70% of all coral species in the Indo/Pacific region can be found in these waters; no other dive area in the world can boast such diversity. World famous dive locations abound with more than 200 reefs and dive sites that dot this majestic bay offering exceptional water activities for snorkelers, divers, and zodiac cruisers alike. Anchored off Restorff Island, we will have access to other activities in this tropical playground: enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the nearby Walindi Resort, explore WWII remains, take a fishing charter, go bird watching on a guided trek, go golfing nearby, or sample the local cocktails. The calm lagoon and peaceful setting offer the perfect backdrop for sunset drinks.

Witu Island is a flooded caldera, offering the opportunity to hike up to the nearby volcanic rim and meet the residents, who welcome visitors with vibrant masks, headdresses, and ceremonial performances.

Lying just shy of 1 degree from the equator, Emirau is a true tropical paradise. Providing excellent sheltered anchorages, Emirau offers snorkeling, diving and hikes, as well as welcoming locals who offer fish and crayfish for sale. Emirau gets few visitors, so welcomes here are both warm and genuine; locals will be curious about where you have come from (and where you are going!).

Paradise found! Superlatives fail in any effort to describe the tranquility of this place and its people. Enjoy beautiful beaches, sheltered coastal waters, emerald islands and gentle warmth of these most northern Papua New Guineans. We will have endless activites in the water, as well as a wide range of options ashore.

The provincial capital, Kavieng has the relaxed feel and slow pace that is expected of a remote South Seas town. Disembark for your early morning flight to Port Moresby and connect to homeward flights.