I'm trying to figure out the most "economical" way to get to PNG from the east coast. Does anybody have flight/hotel suggestions for getting there? I'm ultimately ending up in Alotau onboard the Star Dancer. In addition.... what's the weather/water like in early April in Milne Bay?
PNG advice please
- Thread starter Calinectes
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ewaiea
Contributor
Did you ever make it to Milne Bay in April? I'd love to know as I'm considering plans for 2012 and torn between Alor Islands, Indonesia (on the Komodo Dancer) or Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea (on the Star Dancer). Any feedback?
Just returned (October 12-24) from PNG and the Star Dancer. The diving was spectacular in my opinion.
For those looking for big things, this is not the place...long line fishing has wiped out most sharks...however we did see them, just not many.
The reefs are what I see in really old movies and are flourishing with life....sea fans 10 feet in diameter; coral heads towering taller than me and schooling
fish of all species. Our experiences in South Pacific have been Hawaii, Fiji, and Malaysia. This by far exceed all of those previous destinations.
The logistics of getting to PNG is certainly not for the faint of travel. We flew Detroit to Chicago; Chicago to Hong Kong; Hong Kong to Port Moresby; Port Moresby to Alotau.
The flights within PNG are frequently cancelled (I understand weekly there is usually at least one day cancelled). So it would be wise to have extra days planned ahead
of your trip so that you can be sure to arrive in time for the Star Dancer departure. We stayed at Twali for a couple days. In my opinion, the 2 hour bus and 45 minute
boat trip to Twali is worth it, but only if you have 3 days or so, we arrived late Wednesday and were shuttled off 6 am Friday. If you are planning just
a day or two...just stay at the Driftwood and relax.
Star Dancer boat is not new, but is lovely and comfortable. The crew is absolutely top notch. Realize you are far off the grid and in a different culture, your normal
comforts will likely not be available or not plentiful. Suggestions I have for this trip; check with Dancer to see what the crew might be asking for, they have a very
difficult time getting anything and some of the things they need would be so easy to pack to bring along; bring a few snacks along for yourself and to share; bring
current reading material (news, gossip, special interest magazines are really appreciated); bring a plastic rain coat. The folks that live on the out islands really need staples.
They will be trading with the ship for rice and soap, so bar soap would be a great bring along; if you are a smoker plan to be asked for a pack.
Hope this is somewhat helpful, feel free to ask any followup questions.
For those looking for big things, this is not the place...long line fishing has wiped out most sharks...however we did see them, just not many.
The reefs are what I see in really old movies and are flourishing with life....sea fans 10 feet in diameter; coral heads towering taller than me and schooling
fish of all species. Our experiences in South Pacific have been Hawaii, Fiji, and Malaysia. This by far exceed all of those previous destinations.
The logistics of getting to PNG is certainly not for the faint of travel. We flew Detroit to Chicago; Chicago to Hong Kong; Hong Kong to Port Moresby; Port Moresby to Alotau.
The flights within PNG are frequently cancelled (I understand weekly there is usually at least one day cancelled). So it would be wise to have extra days planned ahead
of your trip so that you can be sure to arrive in time for the Star Dancer departure. We stayed at Twali for a couple days. In my opinion, the 2 hour bus and 45 minute
boat trip to Twali is worth it, but only if you have 3 days or so, we arrived late Wednesday and were shuttled off 6 am Friday. If you are planning just
a day or two...just stay at the Driftwood and relax.
Star Dancer boat is not new, but is lovely and comfortable. The crew is absolutely top notch. Realize you are far off the grid and in a different culture, your normal
comforts will likely not be available or not plentiful. Suggestions I have for this trip; check with Dancer to see what the crew might be asking for, they have a very
difficult time getting anything and some of the things they need would be so easy to pack to bring along; bring a few snacks along for yourself and to share; bring
current reading material (news, gossip, special interest magazines are really appreciated); bring a plastic rain coat. The folks that live on the out islands really need staples.
They will be trading with the ship for rice and soap, so bar soap would be a great bring along; if you are a smoker plan to be asked for a pack.
Hope this is somewhat helpful, feel free to ask any followup questions.
ewaiea
Contributor
I know I'm replying to this like 7 months after your very helpful trip report - but thanks so much for the info. 
I'm actually headed back to PNG in February on the Star Dancer. I've done north New Britain on the Star Dancer and now I'll have a chance to compare it to the new itinerary. I really think that PNG will go down as my favorite destination. I have intentions of diving throughout Indonesia, southeast Asia, Fiji, Soloman Islands and also the eastern Pacific (Galapagos Islands, Cocos Island and the Channel Islands in California). But really, I dare say PNG will always be my favorite place of all....just a hunch.
I'm actually headed back to PNG in February on the Star Dancer. I've done north New Britain on the Star Dancer and now I'll have a chance to compare it to the new itinerary. I really think that PNG will go down as my favorite destination. I have intentions of diving throughout Indonesia, southeast Asia, Fiji, Soloman Islands and also the eastern Pacific (Galapagos Islands, Cocos Island and the Channel Islands in California). But really, I dare say PNG will always be my favorite place of all....just a hunch.
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