PNG vs. Solomons

[Luko]

Hi y'all Pac divers,

Need some help on planning my vacations in august.
Family of three, I'm the only diver of the bunch, the girls are more into beachbumming.

I will be coming in from Brisbane and I am hesitating for 3 weeks going to places in PNG or Solomons or both (flights permitting). Ideally I'd say 2 weeks on dive places, one week traveling topside, cultural experiences, etc.

What would you recommend as for a family holiday, ie. no hard core diving resorts with no beaches for the better parts of my family. Remote island seclusion doesn't worry me as long as there is a sandy beach and turquoise seas.

PNG : I have read that Madang was a nice place topside, it looks also like a good starting point to enter the highlands afterwards, is it worth underwater?
Any other place recomanded at this season of the year - august- ?

Solomons : An idea how much Uepi costs per day? any other suggestion in the Marovo lagoon or elsewhere? What about this place not so far from Guadalcanal with manta action 365/24?

Solomons to PNG : what's the flight worth and is there any way to enter PNG from another place than POM?

thanks a bunch if you can shed some light on any of my questions.

cheers
Luko

 

[alijtaylor]

Last year Uepi would have been about A$620 a night for three in their lovely beachfront bungalows including all meals. This photo was taken from the balcony of just such a room.

Good, sand, snorkeling and kayaking in the Marovo lagoon but I think you would be pushing it to expect the family to enjoy two weeks entirely there, although there are other eco lodges scattered around the lagoon and Uepi will arrange transfers. I found this resource useful but other than transfers I didn't spend non-diving time there. My report on experience in Solomons is here.

Madang in PNG is a nice enough town but I found the PNG diving better off Walindi in West New Britian. The resort at Walindi might occupy non-divers for a few days but 2 non-diving weeks would be a long time anywhere I stayed in PNG or the Solomons unless you have a huge appetite for doing not much.

If wrecks are your thing you might put several good days diving together in Madang and after the family had explored the town they might make an expedition up the Sepik river. Not such great beaches to lie on in Madang - a few OK ones but not great like Marovo.

I really enjoyed my cultural experiences in the highlands of PNG

So my conclusion - if it was me I would look to spend time in the PNG highlands and split the dive time between two sites, maybe Walindi for a few days (the diving by day boat is pretty good from there) and either Madang or one of the other PNG resorts I have not been too. Having said all that, if you could convince them to spend two weeks at Uepi I would happily go back there to dive for the best part of two weeks! Let us know how you get on.

Alison

p.s I am doubtful that you can fly Solomons to PNG without going via Australia.

 

[reubencahn]

We overnighted at Jais Aben in Madang after getting off the Golden Dawn. There seemed to be quite a few families there. I believe they have a beach. Resort is fairly basic/rustic. Craig DeWitt (owner of the Golden Dawn) told me that the Madang Hotel is more upscale.

Can't comment on any other land options in either PNG of Solomons. I do think PNG has better diving, i.e., more pristine, lusher reefs, more diversity, etc.

Incidentally, there are flights between Port Moresby and Honiara. One of the divers on trip took that flight to go spend a week at Uepi.

 

[Luko]

Thanks to you both, that's the kind of hints I was looking for.
Keep'em coming...

Just some clarification in case someone would like to add his/her experience there or why not recommend me a full itinerary.
I was rather imagining three/four island or location hops for three weeks, not more than 4/5 days on each place, rather than staying for two weeks at the same place, hence I do not worry about too much about the girls getting bored since they can enjoy a decent beach.

Thanks again.

 

[reubencahn]

Thanks to you both, that's the kind of hints I was looking for.
Keep'em coming...

Just some clarification in case someone would like to add his/her experience there or why not recommend me a full itinerary.
I was rather imagining three/four island or location hops for three weeks, not more than 4/5 days on each place, rather than staying for two weeks at the same place, hence I do not worry about too much about the girls getting bored since they can enjoy a decent beach.

Thanks again.

In planning multiple hops, you should be aware that Air New Guinea is probably the world's most overpriced airline. That said, the online fares seem to be lower than those available to agents. If I were hopping from one land based resort to the next, I'd want to hit Tawali, Walindi and Loloata.

 

[Shasta_man]

Hi y'all and Paris, France don't go together, man.

 

[Luko]

Hi y'all and Paris, France don't go together, man.

Olsem wanem?

Mi save talem hello long bislama lanwes tu, semsem long toktok pidsin.
Ating bambae mi raetem niu hebridis long kantri blong mi fala.

Tata
Luko
(Does it match better for you?)

 

[ChetMoore]

Alison and all,
There has been for years Air Niugini (PX)service between Honiara (HON) and Port Moresby (POM). If you are outbound from BNE, you can grab Air Pacific to Nandi (NAN), thence PX to HON and on to POM...then PX back to BNE. Ore vice versa...PX to POM, etc. The PX NAN-HON service is relatively new but the POM-HON flights have been there longtime. Walindi will definitely cater to non diving families or family members...But, it ain't the Gold Coast.
Cheers.
Chet Moore

 

[alijtaylor]

Alison and all,
There has been for years Air Niugini (PX)service between Honiara (HON) and Port Moresby (POM). If you are outbound from BNE, you can grab Air Pacific to Nandi (NAN), thence PX to HON and on to POM...then PX back to BNE. Ore vice versa...PX to POM, etc. The PX NAN-HON service is relatively new but the POM-HON flights have been there longtime. Walindi will definitely cater to non diving families or family members...But, it ain't the Gold Coast.
Cheers.
Chet Moore

Thanks for that - one more option the next time I am up that way - although the way the $NZ is going that might not be any time soon!

Alison

 

[marinediva]

There are flights going from POM to the Solomons, everyday from memory.
I did hear a rumor of flights going from Cairns to Milne bay with Airline Nuigini, so far I have not found them on the net.

I recently paid less than $1000 for a return trip from Brisbane to Madang.
From Cairns to POM airflights are available for $120 Aussie.

Spent sometime in Madang (not there at the moment) and absolutely loved the diving. They do have some great diving further up the north coast road which is relatively safer to drive than most other parts of PNG and the Solomons for that matter.

Wewak is a place that should not be ignored and is a night boat away from Madang or one hour and $120 Aus in a plane. There are a number of small operators and a lot of wrecks.
The Windjammer Hotel is the place to seek out there, or just a skip across the road to a cafe called the beach hut.

PNG and the Solomons are well not that developed. The Northern coastal areas are by far the safest and I stress ensure you stay alert at all times. Hate to write it but trust no one with your stuff. The wontok system extends far and wide. Goroka is a great place to get a taste of Highlands PNG. I do not recommend anyone to travel to areas such as Mt William or Mt Hagen.
Jeez, even nationals there don't enjoy visiting those areas.

The Solomons has been very quiet of late so I really can't comment, but it is a place I would not take my family to.

Sounds like you have a great holiday happening