AaSF
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As a new diver on Scubaboard, I wanted to take the opportunity to post a comment about our recent trip to PNG on the Oceania. I would echo all said above, especially about Walindi resort and the boat which is quite nice and well run. The diving was great, the people were most pleasant and helpful, the food was excellent, and the accommodations were quite comfortable. Here's a link to my images from the trip: Papua New Guinea 2023.
The biggest hassle -- also noted above -- was the apparent ongoing problems with Air Niugini which, unfortunately, offers the only way to get to Hoskins. Before we even left the US, we learned that our PNG flight from Port Moresby to Hoskins had been cancelled. They rescheduled us a day earlier, but Virgin Australia's addition of a stop in Sydney before Brisbane (where we originally planned to arrive) precluded our making the flight. Air Niugini finally agreed to reschedule us a day later which meant we lost one of the two pre-paid (and non-refundable) nights at Walindi we had planned to help with jet lag. The next day we travelled from Brisbane to Port Moresby as scheduled only to find that our rescheduled flight to Hoskins was also cancelled. We spent a night in a Port Moresby hotel and then flew to Hoskins the next morning (5AM), arriving several hours before the boat departed, losing the second of our two pre-paid nights at Walindi. The rest of the trip was excellent, including our return flights.
During our "extra" time in Port Moresby we learned that Air Niugini ONLY flies DeHavilland DHC-8s or Fokkers for their internal flights. We were advised that around half of their fleet is out of service awaiting service and/or parts. As a result, cancellations of internal flights are apparently quite common. We highly recommend planning extra time at Walindi in traveling to Hoskins.
The biggest hassle -- also noted above -- was the apparent ongoing problems with Air Niugini which, unfortunately, offers the only way to get to Hoskins. Before we even left the US, we learned that our PNG flight from Port Moresby to Hoskins had been cancelled. They rescheduled us a day earlier, but Virgin Australia's addition of a stop in Sydney before Brisbane (where we originally planned to arrive) precluded our making the flight. Air Niugini finally agreed to reschedule us a day later which meant we lost one of the two pre-paid (and non-refundable) nights at Walindi we had planned to help with jet lag. The next day we travelled from Brisbane to Port Moresby as scheduled only to find that our rescheduled flight to Hoskins was also cancelled. We spent a night in a Port Moresby hotel and then flew to Hoskins the next morning (5AM), arriving several hours before the boat departed, losing the second of our two pre-paid nights at Walindi. The rest of the trip was excellent, including our return flights.
During our "extra" time in Port Moresby we learned that Air Niugini ONLY flies DeHavilland DHC-8s or Fokkers for their internal flights. We were advised that around half of their fleet is out of service awaiting service and/or parts. As a result, cancellations of internal flights are apparently quite common. We highly recommend planning extra time at Walindi in traveling to Hoskins.
