Why PNG? We’ve been asked this question numerous times.  There are several reasons we chose to visit Papua New Guinea.  First up, it’s our nearest neighbour, yet hardly anyone goes there unless they have to, or if they want to complete the Kokoda Track (too many leeches for our liking).  Port Moresby and the Highlands have a well-deserved reputation for violence, and the country is somewhere that most tourists tend to steer clear of, in favour of Bali or Fiji.

For Ian, the World War 2 history is the drawcard. During port calls at Milne Bay and Rabaul, we will learn more about the Japanese invasion, and eventual defeat at the hands of Australian troops.  The Japanese attempted to take Port Moresby by land and sea, ultimately failing when they severely underestimated the difficulties of supplying their soldiers as they tried to cross the Owen Stanley Ranges.

As for me, when I was at work, our company set up a huge operation in PNGs, to extract and process the abundance of gas.  After years of assessing risks and rewards, they finally decided to go in, and sent many people there from our Australian offices.  So I heard many stories about the difficulties.  Additionally, part of my job was to monitor local media reports about crime, corruption and politics, and provide a summary to senior management.  On the flip side, I also heard about warm friendly people, fascinating culture, and stunning scenery.  I was intrigued by it all.

Our cruise steers well clear of Port Moresby and the Highlands, visiting places where tourism is slowly developing.  Cruising from Brisbane, a short domestic flight away, makes it very convenient.  You can travel to cities on the other side of the world, only to experience the same things you do at home – the same crowds, the same shops, the same traffic as anywhere.  For this we can fly for 2 hours, then cruise for two days, and visit somewhere completely different, right on our doorstep.