Papua New Guinea
The islands of Papua New Guinea lies directly north from Cape York in the far north of Australia. Once a protectorate of and administrated by Australia, Papua New Guinea is now an independent state with a westminster system of government and a member of the British Commonwealth in its own right.As a tourist destination, Papua New Guinea provides many unique opportunities. This country is probably the most diverse in the world and hundreds of different cultures and languages combine to produce an emerging nation of spectacular beauty. This diversity can best be seen in the cultural differences that exist between members of the population in different regions.In some of the more inaccessible parts of the highlands, there are still pockets where almost stone age tribes still live, deep in the jungles, as they have for thousands of years. While in places like the capital of Port Moresby, universities and schools are educating the people to live a western lifestyle and help their country take its place in the international community. In the highlands and around the coastline, most people still live a lifestyle where they hunt and fish to supplement a small amount of agricultural pursuits. generally they are subsistence dwellers and the land and the sea provides what they need.
For the tourist, the opportunities are endless. The highlands are magnificent and cultural extravaganzas like the Mount Hagen show provide the opportunity to see thousands of local tribsmen dressed in native costume and performing tribal dances. The islands of the north coast which include the Trobriand Islands, New Britain, New ireland and the volcanic activity around the northern center of Rabaul, all provide fantastic scenery and the chance to spend time in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Regular cruises can take you on a voyage of discovery through these regions.In the southern end of the island around Alotau, Milne bay and the Louisiade islands, diving and fishing holidays attract international tourists to these remote locations.
Access to Papua New Guinea is through Port Moresby and regular flights arrive here every day from Australian destinations. Port Moresby has western hotel style accommodation. For Australians, Papua New Guinea is the place where many Australian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during world war two. It is the place where the Japanese invaders were turned around and the war changed its course. Some of the fiercest battles of the war occurred here and the fighting that took place along the Kokoda track has gone down in the annals of Australian history. Here a small force of Australian soldiers fought a running battle with far superior numbers of Japanese invaders and came out victorious. The relationship between the Australian soldiers and the native people of Papua New Guinea formed an unbreakable bond when the fuzzy wuzzy angels, as the local porters were called, risked their own lives to carry wounded Australian servicemen back along the trail to receive medical attention. Thousands of descendants of Australian servicemen who fought on the Kokoda Track and in other regions of Papua New Guinea have come and walked the track as a tribute to the bravery of their ancestors. Tour company's now exist that specials in taking walkers from Kokoda, in the highlands, through the arduous countryside and jungles of the track, to Owens Corner near Port Moresby, and then on to Bomana war cemetery to remember those who died.
For Australian and international tourists alike, there are thousands of regions to come and visit Papua New Guinea.
