Wabag Kumul - 12 days

DEPARTING JULY 29, 2010. ADELAIDE – BIRDSVILLE – NORMANTON – HORN ISLAND – DARU – FLY RIVER VILLAGE – PORT MORESBY (LOLOATA ISLAND RESORT) – START OF THE KOKODA TRACK –EAST NEW BRITAIN ISLANDS - RABAUL - MADANG – GOROKA – MOUNT HAGEN – WAPENAMANDA – WABAG – MOUNT HAGEN – HORN ISLAND – MOUNT ISA – BIRDSVILLE – ADELAIDE

One of the World’s Most Spectacular Adventure Flights.
PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO ALLOW FOR VISA REQUIREMENTS & CLEARANCES

YOUR PILOT AND GUIDE
Dick Lang has been flying in Papua New Guinea for thirty years. He was introduced to the beauties and subtleties of this magnificent country by such legends as Bill Gammage, Chris Vass (ex Kiap), Bob Bates and Dik Knight. He is permitted by the PNG CAA to fly into remote airstrips – where few other Australian pilots are allowed on tour. His thirty years of flying has given him a healthy respect for the great care and attention needed in this environment. On the ground he has a deep and sympathetic knowledge of the traditions and life-styles of the local tribal people. Please note that we give you a detailed itinerary, so that you can follow your flight. It is very important for you to understand that this could change at any time due to weather, bad roads, breakdown, etc. It is on this understanding that we outline a detailed itinerary.

ALL ITINERARIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF WEATHER OR OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

DAY 1 ADELAIDE – NORMANTON
Depart General Aviation Terminal, Adelaide Airport, at 8.00am, flying north over wheat, barley and canola paddocks, past beautiful Wilpena Pound and into Leigh Creek for fuel. Fly north along part of the Birdsville Track, over Coopers Creek to Birdsville for fuel. Past the tiny town of Bedourie, Boulia and the Channel Country to Mount Isa for fuel. Over the Gulf Country of the Cloncurry, Flinders and Norman Rivers into Normanton. Overnight in a comfortable tropical motel.

DAY 2 NORMANTON – HORN ISLAND – DARU – fly RIVER VILLAGE – PORT MORESBY
Depart Normanton over the coastline of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Fly over the mining township of Weipa, across the Jardine River to land at Horn Island, clearing Customs and Immigration. Note that you pay for your own personal Departure Tax from Australia. Across Torres Strait to PNG Customs at Daru. Across the giant Fly River estuary, over emerald green jungle to land at a remote village. Please note that transport and communication are difficult. If all goes well, we are able to reach this lagoon for a dugout canoe ride to a nearby island – home of the great Gogodala canoe-makers. This is a truly outstanding and memorable afternoon. Leave these friendly, appreciative people, flying high over the Gulf of Papua, passing giant mountains in the distant cloud, to land at Pt Moresby. Here we are picked up by Dik Knight, an old friend and proprietor of the beautiful Loloata Island Resort. Transfer by boat to Loloata.

DAY 3 LOLOATA
Early morning snorkelling is available. Hire equipment from the Island. An excellent tour around Port Moresby to view the original coastal village, the port, the business centre and the magnificent Parliament House. If conditions are right, and there is no rain, travel up to the start of the Kokoda Track. We also visit the beautifully maintained WWII Bomona War Cemetery, where thousands of young Australian men are interred. Overnight Loloata.

DAY 4 PT MORESBY – RABAUL ISLANDS
Depart Moresby over the Owen Stanley Range and across the Bismarck Sea to land at Tokua, a short drive from the ruined township of Rabaul, devastated by the 1994 volcanic eruption. View this awesome, rumbling, smoking volcano from a safe distance, a classic world-class sight. See also relics of WWII and the Japanese occupation with the amazing cave systems. Overnight at a plantation resort.

IOncredible PNG highland scenery
Beautiful PNG scenery and highland views

DAY 5 RABAUL – NADZAB – BULOLO
Fly back across the Bismarck Sea to the mainland, landing at Nadzab. Transfer to 4WD vehicles, to cross the huge Markham River, through interesting villages and up through the magnificent Watut River valley scenery to Bulolo. Afternoon drive to see the historic, long-abandoned, huge gold dredges and alluvial goldfields. A visit to village families sluicing gold from this once-famous, roaring river. Overnight Pine Lodge. A really fascinating day.

DAY 6 BULOLO – MOUNTAIN DRIVE ALONG MENYAMYA ROAD – BULOLO
Please note that today’s drive is very much subject to heavy rains, landslides and deep, impassable mud on the road. However, just trying to get through reveals amazing primitive, untouched country. Through high, blue mountain ranges, unforgettable scenery towards the Menyamya area. It is one of the most spectacular drives in PNG. View remote villages on mountain ridges and beautiful remote people. If we are able to get through, we may be able to see the rare, unique smoked bodies of the Kukukuku people (now Anga People). This drive is not guaranteed to succeed, but if we do, it is an amazing bonus. This is the heart of PNG. Overnight Bulolo.

DAY 7 BULOLO – MADANG
Drive through scenic country back to Nadzab. Fly from Nadzab around the very high Finisterre Ranges and past Shaggy Ridge, scene of fierce fighting in WWII, to land at Madang - called by many the most beautiful harbour in the world. A tour of this coastal town, visit the market, then lunch at a beautiful coastal resort. After lunch visit a Japanese WWII airstrip and view the wrecks of several long-ruined aircraft. Overnight resort with swaying palm trees and the Bismarck Sea crashing on the coral at your door.

DAY 8 MADANG – GOROKA
Fly up into Goroka, a beautiful township set high in the mountains with a lovely climate – at the head of the majestic Nambaiyufa Valley. A drive to a remote village, where after an easy 30 minute walk, we view the only known rock art in the whole of PNG. A very rare privilege – no photos allowed. Time permitting, visit the small Jack McCarthy Museum, the vibrant extensive outdoor market and a very interesting visit to a local coffee factory. Overnight at the world renowned “Bird of Paradise Hotel”.

Incredible Tibal singing and dancing

DAY 9 GOROKA – MOUNT HAGEN
We need to wait at the airstrip at Goroka for the cloud to rise. Fly along the famous Wahgi Valley to Mt Hagen. Drive through this larger township and up into the mountains to our beautiful family-owned motel. This is built conventionally, but of traditional bush materials. Each room is self-contained. In the grounds there are a large number of spectacular Birds of Paradise. It is a highlight of our journey inPNG.

WW II Aircraft in Papua New Guineas Mt Hagen

DAY 10 WAPENAMANDA – WABAG
Through Wapenamanda into one of the most remote parts of PNG – the Enga Province. Here at their new Cultural Sing Sing there is a stunning show of hundreds of tribal men and women with their huge human hair wigs, painted faces and pounding drums. It is absolutely awe-inspiring. This show is so remote and so amazing that Dick Lang’s Bush Pilots are sponsors, to encourage the local culture and assist in its operation. After a return drive through majestic mountain passes, we overnight at our mountain lodge again.

Papua New GuineaTribal dancing
Tribal Dancing

DAY 11 MT HAGEN – HORN ISLAND – MT ISA
Leave early, travelling down to Mt Hagen to clear Customs (Note: You pay for your own personal departure tax). Fly out of the ring of mountains around Mt Hagen, across Torres Strait to Horn Island. Clear Customs, flying down to Normanton to refuel and on to Mt Isa for overnight.

DAY 12 MT ISA – BIRDSVILLE – ADELAIDE
From Mt Isa, past Dajarra, Boulia in the distance, over the Georgina River and Bedourie to the Birdsville Pub for lunch. Along the Birdsville Track to Leigh Creek to refuel, back to Adelaide by 5pm.

DEPARTURES:
2010 Thursday, July 29 – 12 days

FARE 2010:
$ 7,790 per person (two people travelling together and sharing accommodation)
$ 8,890 person travelling on own.

Your fully inclusive fare includes all meals, all accommodation and transport.
Does not include visa fees, departure taxes, or show entry.

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Wabag Kumul - 12 days

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