Mt Hagen Kiap - 9 days

MT HAGEN KIAP - 9 DAY ACCOMMODATED AIR TOUR ADELAIDE – BIRDSVILLE – NORMANTON – HORN ISLAND – MT HAGEN – GOROKA – MADANG – RABAUL – PORT MORESBY (LOLOATA ISLAND RESORT) – START OF THE KOKODA TRACK – HORN ISLAND – MT ISA – ADELAIDE.

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 Mt Isa for fuel. Over the Gulf Country of the Cloncurry, Flinders and Norman Rivers into Normanton. Overnight in comfortable tropical motel.

DAY 2 NORMANTON – HORN ISLAND – MT HAGEN
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. Fly high into the Cordillera of the majestic mountains which surround Mount Hagen. Land for Immigration and Customs clearance. Drive through this large 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 in PNG.

DAY 3 MT HAGEN
The huge Mt Hagen Sing Sing - a world-class spectacle of the mountain tribal people, all competing against each other with beautiful headdresses, decorated tribal faces, long lap-laps and the ever-present pounding of tribal drums. The Sing Sing is in a spectacular blue mountain setting. Drive back up through the mountains to our peaceful mountain lodge surrounded by Birds of Paradise.

DAY 4 MT HAGEN – GOROKA
We wait for the cloud to lift from the surrounding ranges and then take off over the intense agriculture of the Wahgi Valley past Mt Wilhelm (at 14,793 feet) and into the beautiful township of Goroka. A drive to a remote village, where after an easy 30 minute walk, we view the only known rock art in PNG. A very rare privilege – no photos allowed. Time permitting, visit the small Jack McCarthy Museum, the vibrant, extensive outdoor market and a local coffee factory. Overnight at the world renowned “Bird of Paradise Hotel”.

DAY 5 GOROKA – MADANG
Once again we load the aircraft and wait for the cloud to clear from the gaps in the mountains and take off for Madang. Fly over Shaggy Ridge, scene of intense fighting by South Australians in WWII. Around the very high Finisterre Ranges 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 6 MADANG – RABAUL
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, an awe-inspiring sight. See also relics of WWII and the Japanese occupation with the amazing cave systems. Overnight at a plantation resort.

DAY 7 RABAUL – LOLOATA – PORT MORESBY – START OF KOKODA TRACK
Across the Owen Stanleys to Moresby. We are met by Dik Knight of Loloata 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 very sad, but beautifully maintained, WWII Bomona War Cemetery, where thousands of young Australian men are interred. Overnight Loloata.

DAY 8 LOLOATA – PORT MORESBY – HORN ISLAND – NORMANTON – MT ISA
Through Customs and Immigration at Moresby, before flying past Kerema and over the remote “Kumul” oil platform in the Gulf of Papua. Across Torres Strait to land at Horn Island Clear Customs, flying down to Normanton to refuel and on to Mount Isa for overnight.

DAY 9 MOUNT ISA – BIRDSVILLE – LEIGH CREEK – ADELAIDE
From Mount 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, returning to Adelaide by 5 p.m. DEPARTURES: 2008 Thursday, August 14 – 9 days 2009 Thursday, August 13 (T.B.C.)

FARES 2008:
$ 7,390 per person (two people travelling together and sharing accommodation).
$ 7,990 person travelling on own.

FARES 2009:
$ 7,690 per person (two people travelling together and sharing accommodation).
$ 8,290 person travelling on own. Your fully inclusive fare includes all meals, all accommodation and transport.

Please note: Your fare covers fuel levies, remote fuel levy, airport landing charges, air navigation charges, etc.
Does not include visa fees, departure taxes, or show entry.
(Does not cover extra meals or accommodation in the event of flooding or delays of any type).

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