Morobe Wantok 11 Day Accommodated Air Tour

DEPARTING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2008 (New and different from published brochure)

ADELAIDE – BIRDSVILLE – NORMANTON – DARU – FLY RIVER VILLAGE – PT MORESBY (LOLOATA ISLAND RESORT) – THE KOKODA TRACK – THE VOLCANO AT RABAUL – MADANG – MT HAGEN – GOROKA – LAE – DARU – 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 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 the 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.

DAY 5 RABAUL – MADANG
Across the beautiful Bismarck Sea and past 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 – MT HAGEN
Depart Madang, flying up in to the Ramu headwaters, over the Bismarck Range, then the Sepik-Wahgi Range into Mt Hagen. Drive through this larger township and up into the mountains to our beautiful family-owned motel. This is built of 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.

Incredible Mt Hagen

DAY 7 MOUNT HAGEN – GOROKA
Fly along the spectacular Wahgi Valley, past Mt Wilhelm (the highest mountain in PNG at 14,793 ft) and 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 local coffee factory. Overnight at the world renowned “Bird of Paradise Hotel”.

DAY 8 GOROKA – NADZAB – LAE
Down the Nambaiyufa Valley past Mt Michael and into the Markham River Valley to land at Nadzab. Transfer into Lae. Our journey today was through areas of significant WWII historical interest. To our pleasant modern Lae motel and a tour of the Lae area.

DAY 9 LAE
The Morobe Cultural Sing Sing at Lae is different from the Highlands Cultural Shows. The coastal people have elaborate frameworks as part of their traditional dress. Everywhere is the beating of drums and the singing ululations of hundreds of competing tribal people. Overnight Lae hotel/motel.

DAY 10 LAE – DARU – HORN ISLAND – MT ISA
Fly down the Bulldog Track of Bulolo-Wau fame to Kerema and into Daru for Customs and Immigration Clearance. Please note that you pay your own PNG Departure Tax. Across Torres Strait to Horn Island. Clear Customs, flying down to Normanton to refuel and on to Mount Isa for overnight. DAY 11 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.

DAY 11 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 5.00 p.m.

DEPARTURES:
2008 SATURDAY, October 11 – 11 days 2009 T.B.A. (but similar)

2008 FARES:
$ 7,490 per person (two people travelling together and sharing accommodation).
$ 8,190 person travelling on own.

2009 FARES:
$ 7,850 per person (two people travelling together and sharing accommodation).
$ 8,580 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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Morobe Wantok 11 Day Accommodated Air Tour

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