Papua New Guinea - underrated destination

By MONIKA FRY

Papua New Guinea is not often considered as a tourist destination. Reports of crime, tropical diseases, sharks and battle zones deter tourists from venturing into this vast, exciting and diverse country.

For a long time it has been an adventure destination for trampers and climbers, canoeists, divers and whitewater rafters.

The country is a bird watchers' delight. In the Western Highlands, a picturesque region of coffee and tea plantations, the Baiyer River wildlife sanctuary is home to the largest population of birds of paradise in the world.

Travel-book company Lonely Planet offers down-to-earth information about the hazards while highlighting the diversity of sights and cultures in a country where more than 750 languages are spoken.

For a wider perspective, the World-Wide Web Virtual Library lists other useful sources of information such as eco-tourism pages, university websites, books to read, local newspapers, the economy, local history and even a set of downloadable maps of the regions.

Papua New Guinea is not a difficult place to travel around.

Accommodation throughout the country ranges from world-class hotels to numerous church-run guesthouses that are often the only accommodation in an area.

Links

Activities for the adventurous

Lonely Planet

Virtual library useful information

Accommodation information