Papua New Guinea with Aurora

Aurora Expeditions has launched a special commemorative voyage to Papua New Guinea next April, to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in Papua New Guinea during WWII. The voyage will encompass visits to historical sites from Alotau to Rabaul, ending with a special dawn ANZAC day service in Rabaul.

Lost in Paradise – Our fallen heroes will depart Alotau on 14 April, 2012, landing at key historic sites such as Samarai Island, Linden Harbour, Jacquinot Bay, Tol and Rabaul. Our onboard historian will interpret the significance of these areas and shine a light on the courage and tragedy of Australia’s unsung heroes – The Lark Force – in the Battle of Rabaul, and the ensuing loss of lives, both troops and civilians, on the Montevideo Maru. The voyage will also include opportunities to snorkel the pristine reefs, witness traditional sing-sings and simply take in the beauty of this natural paradise.

For families wishing to explore PNG, Aurora has created Islands of Smiles. Exploring the islands and coastline of New Guinea, this voyage will visit Milne Bay and its surrounding islands, Lababia, Tami and Tuam islands, Madang and the mighty Sepik River. Parents and children alike can expect to be greeted with friendly smiles and a diverse array of vibrant customs through sing sings, complex rituals and spectacular costumes.

Islands of Smiles will depart Alotau on 2 April, 2012, and expeditioners will have the opportunity to explore PNG, either by snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, bird watching, village walks, or sharing a beach football match with playful locals.

Prices for both 13-day expeditions start from AU$5,690 per person quad-share, including all meals on board, shore excursions and lectures. Sea kayaking surcharge is AU$995 and scuba diving stops will be organised on board. Aurora can also organise all flight, accommodation, transfer and pre and post touring in Papua New Guinea.

Aurora Expeditions is renowned for travelling to wild and remote areas of the world, with the aim of creating life-long ambassadors to the environment. They attract small groups of like-minded, enthusiastic people, passionate about our destinations people, wildlife and history.

For more info, visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au or contact the UK's adventure-cruise specislists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Expeditions to Papua New Guinea and West Papua

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Travellers seeking a path less travelled to neighbouring Papua New Guinea and West Papua during 2011 will need to move quickly as Orion Expedition Cruises will visit this tropical paradise for only one season of cruises on their chic little Orion during March and April.

Two voyages will feature the popular Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights itinerary while the third is an exciting all-new West Papua & Maluku expedition, taking in many rarely-visited places across the north of Papua New Guinea and West Papua, where even Google struggles to provide in-depth information!

Under the watchful eye of the specialist expedition team, Orion’s guests on the signature Voyage of Discovery expedition, departing April 14, will redefine the word ‘remote’, visiting rarely seen areas across the top of West Papua, including Mapia Atoll (just north of the equator) and the marine wonderland of Rajah Ampat, the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Kei and Yamdena Islands in the Tanimbars, concluding in Darwin.

11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights (March 23 and April 3)

Starting with an overnight in Rabaul, this voyage visits Sepik River & Watam Village, Madang, Tami Islands, Tufi, Fergusson Island, Samarai and Kwato Islands and Alotau (Milne Bay) before finishing in Cairns (April 3 voyage in reverse). Prices from £5,265 per person including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on these voyages.

11-night West Papua & Malaku Voyage of Discovery (April 14)

Starting in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Wewak, Jayapura, Urbanasi, Mapia Atoll, Raja Ampat, McClure Gulf, Kei Islands and Tanimbars before finishing in Darwin. Prices from £4,785 per person, including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on this voyage.

For reservations and enquiries, visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/ or call the UK's adventure cruises specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

Rare Papua New Guinea Opportunity

Travellers seeking a path less travelled should seek out Orion Expedition Cruises, who will be operating a short season of cruises to Papua New Guinea and West Papua during 2011.

Two voyages will feature the popular Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights itinerary while the third is an exciting all-new West Papua & Maluku expedition visiting many rarely-visited places across the north of Papua New Guinea and West Papua, where even Google struggles to provide in-depth information!

The two Cultural Highlights voyages (March 23 and April 3, 2011) provide guests with a taste of primitive tribal cultures, unique flora and fauna, the opportunity to purchase superb indigenous artwork, visit isolated villages, enjoy world-class snorkelling and reflect on our recent past at historic World War II sites.

For keen photographers, the April 3 voyage is also a great opportunity to join the photographic workshop of a lifetime, capturing all the action in one of the world’s most photo-opportunistic locations, Papua New Guinea.

In association with Better Photography magazine and the Australian Geographic Society, and under the knowledgeable guidance of internationally recognised photographer Nick Rains and Grand Master of Photography Peter Eastwood, this voyage is designed to appeal to photographers of all levels. Hone photographic skills with the guidance of experts in one of the most photogenic places on earth.

Under the watchful eye of the specialist expedition team, Orion’s guests on the all-new West Papua & Maluku signature Voyage of Discovery expedition, departing April 14, will re-define the word ‘remote’, visiting rarely visited areas across the top of West Papua including Mapia Atoll (just north of the equator) and the marine wonderland of Rajah Ampat, the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Kei and Yamdena Islands in the Tanimbars, concluding in Darwin. Parts of this voyage are to places so remote most of the well-travelled crew onboard Orion have not yet been there!

11-night Papua New Guinea Cultural Highlights

Starting with an overnight in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Sepik River & Watam Village, Madang, Tami Islands, Tufi, Fergusson Island, Samarai and Kwato Islands and Alotau (Milne Bay) before finishing in Cairns (April 3 voyage in reverse). Prices from £5,265 per person, including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on these voyages.

11-night West Papua & Malaku Voyage of Discovery

Starting in Rabaul, this 11-night voyage visits Wewak, Jayapura, Urbanasi, Mapia Atoll, Raja Ampat, McClure Gulf, Kei Islands and Tanimbars before finishing in Darwin. Prices from £4,785 per person including 11 nights onboard Orion, all meals, entertainment and educational programmes, use of the ship’s sporting equipment and facilities, Zodiac excursions, port and handling charges, tender transfers and government fees and taxes. Two-for-one air is also available on this voyage.

For reservations and enquiries, call 020 7399 7620 or visit http://www.orionexpeditions.com/. Orion also feature in the Adventure Cruise Collection brochure of The Cruise Line Ltd.