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Snorkel the vibrant waters of the South Pacific

West Papua

Example 13 Day Cruise aboard Coral Discoverer
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Mysterious Papua New Guinea is, in the truest sense, one of the last great wilderness areas on Earth and there is simply no better way to experience these magical and rarely visited lands than aboard the state-of-the-art small ship Coral Discoverer. Embark in Cairns for an outstanding 12-night South Pacific expedition to Wewak and discover for yourself the outstanding cultures and scenic beauty of rarely discovered Papua New Guinea.
Manta ray during on a snorkeling trip.Colourful children of Papua New GuineaSnorkel off of Australia's beautiful coastLocals greeting the zodiacSnorkel the vibrant waters of the South Pacific
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark in Cairns, Australia

After boarding Coral Discoverer at 2:00 pm for a 3:00 pm departure, leave Cairns on the start of a Papua New Guinea adventure. Take the opportunity to explore your new home for the next 12 days. Enjoy an evening sunset drink before sitting down to the first of many delicious dinners.

Day 2: Osprey Reef

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Located 100 kilometers off the Queensland coast, visits to Osprey Reef are rare. Enjoy the opportunity to snorkel and SCUBA dive in the protected lagoon at the heart of the reef and enjoy glass bottom boat tours for spectacular views of a myriad of colorful marine life.

Day 3: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Having passed through the Great Barrier Reef, continue northeast towards the China Strait. Enjoy the facilities and get to know your traveling companions. This evening, join the Captain, his crew and new-found friends at the Captain’s Welcome Drinks.

Day 4: Alotau

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy waking up to the scenery of the China Strait as the ship approaches its first Papua New Guinea landfall – Alotau. Experienced Guest Lecturers interpret the traditional welcome dances prior to leading a tour of historic Alotau.

Day 5: Trobriands and Kitava

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Historically known as the ‘Islands of Love’, the Trobriands offer a glimpse of traditional culture largely unspoiled by outside influence. Witness traditional Trobriand dance performed by the colorfully costumed locals.

Day 6: Dobu and Fergusson Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Be greeted by a flotilla of canoes as the ship approaches the Dobu anchorage. Guest Lecturers share the history of the Kula Ring where Dobu Island was a pivotal link between the north and south Kula trade routes. Meet the local primary school children who perform a traditional dance performance. Join Expedition Staff on an expedition to the Dei Dei Hot Springs where the landowner shares the mythical and spiritual tales of these hot water and mud springs.

Day 7: Tufi Fjords

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Discover the scenic beauty of the rarely visited Tufi Fjords. Similar to Nordic fjords and featuring 25 individual canyons with sheer basalt cliffs, these are the only fjords in Papua New Guinea and offer a wealth of sightseeing opportunities. Soak up the spectacular views as the expedition ship cruises close to the towering cliffs before boarding Xplorer to travel ashore to meet the friendly locals. Then, enjoy the opportunity to discover the region’s numerous white sandy beaches, take a leisurely swim and snorkel over spectacular fringing reefs.

Day 8: Lababia - Wildlife Management Area

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Awaken early and travel ashore to the picturesque village of Lababia, gateway to one of the most important conservation areas in PNG – the Kamiali Wildlife Management Area. In the company of Expedition Staff and local guides, walk the David Suzuki trail through the prehistoric rainforest. With luck see some of the prolific bird life resident here including hornbills, parrots, palm cockatoos and the iconic Raggiana bird of paradise.

Day 9: The Idyllic Islands of Tuam and Tami

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Tuam and Tami, in the Siassi group of islands, offer a mix of both mainland and Bismark Archipelago cultures. Their prized trinkets and decorations include dog’s teeth, spondyllus shells and wonderful balsa wood and sago bark headdresses. Enjoy the welcome dances and village hospitality.

Day 10: Historic Madang

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The historic town of Madang sits on a peninsula surrounded by a number of picturesque islands. Famed for its diving, the waters surrounding Madang offer excellent visibility and many WWII wrecks to explore. Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving and a harbor exploration.

Day 11: The Mighty Sepik River

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sure to be a highlight, this morning enter the mouth of the mighty Sepik River – one of the world’s great river systems. Over the next two days Coral Discoverer will cruise approximately 100 kilometers upriver to the middle Sepik region, which is renowned for its unique artifacts. Visit the remote villages of Angoram and Bien where the local Sepik people are amongst the greatest primitive artists on earth and each village has its own distinct style. Enjoy the opportunity to purchase unique hand carvings. Anchor this evening in the river whilst overhead hundreds of flying foxes stream through the sky.

Day 12: Sepik River and Volcanic Manam Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
An early morning start offers a great opportunity for bird watching. Join the Expedition Staff to identify spotted blue-eyed cockatoos, wagtails, great egret, little egret, great billed heron, the enormous Blyth’s hornbill and others as the ship cruises back down river. On departing the Sepik pass the active volcano on Manam Island and enjoy the sunset.

Day 13: Wewak

  • 1 Breakfast
Early this morning arrive in the picturesque port city of Wewak, where it is time to farewell fellow guests, the Captain and his crew at the conclusion of this remarkable South Pacific adventure.

Ship/Hotel

Coral Discoverer

Coral Discoverer
Bridge Deck Bar aboard the Coral Discoverer

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
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Main Deck B
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Three cabins located on the Main Deck, equipped with twin portholes, desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
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Main Deck A
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Six cabins located on the Main Deck, equipped with twin porthole windows, desk, sofa, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
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Promenade Deck B
Averaging 160 sq. ft. Four cabins located on the Promenade Deck, equipped with picture windows, desk, telephone and Junior King bedding.
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Promenade Deck A
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Eighteen cabins located on the Promenade Deck, equipped with picture windows, sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.
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Bridge Deck
Averaging 195 sq. ft. Five cabins located on the Bridge Deck, equipped with picture windows, sofa, desk, telephone and your choice of Junior King or twin bedding.

Notes

Solo Travelers:
Solo cabin occupancy is limited and based on availability in Promenade Deck B cabins only. Single supplement is an additional 50%.

Important Fare Information:
Rates are posted based off of the current exchange rates from Australian or New Zealand Dollars. Please contact us for current exchange rates.
Included
  • 12 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 12 Dinners

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Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge

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