D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Papua New Guinea

The D'Entrecasteaux Islands are situated in Milne Bay Province, near the eastern tip of New Guinea in the Solomon Sea. The group spans a distance of 160 km, and is separated from the Papua New Guinea mainland by the 30 km wide Ward Hunt Strait in the north and the 18 km wide Goschen Strait in the south. It comprises the Fergusson, Goodenough, and Normanby islands; mountainous islands with several extinct volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers.

The largest in the group is Fergusson Island which reaches 2073m and has thermal areas with hot springs and bubbling mud pools. The district headquarters is at Esa'ala on Normanby Island, at the entrance to the spectacular Dobu Passage. Reefs close to town are good for snorkelling.

Goodenough Island is spectacularly rugged above a flat coastal plain. In the centre of the island there is a large stone decorated with mysterious paintings. The peaks can be climbed from Lokulokuya Village. Snorkelling anywhere around the coast is rewarding.

Things to See and Do

* Snorkelling
* Hot springs – Fergusson island
* Goodenough island - paintings
* Trekking
* Bird watching

Cruise Season – Jan – Dec
Currency – Papua New Guinean kina (PGK)
Language – English, Tok Pisin, Tawala, Suau,
Land Area – 3,100 km²
Population – 210,000 approx (Milne Bay Province)
Electricity – 2 angled flat pins and 1 round pin centred below Australian style
Time – GMT plus ten hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 675

Port Location – Anchorage is available at most of the larger islands.

Transport Links – Air Niugini and other third level airlines provide flights to Gurney Airport at Altoa from Port Moresby. They also provide connections to Gurney from other centres in PNG.