Things to do in Madang Province
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Ramu River
After Bogia is a series of old coconut plantations, now home to many Manam Island relocation camps. Villagers have cut patches into the plantations to grow their gardens. Eventually the road narrows to a single-lane track and ends at a small, deep tidal river. If you are not up for swimming, hail the villagers on the other side for a lift in their canoe. To walk to the Ramu River mouth either follow the inland footpath through a swamp then onto the beach, or head for the beach directly.
The Ramu is too large to swim, so wave and shout madly to the folks in the fishing camp on the western shore.
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Eden Restaurant
Admittedly, this restaurant doesn't make much of a first impression; it's right on the foreshore but cleverly designed to have no views at all. But people don't come for the view, they come for the fantastic lunchtime specials (around K12) and a bowl of fiery seafood laksa (curry noodles) that's guaranteed to knock your socks off. The dinner mains come in three sizes and made to share - bring your friends.
For the views, stroll on through to the Madang Country Club's clubhouse and buy yourself a beer.
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Madang Resort Hotel Melanesian Tourist Services
Runs village tours to the south coast stopping at lookout points, war memorials and Bilbil village to buy pottery. Their harbour cruise uses banana boats to visit the rusting wreckage of Japanese landing craft and take in coral viewing through glass-bottomed boxes at Krangket Island.
Also operating out of Madang Resort is the new MTS Suwannee River, a 98-foot, luxurious live-aboard boat that is available for dive and fishing charters.
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Bogia
Bogia is 185km northwest of Madang and the departure point for Manam Island. The road is sealed all the way to Bogia but peters out a short distance thereafter before the mighty Ramu River. At Bogia Bay, a Japanese Zero fighter lies upside down in the water a few hundred metres out from the jetty. Bogia town is a pretty place - the crystal-clean waters of the bay and the numerous traditional villages make it an ideal place to lose a few days.
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Snorkelling & Diving
Excellent visibility, stunning tropical coral and fish life and countless WWII wrecks make the diving and snorkelling around Madang world famous. Local favourites include Barracuda Point, Magic Passage, Planet Rock and Eel Gardens. There's also good snorkelling just off Lion's Reserve Beach and off the rocks at Madang Lodge and Smugglers Inn Resort, but watch the swell and the tides because the rocks, coral and sea urchins can be hazardous.
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Watam
If you are heading up the Ramu ask the men around here about boat departures otherwise continue walking along the coast (low tide only), through Marangis village, to Watam. Due to its strategic position, it is not surprising that Watam is one of the bigger villages in the area. Ask around for Felix Eddie who speaks excellent English and is knowledgeable on this area. From Watam, banana boats regularly leave for Angoram on the Sepik River.
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Coastwatchers' Memorial Beacon
The 30m-high Coastwatchers' Memorial beacon, visible 25km out to sea, is a reminder of those who stayed behind enemy lines during WWII to report on Japanese troop and ship movements. It's a rather ugly concrete memorial, but the 3km beach-front road south of the memorial is the most pleasant walk in Madang, fringed by palm trees and poincianas and backed by the golf course with fine views across Astrolabe Bay.
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Hansa Bay
Hansa Bay is a popular diving spot past Bogia, where the wreckage of 35 Japanese freighters and US aircraft lie in a shallow harbour. The upper deck of the 6000-ton Shishi Maru lies in just 6m of water, two anti-aircraft guns on the bow point upwards and brass shell castings litter the deck. Two fire engines are sitting in the hold, just before the bridge, where they were waiting to be unloaded.
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Aquaventures PNG
Aquaventures at Jais Aben Resort won a PADI environmental award for raising locals' awareness of reef ecology and sustainable fishing practices. If you dive the nearby Mitchell B-25 bomber, ask to read their folder of information about the wreck. The brutally brief 'lost-in-action' telegrams are quite moving. Aquaventures comes highly recommended.
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Davit Wreck
Hansa Bay also has some spectacular wreck dives. A Japanese freighter has one davit projecting from the water (known as the Davit Wreck); it was sunk in 1943 by US bombers. You can swim through the wreck, which makes this an exciting dive in only 12m of water. The Madang dive shops organise dives to Hansa Bay and other north-coast sites.
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Niugini Diving Adventures
The equipment here is older than that of Aquaventures. Night diving is available. Niugini runs PADI open-water certification (around K1000), snorkelling cruises and one-day, two-dive packages (around K220 to around K290) of which the combination wreck/reef dive gives you the best of both worlds. You can also hire gear from both shops.
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Karkar Volcano
The Karkar Volcano erupted violently in 1974 and again in 1979, killing two vulcanologists. It takes 12 hours return to climb the crater (1831m); bring plenty of sunscreen to combat the heat that bounces off the bare basalt and seek permission from the villagers as the crater has religious significance.
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Madang Museum
The local Madang museum is small but fascinating. Look for the ceremonial headdress from Bosmum village on the Lower Ramu River. These are worn during the 'cleansing of the blood', the time in which blood is drawn from a boy's tongue and penis as part of an initiation rite to manhood (ouch!).
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Market
Bilbil clay pots are a local speciality, Highlanders come down with some bilums (string bags) and hats, and you'll see Bukaware and items from the Sepik. Have a look through the market, which also has fruit and vegetables as well as some clothing, and local shell jewellery.
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Manam Island
In 2004 the Manam Island volcano erupted displacing 6000 people who fled to the safety of the mainland. Only 2000 or so have returned. It is possible to visit the still-smoking island and explore the carnage. Anua Negu Lodge can arrange a speed boat to run you there and back.
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Mast Wreck
Near the Davit Wreck, in 10m of water, is the Mast Wreck, with its mast protruding from the water; there is a gun on the bow, ammunition on the deck and a field artillery piece in the hold. The Madang dive shops organise dives to Hansa Bay and other north-coast sites.
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Manubyai Cave
About 20km on from Malolo, there's a Catholic mission at Magiya. Beyond here is a road leading inland about 5km to Aronis. A kilometre from the main village is an aid post, near which is Manubyai Cave, home to a colony of horseshoe bats.
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Madang Country Club
For golf enthusiasts, the Madang Country Club is the place to stomp some divots. Madang Resort and Coastwatchers Hotel are both corporate members of this beachside, nine-hole course and the clubhouse is a great place for a beer.
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black-sand beaches
The black-sand beaches along the coast are indicative of volcanic activity on Karkar and Manam Islands. There's good swimming, but watch the currents. The 1996 film production of Robinson Crusoe was filmed around here.
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Cemetery
On an overgrown grassy mound in the centre of town is the old Cemetery. Tombstones have fallen over and become illegible with time, but it's an interesting reminder of the German and Australian colonial days.
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Salemben
Salemben is a small village about a three-hour drive from Madang inland over rough roads from Malolo. At 900m above sea level, the area is home to many birds of paradise and a nice guesthouse.
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Haus Win Restaurant
This restaurant, located in the Madang Resort Hotel and Kalibobo Village Resort, has an excellent international menu, a seafood buffet on Saturdays and a Sunday barbeque sizzle.
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Madang Club
Get here early to secure a table on the small harbourside veranda. The predominately Chinese/Malay lunch-time specials are very popular.
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Laing Island
There's some marine-biology research happening on Laing Island in Hansa Bay, a beautiful island with white beaches and good snorkelling.
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Cash & Carry
The large Cash & Carry stocks pretty much everything you might need, including bush knives, kerosene lamps, food, and clothing.
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