Aitape Getting there & around

Getting there & away

There are two airstrips: Tadji and Aitape. Tadji airstrip, where most flights land, is 10km out of town. There’s nothing at the grass strip except a windsock and guy with a two-way radio, and even he goes away between flights. The airstrip was the scene of much activity during WWII when the Australian Air Force flew Bristol Beaufort bombers from it – the original tarmac can still be seen in places through the vegetation.

The road between Wewak and Aitape is very rough and closed during the occasional bad wet season. In Wewak ask around the PMV stop opposite the town wharf for the next truck heading to Aitape (K60, twice weekly).

Banana boats travel from Aitape to Vanimo (K90 to K100), but this is a dangerous undertaking in rough weather when they often sink. Luship and Star Ships boats call in here on their runs between Wewak and Vanimo.