Madang Favorites

Favorite thing: Known as the 'prettiest town in the South Pacific', Madang is located along the reef-strewn shore of Astrolabe Bay on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. The clear waters of the Bismarck Sea combined with airplane and ship wrecks makes this area a popular diving attraction for tourists. In addition, the MV 'Melanesian Discoverer', a 42-passenger luxury catamaran is available for cruises to world renowned attractions along the coast in both directions. To the northwest, five-day cruises are available up the Sepik River to experience what life is like in this lush and isolated rain-forest area (the largest remaining one outside of the Amazon). Alternatively, week-long cruises to the southeast will take you to the Trobriand Islands (just visible at the bottom right corner of the map, below the 'n' of 'Solomon'), noted for their beauty and friendly inhabitants.

The map also shows that Madang is linked by road to the central part of the country. After crossing the Finisterre Mountain range behind the town, the road swings east once it reaches the Ramu River valley. It subsequently splits, with which way you go depending on whether you want to continue to Lae on the coastal flats, or swing west up into the Highlands as you head for Goroka and the interior.