Adventures in Milne Bay Papua New Guinea, culture, ecotourism, birdwatching, diving in tropical paradise

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Ecotourism

Milne Bay

Milne Bay is an up & coming eco tourism destination in PNG and is expected to become a model for the rest of the country. There are a number of lodges in the town and quite a few village guest houses coming up. Ecotourism is being developed in the villages focusing on the rainforest, trekking, birdwatching, bat caving, fishing, diving, snorkling, war sites, surfing and cultural sites of interest. The province has the richest marine biodiversity in the world, which is why so many divers come to Milne Bay. There are orchids, marsupials, birds of paradise, mountains, islands, rainforest, waterfalls, hot springs and skull caves as well as a fascinating local history based on missionaries, mercenaries and misfit fortune seekers.

Golden Rules of Ecotourism

The following golden rules for ecotourism have been provided by Conservation International.

As a traveler, you will have an impact on the environment and culture of the place you are visiting. Here are some rules of thumb to make this impact positive!

Keep these Golden Rules in mind when you travel:

Learn about your destination before you get there. Read guidebooks, travel articles, histories, and/or novels by local authors and pay particular attention to customs such as greetings, appropriate dress, eating behaviors, etc. Being sensitive to these customs will increase local acceptance of you as a tourist and enrich your trip.
Follow established guidelines. Ask your ecotour operator, guide and /or the local authorities what their guidelines are for limiting tourism's impact on the environment and local culture. Staying on trails, packing up your trash, and remaining set distances away from wildlife are a few ways to minimize your impact in sensitive areas.
Seek out and support locally-owned businesses. Support local businesses during your ecotravels to ensure maximum community and conservation benefit from your tourist dollars

Red fan coral wall Photo P. Seeto

forest

view

Surf at Nituri Photo Chris Abel surf

Conservation International

CI works in much of Melanesia and its focus is on community-based resource management and conservation. CI has identified one of three remaining major tropical wilderness areas in the world, the New Guinea Tropical Wilderness, as a conservation priority. Their goals are to

Plan on-the-ground conservation of biodiversity corridors.
Strengthen capacity of institutions and local people to protect biodiversity.
Prevent extinction of endangered keystone species.
Promote development of policies and best practices for natural resource management.
Monitor trends in conservation and prevent further degradation of Hotspots and Wilderness Areas.

Traditional net Photo: Jeff Kinch

Photo Jeff Kinch

Birdwatching

Birds found only in Milne Bay Province

Papua New Guinea has over 700 species of birds of which 269 are found in Milne Bay. In Milne Bay there are 107 non-passerines and 162 passerines. Included in the count are 2 cassowaries and 10 birds of paradise. Of those 108 are endemic to PNG and several are only found in Milne Bay Province.

D'Entrecasteaux Island Group Endemic birds:-

Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora)
Curl-crested Manucode (Manucodia comrii)
Papuan Boobook (Ninox theomacha ssp. goldii)
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater (Xanthotis flaviventer ssp.spilogaster)
Papuan Black Myzomela (Myzomela nigrita [variation])

Louisade Archipelago Endemic Birds

Louisades white-eye (Zosterops griseotinctus)
Papuan Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pectorale ssp. nitidum)
Tagula Butcherbird (Cracticus louisiadensis)
Tagula White-eye (Zosterops meeki)
Tagula Meliphaga (Meliphaga vicina)

Goldie's Bird of Paradise

Curl-crested Manucode

Birds found in Milne Bay and other provinces

Bower Birds & Bird of Paradise

The following birds of Paradise and bower birds are also found in Milne Bay:-

Raggiana Bird of Paradise(Paradisaea raggiana)
Streaked Bowerbird(Amblyornis subalaris)
Fawn-brested Bowerbird (Chlamydera cerviniventris)
Lawes' Parotia (Parotia lawesii)

The best time of year to see the bird of paradise is August & September as that is when they are courting and when the males display for the females.

Streaked Bowerbird(Amblyornis subalaris)

Fawn-brested Bowerbird (Chlamydera cerviniventris)

Lawes' Parotia (Parotia lawesii) top left & right and Magnificent Riflebird(Ptiloris magnificus) bottom left

Other Birds

Milne Bay has a rich variety of parrots, palm cockatoo and hornbill plus many more. Back to top

Caves

Alotau area

The area around Alotau has several limestone caves including large caverns which are home to large colonies of bats and smaller 'skull caves' which are receptacles for the skulls of ancestors from pre missionary times. The story I heard was that when somebody important died they were buried up to their necks and a clay pot was put over the head. Once the flesh had rotted away the pot was removed and the skull was taken to a cave near the village.

The 'bat caves' near Alotau are home to 9 species of Bat, several spiders, and cockroaches. When I visited a bandicoot and cane toad were sheltering from the rain in the cave entrance. We were told that during the war many villagers hid inside these caves, which have several large caverns. There are other caves in the area, one of which requires wading through waist deep water to access.

Milne Bay Magic Tours operates tours to both skull caves and bat caves.

Trobriand Islands

The cliffs near the village of Kaibola on (Kiriwina Island) are home to several underwater caves. There are also fresh water caves at Tumalau, Kalopa, Lupwaneta, Neguya, Bolou, Sikau, Kodawa, Kaulasi and Bwaga.

Companies providing eco adventures

Milne Bay Magic Tours

Milne Bay Magic Tours Milne Bay Magic Tours offers Eco Tours to clients wishing to have an authentic PNG experience enriched by the traditional Milne Bay life style. Come and discover the Real Milne Bay, its surroundings, people and culture.

Our special interest tours include:

Bat Caves
Bird Watching
Bush Walks
Leisure Fishing trips
Village experience

Other tours include

The Milne Bay War Relic and History Trail
Wagawaga Discovery includes optional walks to waterfall and moonstones. (the Moonstones refer to a said to be graphical drawings of the Moon on a stone).
East Cape Escape
Islands Tour ( incorporating Samarai and Kwato)
A private Island Retreat.

For enquiries please call 6410 711 or fax 6410 712 or email vickynev@spte.com.pg

Milne Bay Outdoor & Cultural Education Adventures

This year camps will be conducted all year round. A variety of programs for groups of primary students, secondary students and staff. Camps from 5-10 days

Primary

Primary school groups based at a campsite in Wagawaga Village participate in a variety of cultural exchanges and sharing as well as outdoor activities such as snorkelling, bush-walking, canoeing, sailing, fishing, orienteering, initiatives and a challenging ropes course.

Secondary

From Grade 7, students can choose between a variety of experiences either based at Wagawaga Village or moving through the province in groups of 8. Travelling by various means and visiting a variety of villages and places of interest including Samarai Island & Dei Dei Hot Springs. Even a survival night on your own tropical island.

For bookings or more info… Contact Simon Ellis

Ph/fax: 641 0146

Email: simone@online.net.pg

Photo S. Ellis

Snorkelling in a WWII wreck at Wagawaga Photo S. Ellis

Members of Kaikuali Theatre Group Photo S. Ellis

Milne Bay Birdwatching Cruises.

M.V.Marlin 1 operates birding trips to the islands of Milne Bay.
For details check our web site, www.marlin1charters.com.au/birdwatching.html.
Email info@marlin1charters.com.au

Contact Milne Bay Tourism Bureau for more information.

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info@milnebaytourism.gov.pg