Would appreciate information on the Conflict Islands and Kiriwina

[SusieKIslandGirl]

If you've been to either of these ports, I would appreciate suggestions on what is available for excursions. I do realize that the ports are not the standard, busy stops. Thanks!

[willsaway]

Perhaps post on the Pacific Islands forum? PNG isn't in Asia so doubt you'll find many answers here. I'm headed to the Conflict Islands in a couple of months, they sound beautiful. 

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Thanks. Didn’t think about the different forum. Have been researching mostly Singapore.

[SinbadThePorter]

Kiriwina doesn't really have excursions. It's an island with a beach and a village. No tourist infrastructure except for the jetty where the tender drops you off.

 

When a cruise ship turns up, there is usually a big market setup by the locals of carvings and weavings. The carvings are made by the men and the weavings by the women. It is not customary to haggle as in the local culture this is considered to be rude. Always bring Kina as it is very difficult for the locals to exchange any other currency. 5 Kina notes are very handy.

 

There is also a singsong put together by the village. If you attend you are expected to make a donation.

 

There is sometimes a BBQ of big fish on the beach, but I don't know the details.

 

You can get canoe rides from the kids there, who for 5 Kina will take you for a paddle or else out to the deeper water for snorkeling. You can snorkel off the beach, although it can be tricky at low tide, but the better coral is further out.

 

The Conflict Islands are an understated tourist resort. Only one of the islands is the actual resort. The main thing is snorkeling as it has some of the best easily accessible coral in the South Pacific. There are the usual tourist trappings, snacks, drinks etc, which can only be paid for by credit card. I would recommend getting on the ship excursion to the pontoon for snorkeling.

[LSegars]

Conflct Islands are privately owned with no services. There was one exersion last year when we were there it was to a raft from which we could snorkel a very nice coral reef. Otherwise you could just swim off the beach.

[Dididi]

Sinbad, thank you for the suggestion about the reef pontoon tour in the Conflict Islands.  We took the tour while on the P&O Pacific Encounter last month.  The reef near the pontoon was a marvel: so many fish, so many different fish and the coral looked very healthy. It was comparable to snorkeling in Bonaire.  Much better than what we saw in Fiji last year, which was fine but the Conflict Islands reef was wow!

 

In Conflict Islands, you take a short tender ride to a 50-meter removable floating pier (with handlebars) to walk to shore.  There several wood buildings to the right of the pier: bar, souvenir shop, restrooms, and the tour/equipment rental desk.  You check-in for the tours at that desk and can pick up snorkeling gear (noodles, masks and fins) if you didn't bring your own, even rash guards (we were in an early morning tour to the reef so borrowed rash guards with lining as the water was still relatively cold).  You then take a short boat ride from the shore (a small pier near the removable pier) to the pontoon/platform by the reef.  Although the tickets state that you're on the reef for an hour, boats to/from shore come at intervals.  No one was rushed back -- this might happen if you go out in the afternoon but wasn't our experience in the morning.

 

Snorkeling near the pier was more hit or miss in terms of live coral and fish.  

 

We rented a see-through kayak, which was fun.  We also walked to the sandbar at the end of the beach that extends to near the reef pontoon and a nearby island.  Beautiful.

 

In sum, I second Sinbad's advice to pay for the reef pontoon snorkeling tour.