Madang, Papua New Guinea

Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century. The town is said to be one of the prettiest towns in the South Pacific due in part to its dramatic location on the tip of a peninsula encircled by mountains. Madang is also a major cultural center where a variety of tribes come together to take part in the arts trade. Flying foxes also congregate in Madang, with several roosts located right in the downtown area.

This extremely picturesque town is the perfect base for scuba diving and snorkeling expeditions of all experience levels, with abundant populations of sharks, sea turtles, and hundreds of species of nudibranch (brilliantly colorful sea slugs). Especially fascinating are the underwater wrecks of 34 Japanese fighter planes, with weapons and cargo intact.

Madang is also an ideal starting place for many of the tours round the islands and up the Sepik River. It has a variety of shops, hotels, restaurants and markets, where storyboards depicting myths and legends can be bought. In nearby Bilbils and Yabobs, traditional pottery-making can be seen.

Things to see and do
* Scuba diving & snorkeling
* Hiking through the rainforest
* Game fishing
* Cultural Museum
* Shopping at the markets

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – kina (PGK)
Language – English, Pidgin English and Hiri Motu
Land Area – 452,860 km²
Population – 5,800,000
Electricity – 2 Angled pins and 1 flat pin centred below Australian style
Time – GMT plus ten hours
International Country Telephone Code – +675

Port Location – The wharf is located in the centre of the Madang township.

Transport Links – Air Papua New Guinea’s national airline is Air Niugini it is also served by Qantas (QF), amongst others. The main airport is located at Port Moresby is 11km (7 miles) from the city. There are direct flights to Australia and Singapore.: Buses and taxis are available to/from the city (travel time – 20 to 60 minutes).
Main ports: Alotau, Kieta (North Solomons), Lae, Madang, Momote (Manus), Port Moresby, Rabaul (New Britain) and Wewak (Sepik). Passenger/cruise lines running regular services.
There are buses and taxis available for getting around Madang. There is no railway system and driving is not recommended.