Let’s say you want to go somewhere new for vacation this year; somewhere serene and beautiful to be in touch with the nature and enjoy a quiet life.
Before you can say a vacation anywhere in Papua New Guinea will satisfy this desire, note also, that not every province gives the same experience.
Kimbe, the capital of the province of West New Britain in Papua New Guinea, is located in New Britain, the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago.
In contrast to the popular tourist destination of East New Britain, West New Britain is virtually untouched, unexplored and unknown.
The capital is a port town on the great Kimbe Bay which boasts more than 60 percent of the coral species of the entire Indo-Pacific. This bustling town of Kimbe is the third largest port in Papua New Guinea and is the fastest growing city in the South Pacific.
With readily available accommodation at either Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe Bay Hotel or Liamo Reef Resort, you may find that peace of mind, you’ve been longing for.
All you have to do is get on that flight to Hoskins airport, and many fun activities await you:
Diving and snorkelling
Kimbe Bay is set in a tropical setting with coral reefs and live-aboard diving expeditions that attract tourists world-wide.
Scientists have identified more than 900 species of fish and 400 species of coral in the Kimbe Bay area.
The best seasons are mid-August to late-December and between February and May/June. Diving is ideal for intermediate to advanced divers and there is good snorkelling as the reef tops are shallow.
The clear waters are excellent for photography and there is often a chance to swim with dolphins.
Walindi Plantation Resort offers land-based diving but also operates a live-aboard vessel.
Kayaking
Walindi Plantation Resort also presents the dive experience combined with Kayaking. Kayaks are available to paddle out and explore the nearby reefs just a few hundred meters from the shore or along the coastline and see the iridescent blue and red kingfishers dropping in for lunch and bright reefs right at the beaches edge.
Fishing
There is good fishing in the area. Fishing tours are organized by the Liamo Resort (in Kimbe), which operates the Baia Fishing Lodge.
Sport fishing enthusiasts will make a beeline for this spot, a reputable, high-standard fishing lodge in remote Baia that attracts Ernest Hemingway fans.
The numerous river systems are home to the infamous black bass and spot tail bass, and the neighbouring coral reefs are a playpen for reef and pelagic species, including tuna, wahoo, giant trevally, marlin and sailfish among the prime catches.
There's a minimum stay of four nights. Prices include fishing gear, boat and guide, as well as transfers to Hoskins airport (about 4½ hours by boat).
Apart from the ultimate freshwater trophy fish, Baia Sport Fishing also offers wonderful family trips, including a whole variety of activities. Whether it is a fishing trip or a family trip, it will be an experience you won't forget.
The surrounding ocean also provides excellent blue water fishing for a variety of tropical species.
Hiking/Trekking/Walking
Apart from diving from day boats or live-a-boards, Walindi Plantation Resort presents the best opportunity for outdoor activities, given its location. The outdoor types, might want to consider trekking up the active Mt Garbuna. It is one of the active volcanic cones encircling Kimbe Bay. The area also offers excellent bird-watching possibilities.
The resort offers a three and half hour trail hike up to the dormant crater that burps a sulphurous cloud from time to time through lush rainforest, where huge trees with outrigger roots like fins on a rocket, rise to form a dense canopy.
The innumerable species of flora and fauna here puts New Britain and the whole of PNG on the top of naturalists and scientists lists.
Walindi’s route will take you on a gentle climb through the rainforest up to the crater, crossing crystal clear creeks that teem with freshwater fish and invertebrates.
Thermal Pools:
Due to the volcano presence, associated geothermal activity produces hot springs and geysers. For relaxing and a good time, these are one of those “don’t miss” activity when in Kimbe. A very recent review on tripAdvisor reads:
“Be sure to visit the hot springs - you get to see a bit of the countryside on the way there and skin and hair feel silky smooth after you come out!”
If you’re at Walindi Plantation Resort, it is just an hour’s drive up to the numerous thermal pools with boiling mud, bright geologic precipitants like bright yellow sulphur and neon green copper deposits and the possibility of a geyser spout. Basking here is like taking a trip back through time when dinosaurs ruled the hot and humid earth.
Garu Hot River
Yes! Even better, there is a hot river.
Hidden in the verdant West New Britain Jungle, just 40 minutes drive from Walindi Resort, runs the Garu Thermal River, an emerald green stream fed by a volcanic spring with therapeutic properties.
Surrounded by towering trees, giant ferns and vibrant green vegetation, the raw and natural beauty of this unique environment is simply breathtaking when you first step into it. The sight of the steam rising above the crystal clear water in this isolated jungle, gives the impression of a mysterious and magical place forgotten by time.
The water temperature is about 43 degree Celsius (around 110 Fahrenheit). If you need to relax, it's well worth dipping your toes in the Garu Hot River. Waters are comfortably warm and there's a mini-waterfall.
To feel completely rejuvenated, treat your body to a natural exfoliating treatment with the special red mud found along the riverbanks.
Bird Watching
They say a bird-watching tour to PNG is not complete without a visit to the Bismarck Archipelago. This geological hot spot holds many endemic species and contributes significantly to the bird diversity of the New Guinea region.
Walindi has had extensive experience in the bird-watching business, offering the best location for exploring the north coast of New Britain and the Bismarck Sea with comfort.
Tours, available for the seasoned birder or the amateur enthusiasts, are offered to nearby rainforests and small islets in Kimbe Bay for a host of exotic Bismarck and New Britain endemics. One route takes guests west through a preserve where most of New Britain’s endemic land species can be seen flying over the road in or flitting on branches above as you walk through trails that cross white-lined steaming thermal creeks and sparkling cool streams. The other route heads west near Talasea to a clearing where iridescent green male and red female Eclectic parrots and the endemic Blue-eyed Cockatoo screech at one another while hopping treetops with an occasional Horned bill fly-by. Exciting species include the Heinroth's Shearwater, Nicobar Pigeon, Blue-Eyed Cockatoo, twenty pigeons and doves, nine kingfishers including the Black-Headed Paradise-Kingfisher and a host of little known passerines.
The liveaboard, the 25m MV FeBrina, is available for extended trips in search of extremely rare pelagic seabirds, such as Beck's Petrel, Tahiti Petrel, Japanese Storm and Arctic Petrels, most Shearwaters including Heinroths's, Tropic Birds and occasionally Fiji Petrels. Land excursions are also available from the boats.
Oil palm plantation
West New Britain at times, is locally called the Oil Palm Province, after its vast Oil Palm plantations that have been in existence since colonial days.
It is the pride and wealth of the province. And PNG’s richest export crop lines New Britain’s coastline, available to culinary and cleaning buffs (palm oil is used for cooking and soap products).
A drive to either Numondo, Mosa or Kumbango plantation, one can see the process of extracting oil from the largest oil producing plant in the world (30 percent of the palm berry), which yields up to 35 tonnes of fruit per hectare.
Helicopter ride
Sometimes, seeing something from a different angle might just give you that breath-taking view. Heli Nuigini Kimbe offers helicopter rides to float above the volcano for a birds-eye view of the crater or see above the vast stretches of Oil palms and pristine rainforest or zip along the coast to see different local settlements both on the mainland and out on tiny satellite islands.
Walindi has a private heli-pad to pick guests up and bring them back right to their front door step. A trip to New Britain PNG isn’t complete until one sees it from all angles above and below.
Fun with bioluminescence
You will be blown away if you allow nature to shed its light on you.
You’ve just got to try have some fun with bioluminescence, which can be seen both above and below water.
A night dive or snorkel will bring out ocean bioluminescence like a supersonic trip through space, brightly streaming stars twinkle by your mask.
On land, this experience will get you floating through the milky-way. If you’re a guest at Walindi, follow the walking path through Walindi heading towards the research station next door. A sight of twinkling lightning bugs will astound one with wondering how they all blink in unison turning giant Malass and other rainforest trees into a pulsing Christmas tree. With torches and flashlights off one will be enamoured with brightly glowing miniature mushrooms and a blanketing fungi that makes some leaves and roots glow.
Unique, is it? You will have your own story to tell if you visit the place.
(Contents were sourced from: Wikipedia, Kimbe Travel Guide – Wikitravel, Trip Advisor, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority: West New Britain Province, Lonely Planet and Best of PNG. Photograph of Kimbe Bay coral reefs by David Doubilet)