Must-sees Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
A trip to Papua New Guinea is more than a getaway or a journey to the ends of the earth: it's an opportunity for a real voyage of discovery. Excursions deep into abundant nature, diving in the pure waters of the Coral Triangle, learning about cultures passed down over the generations... Travellers will be amazed by each island before feeling deeply touched.
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Essential Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
The islands of Melanesia are as fascinating to geologists attracted by the volcanic activity of the Pacific Ring of Fire as they are to ethnologists intrigued by the cultural traditions still widely practised by the local populations, who have been living in quasi self-sufficiency for millennia, and to biologists captivated by the incredible terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Here are some key tips about how to prepare for exploring these pearls of the South Pacific.
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Explore Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
Must-sees Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
A trip to Papua New Guinea is more than a getaway or a journey to the ends of the earth: it's an opportunity for a real voyage of discovery. Excursions deep into abundant nature, diving in the pure waters of the Coral Triangle, learning about cultures passed down over the generations... Travellers will be amazed by each island before feeling deeply touched.
See the erupting Mount Yasur - Tanna Island, Vanuatu
Mount Yasur is a Vanuatu icon. Its grey outline can be seen from a distance thanks to the plumes of smoke emerging from its crater. 400 metres in diameter, it erupts continuously. This smoke and the glowing lava the volcano shoots out probably guided the British explorer James Cook to Tanna Island in 1774. Mount Yasur is safe for visitors to go up, despite the rumbling noises that come from inside.
Marvel at Espiritu Santo Island - Vanuatu
This is the biggest island in the Vanuatu archipelago and one of the most beautiful too. Espiritu Santo charms visitors with its extraordinary scenery. White-sand beaches melt into turquoise waters, lagoons tempt you to swim and dive, lush vegetation sometimes opens out into little sapphire lakes called "blue holes", leaving you flabbergasted. The Ni-Vanuatu people carry on traditions here, which they share in the form of dance, music and song.
Follow in the footsteps of La Pérouse - Vanikoro Island, Solomon Islands
In 1788, La Boussole and L’Astrolabe (the two ships involved in the expedition led by French explorer Jean-François de La Pérouse) were shipwrecked off Vanikoro. For many years, a number of sailors tried and failed to locate the wrecks. They were only formally identified in 2005. A monument now pays tribute to the 200 or so crew members who set out from Brest in Brittany in 1785. Although we now know that unmapped reefs caused these vessels' demise, the island is a little piece of heaven nevertheless.
Discover an unspoilt paradise - Lusancay Islands, Papua New Guinea
To the far east of New Guinea island, Milne Bay is home to an archipelago where few travellers have the chance to stop off. Far from human activity and the world's depravities, the Lusancay Islands still have their original charm and provide a setting that encourages a sense of tranquillity. Surrounded by coral reefs, calm turquoise waters lap at fine-white-sand beaches... This is the perfect place for a private swim in a little corner of paradise.
Get away from it all at the ends of the earth - Tufi, Papua New Guinea
An aerodrome, a single road with two or three shops selling essential items, no phone network, a few locals who live off fish... On New Guinea's north coast, Tufi feels like the unspoilt ends of the earth. The main transport used is the outrigger. In remote villages in the lush hills, ways of life and customs follow the pace of the rising and setting sun in harmony with nature. Nature is ever-present and magnificent: the Tufi peninsula is made up of a network of five fjords, volcanic in origin, that stretch 150 metres high.
Swim with whale sharks - Cenderawasih Bay, Papua New Guinea
Set between Indonesian Papua and West Papua (New Guinea), Cenderawasih Bay has many inhabited islands and is famous for its fish-filled waters. It is home to a large population of whale sharks: the biggest fish in the world. When the conditions are right, swimming among them makes for an unforgettable experience. In the heart of the Coral Triangle and part of the Bird's Head Seascape, a marine biodiversity centre, this unspoilt environment is ideal for lovers of diving. Over 600 coral species and 1,700 fish species have been seen here.
Immerse yourself in traditional cultures
Papua New Guinea has more ethnic groups than any other country, with several hundred living here. Each has its own rites of passage and traditions, which explains the variety of dances, masks and traditional customs found in the different villages. On Kopar, Asai, Madang and the Trobriand Islands, travellers are given welcome dances originating in ancestral customs.
Essential Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands
The islands of Melanesia are as fascinating to geologists attracted by the volcanic activity of the Pacific Ring of Fire as they are to ethnologists intrigued by the cultural traditions still widely practised by the local populations, who have been living in quasi self-sufficiency for millennia, and to biologists captivated by the incredible terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Here are some key tips about how to prepare for exploring these pearls of the South Pacific.
Unique features
For centuries, treasure hunters and all kinds of explorers were fascinated by a mystery. In 1785, Jean-François La Pérouse's vessels La Boussole and L’Astrolabe left the Port of Brest in Brittany. Both were shipwrecked three years later off the coast of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands. The boats were only formally identified in 2005 by the Solomon Association created in the 80s in New Caledonia. In 2003, the skeleton of "l’inconnu de Vanikoro" (the unknown Vanikoro man) was brought up from the depths of the Pacific. He is now at Brest Marine Museum.
Gastronomy
Papua New Guinea's inhabitants mainly eat the fruit and vegetables grown locally: mostly sweet potato, taro, sago, breadfruit, banana, papaya, mango and coconut. The villages near the sea or rivers are the only ones to eat fish. Elsewhere, chicken and pork are the most common meats.
Myths and legends
The Iatmul people of Papua New Guinea believe the crocodile to be a sacred animal. Legend has it that a giant crocodile was responsible for creating the Earth: it supposedly swished its tail to bring an island out of the water. The animal's symbolism remains so strong that any young men who want to be part of their village elite must scratch scales into their chest, back and shoulders.
In the spotlight
In 2006, Paris's National Museum of Natural History, the Research Institute for Development and the NGO Pro-Natura International launched Santo 2006 on Espiritu Santo island in Vanuatu. Involving 160 researchers from 25 countries, this was the biggest international science mission ever undertaken. Over a period of four months, they surveyed the sea bed and the forest canopy to list 10,000 animal species, 400 flowering plant and tree species and 350 fungus species.
Culture
Books. Poetic, full of imagery, dense... Les Contes des sages de Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée (Wise Men's Tales from Papua New Guinea) is a book packed with revelations for anyone who doesn't know this folklore. It is an original way to learn more about this culture, understand the links between humans and nature and find out about the range of animals that appear in these stories.
Music. To the north of Vanuatu, the women have the secret to "water music". This practice handed down from mother to daughter is supposed to have arisen during bath times and laundry sessions. Immersed to the waist, several female musicians hit the water with their arms, creating symphonic and poetic sounds.
Facts and figures
800It is estimated that over 800 different languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea: over 10% of the total number spoken in the world. However, most are spoken by fewer than 1000 people.
