Rainforest Habitat is a subsidiary of Unitech Development & Consultancy Limited, the business arm of the PNG University of Technology (Unitech). The Rainforest Habitat Guesthouse offers budget accommodation ideal for families, group bookings and back packers, air conditioned conference and training facilities, spacious fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. The Rainforest Habitat itself occupies 3000sqm and houses a mix of animal and vegetation diversity all enclosed under an 11 metre high canopy. The Rainforest Habitat forms part of the Unitech owned Insect Farming and Trading Agency which is a community development project that provides income for over 1200 village farmers and collectors. The Rainforest Habitat also offers tours in Lae and surrounding areas.

BirdQuest, founded in 1981, has an unequalled repertoire of birding tours and combined birdwatching and wildlife holidays and cruises that will appeal to every kind of birder. Our tours are celebrated as the very best available, and we have shown our clients and friends over 10,200 bird species worldwide, more than any other birding tour company (and not that far off the total for all other birding tour companies combined!), as well as an extraordinary variety of mammals and many other fascinating aspects of the natural world.

 UNCHARTED PAPUA NEW GUINEA EXPEDITION

Papua New Guinea Birding Tours: Birdquest has been operating tours to Papua New Guinea for over 30 years, but this phenomenally biodiverse country still conceals hidden avian gems which have been seen only by a handful of intrepid researchers and expeditioners. This special expedition will explore well off the beaten track in search of an enticing array of endemic birds which have previously been considered ‘off-limits’ to world birders, and our adventurous itinerary will certainly break new ground, potentially even rediscovering one or more lost species!

Aqua-Firma always places a special focus on locations which have great terrestrial wilderness and bountiful marine life. Papua New Guinea is a prime candidate with vast areas of both pristine rainforest and coral reef; colourful tribal cultures scattered from high mountains to tropical islands; birds of paradise; volcanoes and more.

A journey to Papua New Guinea cannot possibly feel like ‘doing’ the place. There is so much to explore above and below the water that you will find yourself immersed in a world that time forgot, scratching deep below what feels like an unfathomable surface. No one can possibly say that they know all the corners of Papua New Guinea – it’s simply too difficult to get around.

It is worth quoting a few numbers when describing Papua New Guinea, beginning with Tribal Culture. When we take you into the rainforest, an hour by motor canoe might take you past tribal villages spanning three or four unrelated languages.  Across PNG, there are a total of 848 known languages, spread amongst a modest population of 7 million people. Whilst very much a thing of the past, cannibalism and tribal wars have played a major role in isolating communities and preventing integration. Today, contests are more often settled at a festival where tribes compete for the most elaborate costumes and displays, or take to a patch of grass to play their national sport of rugby league.

First and foremost, we are a small company and plan to keep it that way. 21 years ago, in 1994, we (Ian Green and Fiona Dunbar) started Greentours, from the back bedroom of our flat in Norfolk, where we had both been at University studying Ecology, with one computer and a new fangled phone/fax machine. We still have customers travelling with us who came with us on in our first year, or indeed on our first tour!

Ian, who had already been leading and organising wildlife tours for other companies, noticed a yearning on the part of many of his customers. Those on birding holidays rather wanted to stop and look at the butterflies and flowers that were being passed by, and customers on butterfly trips were covertly sneaking looks at bird books, floras, and even the odd tome on reptiles… Sometimes, there would even be couples with different areas of wildlife interest! Again guided by the desires of our customers, we have more recently started offering our popular photography, wildlife at leisure and Alpine Garden Society tours.

Founding the company

The company’s history stretches back to 25 May 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed as regimental agent to the Foot Guards by his mentor, Lord Ligonier, the commander-in-chief of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. The actual moment of appointment is captured in the allegorical scene shown in the painting above by the well-known military painter David Morier, in which Cox is deliberately positioned as Ligonier’s ‘right hand man’.
Today, Cox & Kings has built on the tradition of high quality service and attention to detail established by Richard Cox more than 260 years ago and it now provides travel arrangements of the highest calibre in many of the most culturally and naturally fascinating parts of the world. The company has extended its expertise to cover Africa, Australasia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Far East, the Indian Ocean, the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East and Canada.Papua New Guinea holidays by Cox & Kings

Papua New Guinea, composed of over 600 islands, lies 100 miles north of Australia. It can be a challenging destination for visitors as tourism is still very much in its infancy, but it is one of the most rewarding destinations in the South Pacific. Little is contrived for tourists and there is a huge range of unique flora and fauna to see. 

One of diving’s last frontiers Papua New Guinea plays host to a collection of the world’s finest reef diving regions. Here deep waters run adjacent to the mainland and neighbouring islands which in turn offers excellent chances of pelagic sightings such as sharks and rays. Combine this with pristine coral reefs and vibrant marine life and you have all the ingredients for a premier dive destination.

Kimbe Bay, Witu and Fathers Reef offer exceptional diving in the shape of huge soft corals and barrel sponges, big fish make for regular sightings in the open ocean north east of Kimbe with silvertips and grey reefs not uncommon.

We’ve handpicked a number of preferred operators throughout the region to offer a scope of the finest diving and land based opportunities. Walindi Plantation Resort is located in Kimbe Bay and is run in conjunction with FeBrina Liveaboard allowing easy access to local sites of New Britain and also the more remote regions of Witu and Father’s Reef.

Tufi Resort is easily accessed from Port Moresby on the north eastern coastline of the country, this is beautifully located resort is surrounded by inlets and dense tropical rainforest and offers superb diving. For land based we can arrange tours inland to Mt Hagan for authentic culture and beautiful topside vistas.

Authentic Experiences for Passionate Travellers

Do you yearn for the open road? Or do you prefer leaving logistics in the hands of an expert guide? Offering everything from escorted small-group holidays led by the best guides in the business to leisurely self drives, or how about a perfectly formed short break? We provide maximum choice and flexibility and we’ve been tailor making spectacular holidays for 35 years. We’ll show you hidden gems and take you on unforgettable adventures. We’ll recommend our favourite, tried-and-tested hotels and suggest itineraries and experiences that reveal the magic of a destination – whether you’ve got a few days to spare or several weeks to immerse yourself in a country.

Papua New Guinea Holidays

Mysterious, magnificent, yet rarely visited, Papua New Guinea can seem both irresistibly exotic and impossibly remote. By joining one of our expedition cruises, however, all logistics are taken care of as you set sail on a voyage rich in culture, history and natural beauty.

Both of our cruises begin with a charter flight from Cairns to Madang in northeast PNG. You have a choice of either a pioneering exploration of the 1,126km Sepik (the longest river in New Guinea) or a wider-ranging cruise along the island’s northern coast which culminates with a crossing of the Coral Sea and disembarkation in Cairns.

Virgin Australia Holidays is the holiday provider of Virgin Australia Airlines.

Enjoy five nights in Port Moresby and an Adventure tour up to eight days to explore Mount Hagen, the Karawari River, the Tari Valley and encounter the famous Huli Wigmen.

Contact Virgin Australia Holidays for more information, call:

In Australia 13 15 16 

Outside Australia +61 7 3295 3000

Sicklebill Safaris birding tours of Papua New Guinea takes you through the Highlands, the island of New Britain, Manus, Port Moresby observing some of the most fascinating birds in the world.

Try the ‘Taste of New Guinea’ tours or the ‘PNG Highlights’ and see a selection of famous and endemic bird life, plus cultural experience tours.

For more information and bookings, email: info@sicklebillsafaris.com or call +61 7 4093 7318

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours offers memorable Papua New Guinea World War Two tours focused on the Battle of Kokoda and the Battle of Milne Bay.

The company’s leading War Historian will walk you through historic battlefield sites taking you back in time and bringing to life WWII memories of courage and sacrifice.

Kokoda Track Tours are available without the trekking. Email info@battlefields.com.au for information and bookings.