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There is such diversity of language, culture and landscape in Papau New Guinea that visitors are well rewarded. The dramatic volcanic landscape is interspersed with fertile valleys and surrounded by hundreds of small islands. This mountainous landscape lead to separate populations developing in isolation of each other and has resulted in one of the most culturally diverse and fascinating countries on the planet.
The population can be roughly divided into four groups: the Islanders, Highlanders, New Gineans and Papuans. However the cultural differences within each group are quite considerable.
Despite European contact in the 16 th Century, some communities lay undisturbed until the 1950s. Gold prospectors in the 1930s searching what was thought to be an inhospitable area in the Highland region discovered over a million people living in a fertile valley.
Adventure-seekers will also be well rewarded with challenging white water rafting, trekking, canoeing and some of the best diving in the Pacific region. There are also plenty of reminders of the region's part in the two World Wars with many wrecks dotted around. |
