New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea
 The
Provincial Centre of Kavieng is situated at the
northern tip of New Ireland. It has often been
described as the typical Somerset Maugham South
Sea island port. It has a large, beautiful harbour
and is a popular destination for sports fishing
enthusiasts and cruising yachts. Along the edge
of the harbour is Nusa Parade, a gently curving
road, shaded by huge trees, which passes many
points of historical interest, the main market,
the port, fisheries and the hospital.
Kavieng is a sleepy little town with a golf course,
a range of restaurants, bars and facilities, including
banks, supply stores, bakeries and supermarkets.
Places to stay include, hotel, guest house and
resort style accommodation, while easy going traditional
style bungalows are situated among the islands
just offshore. Visitors should not expect to come
to Kavieng to experience an abundance of cafés
or restaurants, shopping strips and nightclubs,
as they will be very disappointed.
The main Kavieng Market is situated on the foreshore
and is a central hub of activity most days of
the week, except Sundays. There is a fantastic
variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables,
fresh and smoked fish, live mud crabs, baskets
of sunga and kina shells (types of molluscs like
pipis and cockles), and of course plenty of buai
(betel-nut). Also found in large quantities are
huge trays of tapioca slice made with coconut
milk, sago slice, donuts, rice balls and other
local delicacies. Although generally a produce
market, you will also find woven baskets, locally
printed lap-laps, and hand-made bilums (bags)
available for sale.
Sea breezes keep Kavieng cool and it’s a
pretty and peaceful place to wander around, with
very friendly and welcoming people.
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Places to Eat and Drink
In addition to the Kavieng Market, there are
a variety of Kai Bars (food outlets) in Kavieng
where you can pick up a cheap local-style feed.
The Kavieng Hotel has a bar, complete with pool
table and satellite TV, and a garden setting restaurant
which is open every day of the week for breakfast,
lunch and dinner. The Kavieng Hotel however is
famous for its Friday Night Seafood Buffet with
what seems like an unlimited amount of mud crabs
and crayfish, as well as plenty of fish and other
seafood, salads and vegetable dishes. The Kavieng
Club has a large bar and a billiard room, and
is a relaxing place for a drink after a game of
golf on their 9-Hole Golf Course or a quick snack
for lunch or dinner.
The Malagan Beach Resort is perfectly situated
on the beachfront, and its outside pool decking
area is an excellent place to watch the sun set
whilst enjoying a drink from their bar. Its restaurant
is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and extends
outside to a shaded patio area on the beach. Sunday
night is BBQ Night at the Malagan.
Nusa Island Retreat, only a short 2 minute boat
ride across the harbour, has an excellent bar
and restaurant set right on the beach complete
with sand floor and tables made from coconut trees.
The bar has a great selection of local and imported
spirits, an excellent wine list, and an extensive
Cocktail List. Nusa’s restaurant is open
for breakfast and lunch with a good selection
to choose from off their menu, with buffet dinners
available every night of the week, specialising
in the areas fresh seafood and vegetables.
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Air
Niugini