hey everybody,

i plan to hop over to the Papua-jungle in july. just out of curiousity i was wondering if somebody ever had a ride in Papua, also the indonesian part and could share informations about roads, if there are some, and shipping-opportunities!

thanx folks,
sabine

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I've never had a bike there, but I spent a month touring around a decade or two ago. Here's the basic outline:

There are few roads, mostly localized. Other travel is by air or boat--open ocean or river. You know this already, right? But since all manufactured goods need to get places, there's always a way to get it done, if you're patient.

Travel is expensive because there's little infrastructure--prices are at least at Australian levels, sometimes higher. You probably know this, too.

There's a lot of crime. A lot. I say this having traveled throughout Africa, South America, etc. You know this, too, right?

Where there are actual roads (like up to the Highlands), they tend to operate in Developing-World-Standard ways--shared taxis, no traffic rules, pedestrians and carts mixed with fast-moving buses and trucks, etc. There were new logging roads being cut through virgin jungle at a ferocious rate when I was there, so for all I know this has all changed by now.

It is HOT in the lowlands. But for some unknown reason, it gets even HOTTER in Jayapura after you cross the border (which I heard is soon to be road-accessible, by the way).

Take all the above with a grain of salt, since it's old information....but I will add that this is not the sort of place I'd bring a bike--too much trouble with limited payback. However, it's an amazing place to travel otherwise--by river, especially.

Hope that's helpful. Have fun and report back!

Mark

Mr Boorman (sic) was over there last year doing yet another of his celebrated motorcycle travels so he could (ghost)write yet another book. You'll find it on the web.

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

thx for the info, i try to get as much as possible...anybody who knows anything please contact!
i am creating a route through the irian java jungle all the way to lae right now by puzzling together some different maps i found. every map has totally different "roads"!


cheers
sabine

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Hi
Look for Frank Butler or here in the HUBB (I don’t know his nickname here) he use to live and ride there and is now on a RTW (in OZ now I guess)
Saludos

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

Hi Sabine,
Just wondering if you got to Papua New Guinea ???
would love to here some stories of the journey
I am planning to be there start of next year, where
did you ship from and also did you use Swire shipping
PNG Service - Swire Shipping
or somebody else.
cheers
joe



Hi Javier,
Long time no see, hope all is well with you
would you have an email for Frank ???
thanks
joe
ps a few more Irish friends will be heading
your way end of the year and thanks for taking
care of the lads that have been there already
hope you enjoyed the Irish whiskey

Hola Jose
Yep, a long time... we are well and always remember you,
also we have your “little” flag in preferable place.
If you see Frank’s website (link I provide before) there at the bottom is his Email.
Aléjate de los Canibales alli, les gustan los blanquitos!!!
Hugs and Regards Mate

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

Hola Javier y Sandra
didnt see Franks email address
found it now

Dont worry i'll be careful...

muchas gracias
jose el celta

i have recently return from papua new guinea about a month ago and i was wondering the same question.

i saw one expat in lae who had a gs 650 dakar, but apart from that there were only a few small bikes riden by locals. there weren't bearly any tourists there when i visited. maybe because so many people still consider it very unsafe. even many of the expats consider most of png unsafe. but the people are the friendlyest most generous people i have ever met and i have met a few(been to 54 countries).

there is only really one road in png and that is the highland hwy. most other travel is by air (very expensive) or boat (the largest passenger shipping company, rabaul shipping just stopped taking foreigners) the road itself is amazing winding through great mountain ranges. but the road quality is poor and the trucks and busses rarely stick to one side of the road. but if you went slowly the ride would be great.

some of the other limitations are that at night the roads and larger towns become unsafe. almost every truck and bus has its windscreen smashed from 'raskols' throwing rocks at passing cars.

one big advantage is that every guest house has big fences which allow guest to park thier cars in safety, so you wouldn't have to worry about your bike during the night.

riding the highland hwy is something i would love to do in the future, its looks amazing! there are quite a few risks associated with it, but as long as you manage them accordingly it would be a ride of a lifetime.