Morobe Province curves around the tropical waters of the Huon Gulf. The Saruwaged Mountains, rising from the sea at the tip of the Huon Peninsula are blanketed by tangled and impenetrable rainforest. To the south-west, the fertile Markham Valley rests between equally awesome ranges while the waters between Huon Peninsula and New Britain are dotted with volcanic islands.

The hinterland and coast of Morobe Province offers spectacular sightseeing, a wonderland of flora and fauna and numerous walking tracks, particularly near the Wau/Bulolo areas. A network of roads connects the capital city of Lae with Madang to the north west, through the Markham Valley to the Highlands in the west and south to the Highland areas around Wau and Bulolo.

The thriving goldrush town of Wau in the 1930s is now an echo of the past, but visitors eager to safari around the dirt roads, will enjoy the trip to Bulolo with its breathtaking scenery.

Rafting down the Watut River is a five day jaunt through 150 rapids in the Kuper Range, some 3,000 metres above sea level and naturalists will enjoy exploring the McAdam National Park, founded in 1962 with its sanctuary of flora and fauna which preserves hundreds of rare species.

Lae, the second largest city in Papua New Guinea was a tiny mission station before the 1920's gold rush at Wau transformed into a major port and industrial centre. It was the last place to farewell famous pioneering American aviator Emelia Earhart, as she took off on one of the final legs of her round the world flight before disappearing without a trace. Lae was a strategic base for the Japanese during World War II. The graves of thousands of allied soldiers killed in battle can be visited at the Lae War Cemetery, situated within the grounds of Lae's Botanical Gardens.

A tour through the Gardens provides the visitor with a glimpse of life in the rainforest. Huge trees smothered in vines and creepers are home to brightly coloured birds and lizards and a display of exotic orchids. More recently the Rainforest Habitat, occupying an area of over 3,000 square metres, has been purpose built to create a display of some 15,000 native and exotic plants, 21 species of birds including the magnificent Raggiana Bird of Paradise as well as crocodiles, lizards, butterflies, turtles, frogs and fish.

Known as the "Garden City" modern day Lae is an attractive, tropical city well serviced by banks, international standard hotels, department stores, local markets and street stalls selling produce and artefacts. A good collection of artefacts including sand paintings can be seen at the Melanesian Arts Centre and the Morobe Arts and Handcraft shop. The Lae University of Technology also has an artefacts collection of rare and valuable pieces, Sepik carved pillars and a coffee shop built in traditional "haus tambaran" style.

Further afield is the town of Finschafen, first settled in 1885 by the Germans and still a major Lutheran base. Salamaua Beach to the south has excellent swimming, diving, wind surfing, trekking and tours of battle sites, tunnels and war relics. The Labu Lakes across the Markham Valley are home to crocodiles while the beaches on the ocean side around Maus Buang and Labu Tali are breeding sites for the leatherback turtle, weighing up to 500kg and measuring up to two metres in length.

Daily Air Niugini flights connect Lae with most major centres, while second and third level airlines fly regularly from smaller towns. As the Port of Lae services both international and coastal shipping it is possible to reach most northern coastal centres by boat.

Districts; citizens; and major languages:

• Finschhafen; 47 177; Kate, Kube.
• Garaina; 7 541; Guhu-Samane, Biaru-Waria, Gazili.
• Kabwum; 38 685; Kimba, Timbe, Selepet.
• Kaiapit, hq at Mutzing; 36 207; Adzera, Wantoat, Safeyoka.
• Huon, hq at Lae; 149 591; Bukawac, Nabak, Wampar.
• Menyamya; 41 711; Menya, Hamtai, Yagwoia.
• Mumeng; 16 703; Mumeng, Mapos.
• Siassi, hq at Semo; 10 103; Kovai, Mutu, Mangap.
• Wau; 30 038; Hamtai, Biangi.

For more regional information on Huon Gulf, go to:

• Bulolo (Morobe Highlands)
• Lae
• Tufi

For more product information on Huon Gulf, go to:

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