Papua New Guinea
Vanimo

Vanimo, the capital of Sundaun Province, sits on a neat little peninsula with beautiful beaches on either side. A pleasant walk around the headland brings the snorkelling enthusiast to several good spots. To the west, wade past vine draped limestone headlands to reach the final resting place of a rusted Japanese landing barge.

Vanimo, 30 kilometres from the Indonesian border is PNG's entry port from Jayapura in Irian Jaya (formerly West Papua). This area of the world has seen little development in international tourism, other than visitors en route from Irian Jaya to other parts of Papua New Guinea, or the intrepid traveller or surfer in search of the perfect wave.

Superb beaches west of Vanimo, towards Wutung attract surf board riders from PNG and overseas during the months of September to January. The 260 kilometre shoreline is pounded by heavy seas caused by the blustery north west winds during December to March. However safe all-year round anchorage can be had in Vanimo. Several little islands lie offshore from the town of Aitape, the only other town in Sandaun Province.

Vanimo has three hotels, the largest of which is the Sandaun Motel. In other parts of the Provincial village accommodation is available and some mission stations also offer simple accommodation.

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Sundaun Province
Sandaun (formerly West Sepik) is a large, underdeveloped province on PNG's northern border with Irian Jaya. Settlement is heaviest in the Aitape area and the Torricelli mountains. Many other areas have no people or scattered settlements. Sandaun has 95 local languages (an average of less than 1400 speakers per language). Transport is very limited. Vanimo has PNG's largest single area of commercial timber. Logging began in 1985 and has brought some side developments. Sandaun is the tok pisin word for sundown - the place where the sun sets last in PNG.

SUMMARY
Population: 139 011 citizens and 906 expatriates.
Land area: 36 300 square km.
Members in Parliament: 5.
Headquarters: Vanirno.

Districts; citizens; major languages:
  • Aitape; 24 750; Sissano, Olo, Warapu, Mountain Arapesh.
  • Amanab; 21 848; Abau, Amanab, Waris, Anggor.
  • Lumi; 28 162; Olo, An, Namie.
  • Nuku; 25 583; Kwanga, Mehek, Au, Yil.
  • Telefomin; 21 319; Oksapmin, Telefol, Tifal, Mianmin.
  • Vanimo; 17 349; Fas, Kilmeri, Vanimo.