Papua New Guinea
Wewak (East Sepik)
Wewak is an attractive palm-fringed town which felt the might of Japanese troops who 'discovered' its isolation and its hidden ports around Kairiru Island. Many war memorials remain around the outskirts of the plantations and a Japanese gun still points from the eastern end of the island.

 
Wewak, with its palm fringed beaches is the main town of East Sepik. Not far from Wewak is Cape Wom, the site of the Japanese surrender where Lieutenant General Adachi signed the surrender documents and handed his sword to Major General Robertson on 13th September 1945. A war memorial marks the site and the wartime airstrip is still in place. Another memorial in town has been erected at the site of the Japanese war graves and nearby is the Japanese/PNG Peace Park.

Accommodation in Wewak, while not luxurious, provides adequate facilities as a base for day trips to one of the fifteen islands off the coast of Wewak. Ideal tropical islands become a reality when you travel by boat to Kairuru Island with its waterfalls and hot springs. Swimming and snorkelling are superb in these clear turquoise waters. Diving is simply spectacular. Virtually unknown and untouched, the waters and reefs display an abundance of sea life-turtles, sharks, manta rays, tuna, corals as well as sunken wrecks from WWII.

Further afield is Wuvulu Island. Acclaimed as one of the greatest dive sites of the world, Wuvulu rises straight up from an undersea plateau 2000 metres deep. As there are no rivers or creeks the water is uncommonly clear. There is a guest house on the island and dive equipment is available. Wet season is April to November. From September to January the unprotected beaches along the coastline bring surf-board riders from around the country and overseas to surf one of PNG's few surf spots.

Wewak has a pier for overseas and coastal shipping. With 32 airstrips, much of East Sepik is accessible by air and Air Niugini has daily flights from Port Moresby to Wewak.