Extended Tours
8 Day MILNE BAY ADVENTURE
Min Pax 4…..Max Pax 10
We have put a lot of thought into this trip and we know you are going to love it. It is the perfect remedy to city life and it takes in some of the best diving, snorkelling, traditional culture and scenery in Milne Bay.
We cater to both divers and non-divers and there is plenty to see and do. There is also plenty of time to just chill out and enjoy the timeless beauty of the area. This trip really does have something for everyone...
Every trip is different as we personalise activities to suit the group, however a typical itinerary would look something like this:
Tour starts on a Sunday and ends on Sunday. Fly in/out from Brisbane or Cairns.
- Arrive Alotau: Airport pick-up, meet and greet, general info about Milne Bay, short tour of town and its facilities and set up dive gear.
Spend night in Alotau at choice of accommodation (see below).
- Early start: meet at the jetty for a good coffee, load up the boat and head out of the bay towards Nuakata Island.
We do 2 dives/snorkels on the way (eg Killerton Island, Sullivan Patches, plane wreck....)
Lunch on the way.
Arrive Nuakata Island (Gudi Bay) in the afternoon. Settle into camp. Meet the local villagers.
Spend night at Gudi Bay – enjoy some local music in the evening.
- Wake up in your island camp. Big breakfast then straight into some amazing diving.
There are a number of great dive sites around Nuakata including Black and Silver, Trish's Bommie, Bob's Bommie, Tunnel Reef, Jason's Reef, Peer's Reef and Boirama Reef.
Spare time can be spent walking, canoeing, kayaking, learning local crafts etc around Nuakata Island. Or just chill out in your room or on a hammock strung up in the trees over the water...
Spend night at Gudi Bay – optional night walking tour.
- Same as day 3. Visit different dive sites. Try some different spare time activities.
Have lunch on a nearby island that has a sandy beach and great snorkelling.
Spend the night at Gudi Bay – Big local food cook-up with our awesome hosts.
- Jump onto the boat as we head to the southern side of Milne Bay (approx 2.5hrs).
Our destination is the P38 lightning aircraft that was ditched in the protected waters of Basilaki Island. On the way we stop for a dive or snorkel at Grant island.
We arrive at Basilaki for lunch on the boat before diving the P38 wreck.
This is also a great place to take one of our sea kayaks for a paddle to explore the island.
Tonight we are staying in the local village where one of our dive master’s family lives. The village is located a short walk up a hill on the side of the island. This is a great chance to forget about the trappings of city living and get a taste of real Milne Bay life. Our hosts will make you feel at home as we stay in traditional huts amongst the rainforest with camp mattresses and a mozzie net.
- Back on the boat for a stunning cruise through the passage between Baslilaki and Sideia Island.
Today we splash out for a relaxed lunch at the beautiful Doini Island Resort. There is plenty of time to explore the island before we head over to the manta ray cleaning station for an afternoon dive. Diving with these gentle giants is an experience you will never forget! If we don’t see the mantas in the afternoon we can try again in the morning.
We spend the night at our manta camp on the beach. Here we have a similar set up to Gudi Bay only with smaller tents. There is still a fresh water shower, comfortable bed, cold drinks and great food.
- After breakfast we can do another dive at the manta ray cleaning station before heading over to nearby Samarai Island to check out the historical settlement and dive the famous Samarai jetty.
After lunch it is time to put your feet up for the cruise back into Alotau (approx 3hrs).
Once back in Alotau we will arrange transfers back to your accommodation.
Tonight everyone is welcome to meet up for dinner where we have a table booked at Driftwood Resort. The setting and the food are top notch and it is a great chance to reflect on the trip and enjoy a glass of wine or a cold SP lager.
- Farewell to Milne Bay
Relax at your hotel before flying out...
Further Information about the tour:
ACCOMMODATION
Alotau (2 nights)
There is a range of accommodation available in town from flashpackers to boutique. Check out the ‘base camp’ link and choose an option to suit your budget.
Nuakata (3 nights)
This is our eco-camp set up located on Nuakata Island.
Nuakata is known as the jewel of Milne Bay because it is a beautiful island surrounded by great dive sites. Our camp is in Gudi Bay (which literally means good bay in local language!) on the northwest point of the island. The camp has a communal dining area with a fireplace and kitchen, and a decomposing toilet and a shower block. Accommodation is in spacious two room tents with a double bed, bedside table and electric lighting. There are lots of places to chill out with hammocks in the trees over the water and seats on the point to watch the sunset. The island is surrounded by world class diving/fishing/snorkelling and there are local guides offering bush walks, dugout canoe trips and local craft workshops.
Basilaki Village Stay (1 night)
Spend the night in a traditional village amongst the rainforest. Here we stay in a traditional hut and sleep on camp mattresses under a mossie net. Our hosts are extremely welcoming and do everything they can to ensure we are comfortable.
Manta Camp (1 night)
Another beautiful location, here we camp on the beach in 3 person tents (one tent each for couples or singles). This is the perfect spot to see the manta rays that come in everyday to feed and be cleaned.
OUR BOAT ‘ Lia’
Lia is a 37ft dive/exploration boat and she is a real sweety. Originally built in Perth (Western Australia) we had her freighted to Sydney before steaming her up the east coast of Australia and across the Coral Sea to Alotau.
She is not a live-aboard and is set up for diving, fishing and carrying our guests in comfort.
FOOD & DRINK
Along with a comfortable bed we reckon that good food is a must. We try to cater to everyone’s tastes and include a combination of local and western style foods, all prepared with love. Please let us know if you have any special food requirements.
We carry a supply of local beer and Australian wine that is available for purchase during the trip.
Cost includes accommodation, airport transfers, breakfast lunch and dinner every day, transfers within the town, BBQ, Tea, coffee and soft drinks, staff, guides, land fees, fishing gear, skin diving gear, dive chamber fees, reef fees, boat hire and fuel. Price does not include alcohol.
7 DAY DISCOVER ALOTAU TOUR
Min Pax 4…..Max Pax 10
Spend your time nestled in at the Alotau international Hotel (AIH). The jetty is right there and the boats are ready to go, the town is behind you and the rain forest and walking tracks surround you. As a group, all you need to do is to choose from the list of Day Trips that you want try out each day. Paddle a traditional canoe, climb to a waterfall zip out to one of the islands. There is a heap to do and we are basically at your call for all your activities. Let us know in advance if you have a particular interest so we can tailor make your trip. If you just want to enjoy a good chat and a gin and tonic, well we are pretty good at that too. Scuba diving is not included in this trip but all you need to do is cover the cost of hire gear and any of the day trips out can also include a dive or 3. This is a good way to get out to Milne Bay to enjoy both the highlights and the creature comforts and mod cons of a four star Hotel.7 DAY SEA KAYAK & MOUNTAIN TREK
Min Pax 4…..Max Pax 10
This tour is available on request. Please contact us for more information.7 DAY NORTHERN COAST TREK
Min Pax 4…..Max Pax 10
This tour is available on request. Please contact us for more information.7 DAY MULLINS HARBOUR FISHING TOUR
Min Pax 4…..Max Pax 10
Once again you begin in the comfort of the AIH, talk through the plans and the ideal fishing spots and then get to bed because we want to be on the road before sunrise. Over the mountains and down into the harbor we launch our dinghy and our punts and wander through the mangroves hunting for barramundi, mangrove jack and black bass. Spend the day sneaking around the mangrove forest, spotting crocs and setting mud crab traps. At midday the dinghy heads off to set up camp. Stay fishing or head in for lunch in the bay on the beach and wait for the change of tide and sunset. The next 3 nights are spent wandering the area, trolling the harbor and basically fishing to your heart’s content. Return to the hotel for the last two nights to drink some beer and laze by the pool, or, head out fishing again around the bay from the hotel. You get the idea, fishing, fishing, fishing.
