THE PLACE
Kavieng, New Ireland

Kavieng is a busy harbour town (also the largest) at the Northern tip of New Ireland Province. The New Irelanders are friendly folk and are welcoming to visitors to the town. Kavieng is the main port for trading and for tourism.

Kavieng has all the services one would expect from a local administrative centre: local government offices and supermarkets which stock a good selection of Australian produce. The markets on a Friday and Saturday morning are the best place to get your fresh fruit and vegetables. This is serviced by truckloads of people from the Lilet Plateau, a mountainous and cooler region south of Kavieng, where a large proportion of garden produce for the region is grown. In addition the waterside market attracts large traffic of local boats from the islands selling plenty of fresh fish, crab and shellfish.
 
There are many places to stay in the town and a few good places to eat out. The local hospital provides general medical, paediatric and surgical services. The town is serviced by Kavieng Airport, with daily connections to Port Moresby. It lies at one end of the Boluminski Highway which runs 193km to Namatanai.
 
Language, religion & dress
In New Ireland, as with the rest of PNG, most people will speak some English so communication is no barrier. The main religions are Catholic, United Church, Seventh Day Adventist and Lutheran. The day of rest is on Saturday or Sundays depending on faith. For women especially it is respectful to dress a bit more modestly i.e. longer shorts or skirts. For both sexes, clothing that is loose and light with long sleeves is great for sun protection and as a mosquito barrier in the evenings.

Climate
The climate is tropical, as one would expect in a country located just south of the Equator.
December to March is the wet season, although there is rain fall year-round. So basically it is hot and humid with an average air and water temperature of 27-30oC.

Currency
The currency in PNG is the Kina (PGK). The kina normally fluctuates around 2 PGK to 1 AUD. The cost of living in relation to food and alcohol is relative to Australia, with nearly everything being imported from Australia and Asia. So considering that the average wage is around 30 AUD per week, it is amazing that people can survive. Thankfully many in PNG are subsistence farmers & fishermen so they can provide sufficient food for their family as well as generate a small income at the local markets.

Betel-nut
Betel nut has always existed in PNG it was originally used only for social occasions. Whereby the ‘bigman’ would give it out as a reward or special treat. Today it is very common in New Ireland; it’s a sociable activity, whereby people will share their nuts and lime. Do not be daunted by the blood red mouths that may smile at you in the street. It’s from the combination of the betel nut or ‘buai’ mixed with the mustard stick and the powdered lime that gives a sweet aroma and a mild high to the chewer.

Souvenirs & handicrafts
The main products you may be interested in buying are locally produced handicrafts especially the Malangan carvings specific to New Ireland province. There are always hand-woven bilums, basket ware being sold on the streets and the Gorokan coffee, which is a must try for all coffee connoisseurs; is worth a grab from the local supermarkets.

Safety
Kavieng is a safe destination but just take as much care as you would when visiting any foreign destination. Respect the local culture, but don’t be afraid to talk & be friendly to locals. But be mindful of your belongings & it’s best not to walk around alone at night. It’s all common sense stuff.

Crime is mainly petty theft and unfortunately domestic violence is more common than we’d like to think. There is not the problem that you may encounter in the cities of Port Moresby and Lae due to the ‘rascals’, groups of people involved in more organized crime.
 
For your information: The last cannibal in New Ireland was documented in the 1960’s, from a fellow who talked of eating human brains in his lifetime. Apparently it wasn’t necessarily a result of murder or manslaughter for reasons of hate, war or punishment, but because they liked the taste! A comforting thought!