NEW GUINEA – DARWIN TO CAIRNS

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSION

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

On the southern coast of West Papua, Indonesia lies the small Aiduma Island, an oceanic paradise and a destination for divers and snorklers. The coast off of Aiduma Island is home to diverse and lovely soft coral forest. Below the surface of Aiduma’s aquamarine waters live technicolor coral reefs that are home to a beautiful array of reef fish, including schools of large blue-ring angelfish, clownfish, striped angelfish and lionfish. Above the surface, lucky visitors may see dolphins leaping as they travel the crystal seas, while birds overhead or roost in the trees.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

Zodiac Cruise along the coast looking for birds and admiring the great landscape. This beautiful island has an interesting coast line made of limestone cliffs and sandy beaches. It is covered by tropical botany which is home of various birds.

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

After a wet landing onto a sandy beach, today we will have the opportunity to enjoy a day of swimming and snorkeling in Aiduma island. Depending on the weather conditions we could snorkel from the beach or from one of our Zodiac platforms. Aiduma Island is home for a very diverse diverse and lovely soft corals forest and a black coral forest; we will be looking out for some of its diverse wildlife, such as Blue-ring Angelfish, Clownfish, Striped Angelfish and Lionfish, Wobbegong Shark , Pigmy Seahorses and Barracudas.

TRITON BAY

In 2008, the Kaimana Regency declared a 6000 square kilometer (over 2,300 square mile) Marine Protected Area around the waters of Triton Bay. Conservation International maintains an office in Kaimana and a field station out in Triton Bay where visiting scientists can do their work studying the staggering marine biodiversity of the reserve. It is truly second to none, and the area offers everything from the tiniest pygmy seahorses, to large and graceful whale sharks. Triton Bay is known for its beautiful soft coral gardens as well as nesting green turtles, and a population of coastal Bryde’s whales.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

Take a Zodiac cruise throughout the unbelievable natural beauty of the limestone Mushroom Islands. Take in the admirable scenery and spot wildlife along the way. While the Expedition team navigate you through the windy path of the Mushroom Islands, they will also interpret and spot wildlife as you go. With luck, we will spot the Edible nest swiftlet, hornbills, starlings, crows and many more birds in this wildlife enriched area.

The Den Weg Islands are known for their ancient rock art, drawn on canyons, which are visible only by boat. The drawings were made using naturally red materials, resembling human blood. The locals call them ‘blood paintings’, and consider the very sacred. Some of the paintings depict human skeletons, which reference the ancient custom of placing the bodies of their ancestors in the rock cliffs and caves.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

Zodiac cruise around the islands of Den Weg where you can take in the surreal views of the coastline of natural bays, tiny islets, pristine rain forest and the mountains. Slow cruising Zodiacs allow for spotting of Giant Hornbills, Herrings and Kites and explanation from your Expedition guide on the surrounding botany such as the Pitcher plants and various species. Cruise along to the Papuan rock art which was discovered by European adventurers in 1678. The red colour of the paintings are believed to resemble blood from humans and are believed to be from people that were cursed by ghosts. These very sacred paintings are called ”blood paintings” by the locals. Enjoy viewing the paintings on the canyons from the Zodiac while your Expedition guide enlightens you the wonderful surroundings. The added touch to this wonderful cruise would be to view the local villages from the Zodiac and see how the locals grow their kelp/seaweed that is their primary source of income.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Almost totally covered in coconut palm trees, Pulau Miossu is the western and smaller of the two Su Islands. Located at the eastern entrance of the Dampier Strait and within sight of West Papua’s north coast, the Su Islands were used for a short time by Allied Forces at the end of WW II to have P-38 fighter planes stationed there. Today, little remains from those days and even the former airfield is covered by vegetation. Pulau Miossu has just a few houses and is occasionally visited to harvest coconut and to enjoy the white sandy beaches and the rich underwater world.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkel with Silversea Expedition team

Join your Expedition team for snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Indonesia. Here you have the opportunity to admire the underwater world from above and have the chance to see all the amazing marine life. Wildlife to be spotted among others would be parrot fish, lion fish, octopus, trumpet fish and many more.

Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team

Visiting the community to see what life is like on these islands and in this area. How they survive, growing their own food source and the fishermen in the area.

The Auri Islands lie within the Cenderawasih Bay (Indonesian for Bird of Paradise Bay), is a large bay on the northern coast of West Papua, New Guinea, Indonesia. When this area was part of the Dutch East Indies the bay was called Geelvink Bay, after a Dutch ship. Cenderawasih Bay is dotted with hundreds of small islands and atoll’s that are home to some of the most pristine hard coral reefs in Indonesia with one of the highest concentrations of endemic fishes in the Pacific Ocean. The western part of the bay was declared a marine national park in 2002. It encompasses 30 square miles, making it the largest in Southeast Asia. There are many different styles of reefs found here, including fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, patch reefs, and shallow water reef mounds. The fringing reefs are the most abundant and are the last of the few remaining pristine reefs in the world. Extensive surveys documented 995 species of fish and over 500 types of coral, about 10 times greater than in the entire Caribbean. The bay is also well known for aggregations of the world’s largest fish – the whale shark. #N/A

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition team

Auri Islands lie within Cenderawasih Bay (meaning ”Bird of Paradise Bay”) this is a large bay on the northern coast of Indonesian Papua. With the hundreds of surrounding small islands and atolls there will be a feeling of bewilderment among the natural beauty of each island. The western part of Cenderawasih Bay was declared a national park in 202 making it the largest in Southeast Asia.

Kwatisore Bay is a 2 km wide bay located west of Kwatisore Peninsula at the southwestern end of the wide Cenderawasih (bird of paradise) Bay. An area of 1,453,500 hectares, a great part of the bay, has been declared a national park. Within the national park is Indonesia’s largest marine national park. Some dive companies claim that Cenderawasih Bay is the whale shark capital of the world, and the area near Kwatisore Bay is one of the few places in the world where encounters can almost be guaranteed. The whale sharks seem to be permanent residents of the protected marine park and as the locals believe whale sharks are under the protection of spirits and will bring good luck, not only has fishing them been traditionally prohibited, the fishermen actively encourage their presence by feeding them small amounts of their catch. Therefor the best places and time to look for the whale sharks –and to swim or dive with them- are the local fishing pontoons during the early morning hours.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Cendrawasih Bay lies one degree off the Equator and is formed by a hunk of sandstone and muddy rocks, result of the metamorphosis of quartz, black schist and quartzite from the Jurassic age. This marine ecosystem is part of the Coral Triangle region and the southern part of the reserve attracts congregations of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus). They are residents here and the local fishermen often feed them fish bait or anchovies as they believe the whale sharks bring them luck.

After the ship arrives at Kwatisore, the Expedition Team and the National Park rangers will scout the area looking for potential opportunity to swim and snorkel with whale sharks. Should the opportunity arise, following a briefing, plunge into the water and enjoy swimming with the world’s largest living shark and largest living fish

The visit will complete with a visit to the village, where the locals will welcome you with dances and traditional ceremonies. Explore the village and observe the local life and the display of handicrafts for sale.

Only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Indonesian border, Vanimo is the capital of the Sandaun (or Sundown) Province. It is one of only two towns in this remote region of Papua New Guinea. Although the Sepik River originates in the province, it bypasses Vanimo far to the south. The Sandaun Province is relatively undeveloped, but Vanimo has lovely beaches and some picturesque villages in the vicinity. The interior is covered in rainforest and logging is an important activity putting to use Vanimo’s port and protected bay.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Hiking with Silversea Expedition team

After a landing on the beach, start your guided hike with the Expedition team to a waterfall. Terrain is uneven and you might need to cross the water stream several times over slippery rocks. Afterwards, you will be rewarded with a lovely swim under the 3m high waterfall crystal clear water. On the way, look out for common terns, Red footed Booby, brown booby and many more birds.

Ali Island is one of the four islands located close to Aitape, off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The eastern shore of Ali Island has a beautiful white sandy beach and offers swimming and snorkeling. The five villages on the island connect via well-maintained trails that lead to the school and Catholic church closer to the northern end of the island. The indigenous populations of this island are welcoming to guests and yet maintain their unique way of living and dressing, with colorful ceremonial headdresses, arm bands and grass skirts. A village walk will take visitors past the clean local homes and gardens, to the Catholic church with its interesting paintings of the via crucis. Chat with the islanders or relax on the beach.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Enjoy a day of snorkeling in this easy access site where you can go snorkeling from this white sandy beach. Discover the new coral colonies that have been planted, as well as different schools of fish.

Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition team

Kopar is a small village of no more than 200 inhabitants at the mouth of the Sepik River. The inhabitants make a living through subsistence hunting and gathering and go out in traditional canoes to look for suitable sago palms to produce their staple food. Since the Sepik meanders through swampy areas, the locals have cut narrow channels through the swamps to be able to connect more easily with their neighbors. The area surrounding Kopar will offer sights of flood plain birds, parrots and the odd kite, a large bird of prey.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Expedition Activities with Silversea Expedition team

Banana-shaped Tuam is an uplifted coral atoll covered in palm trees. The only village is located on the lower eastern side of the island. Highly exposed to the trade winds, the islanders have set up protective walls made out of palm-branches giving the village the look of a fortified castle from a distance. A trail marked by white sand leads from the landing site to the settlement area of neatly organized wooden huts and houses with pandanus-thatched roofs. The forest reveals different gardens set up in the higher regions of the island. The island also has a spectacular reef and snorkeling next to the drop-off can reveal many colorful reef fish.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Snorkeling with Silversea Expedition team

Today we can enjoy a day of snorkeling with an easy entry from the beach and looking out for Acropora and Boulder Corals, Sargeant Majors, Pinsuchion Starfish, Pincushion Starfish, Garfish, Rabbitfish and Pufferfish.

Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team

FERGUSSON ISLAND

Fergusson is one of the three biggest and mountainous islands in the Milne Bay Province, and part of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands. On Fergusson’s south side are the famous Dei Dei geysers — natural hot springs that periodically erupt with vapour steam next to mud pools and a warm stream. The hot springs are still used by locals to cook food in palm frond and pandanus leaf baskets placed into the boiling hot water. Birds in the area include Eclectus Parrots, Yellow-bellied Sunbirds and the endemic Curl-crested Manucode – a bird-of-paradise.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Expedition activities with Silversea Expedition team

Samarai is a tiny island south of Papua New Guinea’s southeastern peninsula dwarfed by neighboring islands. Once a famous trading port and the second-largest settlement in the Territory of Papua (the Australian-administered southern part of what today is Papua New Guinea), Samarai used to be Milne Bay Province’s capital until 1968 when administrators were moved to mainland and the town of Alotau. The relocation was necessary as the 29-hectare (72-acre) island was simply overcrowded. With only about 450 residents remaining today, it still is one of the most densely settled islands in Papua New Guinea.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS

Samarai Island and Kwato Islands

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Warmly welcoming you to the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a treasure trove of rich tropical beauty and incredible sea life. Swathes of rainforest spread out to the north, where you can soar over the canopy in a cable car, before looking down over narrow channels of water plummeting down gorges and crocodile-filled waterways. The diverse lands of the Atherton Tableland lie to the west, but it’s the crystal-clear waters – and life-filled reefs – of Cairns’ remarkable underwater world that draws universal adulation. Priding itself as the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, explore Cairns’ constellation of color, as you dive into the world’s largest and most spectacular underwater universe. Head out on a glass-bottomed boat tour to explore the 3,000 coral reef systems, and let hours drift by appreciating the waving corals and life-imbued reefs during exceptional scuba diving and snorkeling sessions. Cairns is huddled in among abundant swathes of rainforests, which give way to glorious crescents of golden beach. Kuranda – with its scenic railway and heritage market stalls – waits to be discovered, cloaked within the depths of the rainforest. Learn of the indigenous people of North Queensland during cultural performances, and hear the throaty reverberations of digeridoos, as you hear eternal stories handed down through time, from generation to generation. Back in Cairns, there’s always time for a coffee or a beer, or a feast on fresh oysters with glasses of Cairns’ white wines – boldly flavored with mango and banana notes.