To the north-east of the island of New Guinea in the country of Papua New Guinea you will find the area known as the Fjordland. In and around the small town of Tufi you will find a beautiful and beautiful land and sea-scape with a fascinating human and natural history. Aside from its natural beauty, this area is known for its production of a decorated cloth, called tapa, which is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. This cloth is also found in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. The production of these beautiful pieces of material is low and so being able to purchase a piece, as you may be able to do in Tufi, means that you will own something rather special.
Some people may also come here to explore not just the longer cultural history of the area but also its more recent 20th Century history. This was a temporary base for US naval vessels in the battle against the Japanese. Two boats sunk in March 1943 and these are now popular dive sites. Seas are at their best for these two dive sites and for other dives like those on the Cyclone Reef with its abundant marine life between October and mid-June.
The main reasons that people come to Tufi and the surrounding area are the tropical fjords themselves. Not only can you participate in some world-class dives in and near them, you can also enjoy kayaking on the fjords or taking a boat trip of some other sort. The spectacular fjords are around 90m deep and the banks rise steeply out of the water, reaching a height of 150m. They are vertical or near vertical in places and are scenically spectacular. The fjord sides have a lush covering of moss and different orchid varieties and reach up to tropical, mist-shrouded forests growing greenly in the warm sun.
While one of the main reasons to come here is to explore on the water, you should also be sure to make some excursions into the nearby rainforest, where you will find a staggeringly diverse range of flora and fauna. Tread lightly and be sure to leave no trace on the natural and unspoiled environment through which you pass. If you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the Queen Alexandra Birdwing, the largest butterfly, sadly now very rare, in the world. This is just one small taste of Papua New Guinea’s uniquely diverse natural ecosystem.
Could this be one of the top eco destinations in the world?