Lonely Planet Papua, New Guinea

Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands (Lonely Planet)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Review
  • Wish there was more information about various locations
  • A Very Poor Guide! :-(
  • Great guide book
 Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands (Lonely Planet)
Andrew Burke , Rowan McKinnon , Arnold Barkhordarian , Sean Dorney , and Tim Flannery
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books
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  3. Throwim' Way Leg: Tree-Kangaroos, Possums, and Penis Gourds
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ASIN: 1740592077

Book Description

Feel the frenzy of the tribal drums at a Highlands singsing, follow in the footsteps of history on the challenging Kokoda Track, take a slow boat down the mighty Sepik River or dive into a spectacular underwater realm. Let the best and only guide to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands take you on an unforgettable journey.

• WATCH WILDLIFE - expert naturalist and bestselling author Tim Flannery give the lowdown on a wondrous environment where kangaroos climb in the treetops and luminous mushrooms light up the night forest

• ENRICH YOUR EXPERIENCE - a comprehensive Culture chapter connects you with diverse and fascinating communities

• REST EASY - all the best places to bed down, from world-class resort hotels to humble village houses

• BE INSPIRED - new highlights, itineraries and planning sections help you dream it up and make it happen

• GET AROUND - user-friendly maps take you from highlands to islands and everywhere in between

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Review.......2007-05-13

I bought this book hoping it would be helpful for the Solomon Islands. There was only about 30 pages about the Solomons. This book is a great guide for Papua New Guinea. I would suggest looking for older guides. I bought an older guide from lonely planet that was strictly about the Solomon Islands. It was much better, only the finacial info was definitely out of date.

3 out of 5 stars Wish there was more information about various locations.......2007-01-03

The book does not really give sufficient information about the villages which are, in fact, memorable experiences. Nonetheless, I am not aware of a better source for information about places in PNG and so recommend that someone traveling to PNG buy this book. There are a few other good books about the culture and art.

2 out of 5 stars A Very Poor Guide! :-(.......2006-06-08

Once upon a time, Lonely Planet had a good guide to Papua New Guinea (371 pages), and an excellent one to the Solomon Islands (279 pages). For better or worse these fascinating countries don't exactly attract hordes of holidaymakers, so after leaving those books unupdated for many years, the publisher has now decided to dump them together in this new edition (272 pages).
The result is basically a new, much slimmer guide to Papua New Guinea, with fewer than 30 pages on the Solomons (where it only actually covers half the country even nominally).
Not only has much of the detail been thrown out, the quality of information has also gone downhill sharply! :-(
The authors have very obviously never visited even major tourist destinations of PNG described in the book - as confirmed by owners of accomodations included in it, who told me they had merely received phonecalls from the author who didn't even visit most of the Sepik Region or the Highlands, for example!
Much of the "updating" seems to have been done by surfing the web, and as a result the book abounds in recommendations for expensive, upmarket places and tour-operators that do have websites, while completely ignoring cheaper, budget guesthouses which have no info on the net. Even excellent, small locally owned places that were in previous editions of the PNG guide are conspiciously missing! And as for what the authors consider "budget": their itinerary recommended for budget travellers includes staying at a 150 USD/night resort!

This book is a real shame to Lonely Planet.
If you are planning on resort-hopping on a short holiday, it will be sufficient, but if you want to explore these two countries in depth without spending a fortune, you are far better off trying to find copies of the now out-of-print old editions, which still contain far more useful information than this new guide.
Check Amazon for reviews and availablity of the old Papua New Guinea guide and Solomon Islands one.

Another cheap little book that may well enrich your travels in either of the two countries is LP's Pidgin Phrasebook.
Those keen on getting way off the beaten track in PNG on foot will still find Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea invaluable!

5 out of 5 stars Great guide book.......2005-10-20

As usual for the lonely planet guides, a well researched and detailed travel guide. I have not been to Papua New Guinea yet, so I can not comment on the accuracy of the information, but there is a wealth thereof. I respect the author's achievement, as it is obviously much easier to research for a travel guide about a European country where most people speak English and credit cards are accepted than for a pre-industrial place like Papua New Guinea, still mostly unspoiled by westernization.

I have read this guide like a novel from the first to the last page, which speaks both for the work of the lonely planet team as well as for how fascinating Papua New Guinea is.

Information is given on standard travel issues, such as transportation and accommodation, as well as on special treats like areas with unusual wildlife, tribal culture and historical (WW II) significance. This book gives a good first overview over both the modern history and the native cultures of Papua New Guinea. It also warns the reader of the dangers of travel in this tropical country, such as disease, possible violent tribal warfare and high altitude. The maps are informative, the few color pictures (the small number seems to be a consequence of the price of the book) of people, beaches, birds and fish are beautiful.
Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Eight years on, this edition remains the best guide to PNG!
  • LP guidebooks are usually great, and this is even better !
  • THE guidebook for PNG
  • The perfect travel guide for an incredible location
  • This book helped guarantee my most hassle free adventure !
 Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
Adrian Lipscomb , Rowan McKinnon , and Tony Wheeler
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864424027

Amazon.com

Papua New Guinea seems like the last place on Earth. Its terrain is so rugged, its jungles so impenetrable, that even at the end of the 20th century it remains largely unknown by the West. As late as 1993, new tribes were still being discovered in this land of more than 700 languages and as many cultural and racial groups. Travel there is neither particularly easy nor particularly safe, yet--more and more--intrepid travelers are making their way to the island's shores. Lonely Planet has produced a guidebook to help visitors get the most out of their time and money. Papua New Guinea, by Tony Wheeler and Jon Murray, pulls no punches; it is up-front about the potential for trouble on the island--everything from crime to insurgency. But while the authors acknowledge the possibilities, they are hardly alarmists, noting that a lot of trouble can be avoided if you "listen to local advice, and above all, make friends with people who live in the area you are visiting." Good advice, no matter what your destination.

Color photographs; sidebars containing fascinating tidbits of history, culture, language, and more; and plenty of detailed maps make Lonely Planet's Papua New Guinea a good read and a great guidebook. So, if you're thinking of stepping off the beaten path on your next trip, consider Papua New Guinea--and Lonely Planet's excellent guide.

Book Description

This down-to-earth guide is the essential resource to help you discover the real Papua New Guinea, one of the last frontiers for travellers. Whether you want to canoe down the Sepik, see Rabaul's smoking volcano or experience local hospitality in village communities, this guide will show you how. <ul>

  • 46 fully revised maps, including a colour country map </li>
  • practical advice on health and safety </li>
  • the latest on where to stay and eat </li>
  • comprehensive historical, political and cultural background </li>
  • details on activities such as bush-walking, diving and bird-watching </li>
  • advice on getting around by plane, trade boat and PMV </li>
  • easy-to-learn guide to Pidgin </li></ul>

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Eight years on, this edition remains the best guide to PNG!.......2006-11-18

    And the only one worth carrying for independent, budget travellers, I might add.
    While this book was never perfect, and I would only have rated it 4 stars even when it was brand new (because its coverage of certain areas is really sketchy, and it curiously ignores some long-established budget places to stay), the new "PNG & Solomon Islands" guide that was published in 2005 to replace it is so much worse that it makes this guide seem 5*+ in comparision.
    While the new guide is almost totally written for those going to PNG to stay in ultra-expensive resorts and see the country on guided tours, this 1998 edition still has the usual, more backpacker-oriented style many readers expect from LP guides. It will tell you about budget places to stay, remote areas to explore, and in general give you ideas on getting off the beaten track and experience some of the best PNG has to offer on your own.
    Of course you will find that prices have risen considerably in the past years, but once in PNG, you will quickly figure out quite how much (they are up 2-3 times in Kina terms, which means much less an increase in foreign currency).
    There are also a few new (mostly upmarket) places to stay now, and some shipping routes have changed (even since the 2005 edition!).
    So if you are obsessed with having the latest available information in your guide, you may also want to buy the new edition in addition to this one.
    I have both, but if I had to pick only one to carry along on my next trip to PNG, I would definitely take this one.

    5 out of 5 stars LP guidebooks are usually great, and this is even better !.......2003-03-03

    Having been a collector, affectionate reader, and on-the-field user of Lonely Planet guidebooks during my numberless and continuous travels, I can indeed witness that this one is one of the best. Some guidebooks try to cover too much, e.g. all of West Africa or all of Central Asia, and don't do the job so well (inevitable and still better than carrying one book for each country, but to the detriment of the quality). Another common problem, is the author's favourable bias towards the country she or he is covering, as if it were the most marvelous place on Earth - I think here of the LP guidebook to Libya. In other books still, some regions are covered more in-depth than others: the Indonesia guidebook only has seven pages on East Timor, which would in fact deserve a whole chapter if not a whole book on its own ! Instead, in covering the fascinating land of Papua New Guinea, this author has done an excellent job, and not much else really needs to be added: this is indeed the Lonely Planet standard, that is to say, an excellent standard. For those who may not be familiar with it, this means excellent, up-to-date, accurate coverage of all areas of the country, with information (primary basic facts as well as further data for perfectionists) about accommodation, getting around, eating, entertainment, etc. Despite the vastity of this land and the difficulty of getting to the most remote areas, the author has managed it. The chapters on history and culture, especially in this guidebook, I find to be extremely well-written and researched. This one is indeed an excellent tool not only for the traveller but also for the armchair traveller who may wish to know more about PNG without necessarily going. It is extremely enjoyable and pleasant to read, thus combining the unrivalled qualities of a guidebook from Lonely Planet, with great information and facts about the mysterious land of Papua New Guinea.

    5 out of 5 stars THE guidebook for PNG.......2002-08-07

    Even though this edition is already some years old it is still THE guide for independent traveling in this awesome country.

    I was traveling in 2000 for about 8 weeks in PNG and found the book a real help for getting around in a country that is far away from being touristy. Whether you are looking for a bus stop, the next spots for hiking or diving, hotel information or information on culture and religion this book has it all in detail.

    Especially in this kind of less developed country every bit and piece of information in this book is worth every cent you spent for it.

    5 out of 5 stars The perfect travel guide for an incredible location.......2000-09-15

    We traveled to Mt. Hagen and Port Moresby last March for the first time. What a great and beautiful country, and what a perfect travel guide to orient you. While this book is nice enough to have on the shelf, ours is worn from use... and usefulness. As a bonus, it's also well-written and a great book to read!

    Lonely Planet has again done a superb job combining art, graphics, maps and information in exactly the right proportions. There are a collection of excellent color and black & white photos and graphics. The history and cultural background is extensive owing to the three experienced traveler-writers. They make great use of side-bars to highlight special features and information (a trade mark of most Lonely Planet materials).

    All the regions are treated pretty equally and include useful maps that otherwise would be tough to find anywhere.

    If you could only buy one book in preparation for your trip, you would not have any problem making this your "Bible". It is also a great size at 5 x 7.25 x 5/8's inches and printed on high quality paper.

    I will always look to Lonely Planet as my first choice in travel books.

    5 out of 5 stars This book helped guarantee my most hassle free adventure !.......1997-10-02

    Having spent over 30 days travelling around N. Guinea I found this book to be heaven sent. From the Highlands to the Sepik or Lae to Madang all information re: lodging, transportation,& places to see were correct and found as described in the guide. I refuse to travel abroad without my first buying the LONELY PLANET guide to help plan my trip in that country. Jerry Silverman silverj@nical.com Dobbs Ferry, New York USA
    Lonely Planet Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Lonely Planet Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea
      Yvon Perusse
      Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0864420528

      Amazon.com

      Papua New Guinea is one of those destinations so far off the beaten path that good guidebooks for the region are few and far between. Trust Lonely Planet, however, to rectify that situation. In Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea, author Yvon Pérusse introduces you to this remote and rugged land. Because roads are a rarity in Papua New Guinea, walking is often the only way to get from one place to another; it's also a great way to really see the country, meet the people, and open yourself to myriad experiences often missed by those in cars.

      There are 10 main walks detailed in Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea, plus many other suggested walks and some variations on the primary ones. They vary in length, difficulty, landscape, and culture, ranging from a fairly easy three-day stroll along the coast of Milne Bay to a strenuous six-day trek through the Owen Stanley mountain range. Maps, notes, and practical information are included in each chapter, and color photographs throughout the book provide plenty of inspiration to follow in Pérusse's footsteps.

      Book Description

      39 Maps
      Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling: Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Excellent Overview of Little-Visited Sites
      		 Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling: Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides)
      Bob Halstead , and Tim Rock
      Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      5. Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific

      ASIN: 086442776X

      Book Description

      Smoking volcanoes, lush lowlands and over 600 islands rimmed with coral reefs support a marine biodiversity in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that is unequaled anywhere else in the world. The warm Solomon and Coral seas offer shallow snorkeling on fringing or patch reefs, and deeper dives along the sheer walls of submerged volcanoes. History buffs will marvel at WWII wreckage found above and below the sea. Populations in the swelling cities, remote villages and settlements along the Sepik River are as varied as the country's terrain. This guide describes PNG's best dive sites, with full-color photos throughout. <ul>

    • dive site depth range and weather conditions </li>
    • common, unusual and hazardous marine life </li>
    • topside information, including cultural and natural attractions </li>
    • diving services and live-abroad information </li>
    • 15 easy-to-read maps </li>
    • includes top dives in the Solomon & Coral Seas </li></ul>

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview of Little-Visited Sites.......2001-02-27

      This book is an excellent and still pretty up-to-date book on PNG's many and varied dive sites. Good way to plan a dive trip, by seeing which site descriptions most appeal to you. PNG's dive sites are very variable; fabulous visibility one day can be down to murky on the next. Little explored country in terms of diving, new sites are being identified all the time. Hopefully they'll update the book in a few years to include the many sites not known at the time it was first published. All in all, a very helpful and thorough book.
      Lonely Planet Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Walking Guides)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Lonely Planet Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Walking Guides)
        Riall W. Nolan
        Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 0908086415
        Lonely Planet Papua New Guinea Video
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Lonely Planet Papua New Guinea Video
          Lp
          Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Unknown Binding

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          ASIN: 1900979519
          Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Papua New Guinea (Lonely Planet Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands)
            Tony Wheeler
            Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea | Australia & South Pacific | Travel | Subjects | Books
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            ASIN: 086442048X
            Papua New Guinea, a travel survival kit (Lonely Planet Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              		Papua New Guinea, a travel survival kit (Lonely Planet Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands)
              Tony Wheeler
              Manufacturer: distributed by Hippocrene Books]
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

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              ASIN: 0908086253
              Lonely Planet Papua, New Guinea Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Sinhala Phrasebook)
              Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
              • Great book but a little short.
              • An essential addition to traveling in PNG
              		 Lonely Planet Papua, New Guinea Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Sinhala Phrasebook)
              John Hunter
              Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback

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              ASIN: 0908086903

              Customer Reviews:

              4 out of 5 stars Great book but a little short........1999-07-12

              This book teaches you Pidgn English.This language is spoken in Papua New Guinea,and other Pacific Island countries.It is great for the traveler.Pidgn is an extremely simple language for english speakers to learn.The pronnounciation is the same and the words sound exactly the same.The only problem is that it is a bit short,otherwise if you want to learn Pidgn,buy this book.

              4 out of 5 stars An essential addition to traveling in PNG.......1999-06-09

              Papua New Gunea has a myriad of local languages but one truly common language-pigdin English. Being able to communicate with the locals in even the most isolated of villages is both an advantage and an experience I highly recommend. The book itself is top pocket size (a huge advantage), well laid out and predictable. The only critism is that it is limited but then again so is the language. A must for travelling in PNG.

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