Australia & New Zealand Pacific Islands Madang, Papua New Guinea By Linda Garrison Linda Garrison Linda Paull Garrison is a travel writer who has taken over 150 cruises and spent over 1,100 days at sea. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/07/19 Share Pin Email CIA Factbook Papua New Guinea is located in the Pacific Ocean on the eastern half of New Guinea, which is the second largest island in the world. The mountainous country is slightly larger than California, and much of it is covered with tropical vegetation. The port of Madang is on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea and is sometimes included as a port of call on cruises between Australia and Asia. We stopped over for the day on our wonderful cruise from Sydney to Shanghai on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager. While in Madang, we did a morning shore excursion to the village of BilBil, where we watched native women create earthenware pots, enjoyed a traditional singsing, and learned much about Madang Province and its peoples from our guide. In the afternoon, we did a boat tour of beautiful Madang harbor, toured nearby Krangket Island, and marveled at the pristine and colorful coral reefs while snorkeling at Pig Island. I was thrilled to see dozens of the giant fruit-eating bats (also called flying foxes) the island is famous for. I'm usually fairly adventurous, but wasn't tempted to try the betel nuts that the natives love to constantly chew. Not many North American tourists visit Madang, but the people are warm and open. Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. Papua New Guinea got its independence from Australia in 1975. 01 of 31 Madang Papua New Guinea Harbor Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Madang has a beautiful protected harbor. Continue to 2 of 31 below. 02 of 31 Sailing into Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 3 of 31 below. 03 of 31 Charcoal Factory in Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Madang has sugar cane and charcoal factories such as this one. Continue to 4 of 31 below. 04 of 31 Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse in Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison The Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse was dedicated in 1959 to the mostly Australian and British soldiers and civilian volunteers who served as coast watchers during World War II. Many of these brave men radioed the positions of Japanese ships to the Allies from Japanese-held territory such as one of the many islands surrounding New Guinea. Movie and/or theater fans should remember the Cary Grant comedy, "Father Goose", and the classic musical "South Pacific", which both featured main characters who played the role of World War II coast watchers in the South Pacific. Continue to 5 of 31 below. 05 of 31 Papua New Guinea Ferry in Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 6 of 31 below. 06 of 31 Christian Church in Bilbil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison We were in BilBil on a Sunday, and this church was filled with worshipers. Continue to 7 of 31 below. 07 of 31 Madang, Papua New Guinea Harbor Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 8 of 31 below. 08 of 31 Madang Airport in Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison The runway at the Madang Airport ends right at the harbor. Continue to 9 of 31 below. 09 of 31 Sunday School in BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 10 of 31 below. 10 of 31 Making Pottery in BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison The women of BilBil make this earthenware pottery entirely by hand--no pottery wheel. They use mud from the village and sculpt, decorate, and sell the pots. Continue to 11 of 31 below. 11 of 31 Drummer at Singsing in BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 12 of 31 below. 12 of 31 Traditional Native Singsing at BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 13 of 31 below. 13 of 31 Women Dancers at Singsing in BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 14 of 31 below. 14 of 31 Traditional Native Singsing at BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 15 of 31 below. 15 of 31 Marvel Paull and Tribesmen from BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang, Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison My mom with two of the lead dancers of the BilBil tribe. Continue to 16 of 31 below. 16 of 31 BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 17 of 31 below. 17 of 31 BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Cooking outdoors is a way of life in tropical Papua New Guinea. Continue to 18 of 31 below. 18 of 31 BilBil Village near Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Grass huts are made from sago and toddy palms. Continue to 19 of 31 below. 19 of 31 Young Girl of the BilBil Village with Betel Nut Stained Teeth near Madang Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Many citizens of Papua New Guinea chew the betel nut, which stains their mouth, tongue, and teeth a brilliant red. It is actually a seed of the betel palm. Betel nuts contain a mild stimulant, similar to drinking a cup of coffee or smoking a cigarette. Almost everyone we saw in BilBil (of all ages) seemed to be chewing on these nuts. This young girl was the village chief's granddaughter and was quite happy to smile for my camera. Continue to 20 of 31 below. 20 of 31 Papua New Guinea Children at BilBil Village near Madang Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 21 of 31 below. 21 of 31 Flying Foxes (Fruit-Eating Bats) in Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Flying foxes are seen all over the area surrounding Madang. Like other bats, they roost in groups during the day. These chose a large tree near a roadway. These flying foxes or fruit-eating bats are gigantic compared to the bats seen at home in North America. Their size causes the branches on even a large tree to bend significantly. Continue to 22 of 31 below. 22 of 31 Giant Fruit Eating Bats or Flying Foxes in Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison These giant fruit eating bats (flying foxes) were a little scary, but their size is amazing. Some even left the roost and soared overhead during broad daylight. These bats are called flying foxes because of their dog-like face. Continue to 23 of 31 below. 23 of 31 Singsing Dancers on Krangket Island, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 24 of 31 below. 24 of 31 Traditional Native Grass Hut Home Made from Sago Palms on Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 25 of 31 below. 25 of 31 Dancers at a Singsing on Krangket Island near Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 26 of 31 below. 26 of 31 Vacation Cottage on Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison This cottage is at the Kranget Island Lodge near Madang, Papua New Guinea. Continue to 27 of 31 below. 27 of 31 Snorkeling Tour Boat at Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison We enjoyed touring the Madang Harbor and visiting Krangket Island on this comfortable tour boat. Continue to 28 of 31 below. 28 of 31 Outrigger Canoe on Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 29 of 31 below. 29 of 31 Tour Boat at Madang, Papua New Guinea Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 30 of 31 below. 30 of 31 Papua New Guinea Volcano Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 31 of 31 below. 31 of 31 Children Selling Their Wares in Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Madang Papua New Guinea Photo (c) Linda Garrison Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit