The Presidential suite is a two storied unit with two bedrooms and two bathrooms up-stairs, and a kitchen, bar, lounge area and fireplace downstairs. 

Rondon Ridge is the ideal place to stay near to Mt Hagen, the capital of the Central Highlands Province, commanding spectacular views across the Wahgi Valley. Home to 10 species of Birds of Paradise and many communities of PNG’s colourful highland tribes, there are numerous walking trails and diverse cultural activities to enjoy in the surrounding area.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now too start planning your Papua New Guinea adventure.

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From 3 December 2016, Air Niugini is to launch twice weekly air services between Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, and Chuuk and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Chuuk (sometimes spelled Truk) is renowned for being home to the World’s largest sunken fleet of Japanese WWII ships.

To test the market, three special flights were planned to operate to FSM before the scheduled passenger services commence. The first of the three special flights operated last week on 1 September from Port Moresby to Chuuk and later Pohnpei before returning to POM. It took 2hrs and 40 minutes to reach Chuuk and an hour across to Pohnpei before coming back to POM.

Most passengers on board the flight were Australian divers; about 50 of them who got off in Chuuk, the rest were individuals attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and businessmen based in Solomon Islands.

The next special flight will operate this week on 7 September to uplift delegation for PIF.

Once the scheduled passenger service comes into effect from December, Air Niugini will be operating two return air services a week, every Wednesday and Saturday from Port Moresby to Chuuk and Pohnpei.

These flights enable passengers between the Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines and FSM to connect through Port Moresby, saving considerable time and airfares.

Start planning your Pacific dive holiday today by contacting Symbiosis Custom Travel.

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South Coast New Britain diving is a wonderland of rare and unusual critters. If you are a photographer and enjoy macro and critters, South Coast New Britain is sure to delight!

Around the Lindenhaven area, the contours of the Solomon Trench (the third deepest part of the world’s oceans) come in very close. In Captain Alan’s opinion, this is the reason that we get so many extraordinary critters in this area, some of which we can’t find in any resource books.

As many of the dives are not overly deep, FeBrina will often run an “open deck” as the reefs in this are area prolific and there are many, many reefs that have not yet been dived. The topside scenery is amazing with many small, uninhabited islands with white sand beaches. There are a couple of clean rivers that run from high in the rainforest down to the sea, one of which comes out of the side of a mountain. FeBrina’s crew often run a trip via the chase boat to the cave where the river comes out.. or for the more intrepid, a hike up to the “blue hole”, mysteriously eerie and thrilling to dive.

If you are looking for something a little different, FeBrina’s South Coast itinerary may be for you! There will be a limited number of these trips in 2015, so book early to avoid missing out!

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Book 2 people in a twin/double Bungalow or Plantation House Room and receive 50% discount on the second person’s accommodation cost (applies to a minimum 4 night stay).

For solo travellers, book a single Bungalow or Plantation House room and receive a 15% discount on accommodation cost (applies to a minimum 4 night stay).

Valid Travel Dates:  For travel between July 12 to July 24, 2014.

Conditions:-
* Subject to availability
* No other discounts can apply
* Applies to new reservations only and this special must be requested at time of reservation.
* Discount applies to accommodation cost only (accommodation cost includes all meals and daily laundry service).

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel to book, mentioning this special offer.

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The Mt Hagen Show will be held on the weekend of 16th & 17th August 2014. We have 4 tour variations or 10 to 12 days duration to coincide with this highly colourful event that will also take you to other areas of this fascinating country including the highlands and the Sepik basin.

For information on the tours visit the Mt Hagen Show webpage here

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If you are an Australian travelling to PNG, you will need to obtain a tourist visa from the nearest PNG Consulate. For information on how and where to obtain a PNG Tourist visa, visit the PNG Immigration web site.

Currently there is no fee for a 60 day Tourist Visa to enter PNG.

Note that some passport holders from certain countries still need to obtain a visa prior to arrival (which does now include Australia). For the latest information regarding visa requirements and costs, please check the PNG Immigration web site.

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3rd September to 11th September 2014
8 night Signature Itinerary: diving Kimbe Bay Reefs, Fathers Reefs and Witu Islands.
Special photography workshop cruise with Christopher Bartlett. An experienced professional photojournalist, Christopher Bartlett started taking underwater photos with a second-­‐hand 2 megapixel Canon in 2005. Since then his work has been published across the globe in publications such as X-­‐Ray, Scuba Diving, Diver (British and North American editions), Divestyle, African Diver, Duik, Dyk, Ultimate Adventure Magazine, Beyond Blue, Diving Australasia, Niugini Blue, Our Way, FHM, Scuba Diver Girls. In 2011, Christopher had three dive magazine cover shots published. He regularly shoots images for brochures and promotional material for clients in the Red Sea, the Caribbean, Eastern and Southern Africa, Papua New Guinea and the Galapagos. You can see some of Christopher’s work at www.bartlettimages.com. He is also the water correspondent for the Ecology Global Network.

This trip is great for anyone looking to combine diving with the Goroka festival in the highlands, or who are just looking to exercise their photography skills in the beautiful surroundings of New Britain’s three most popular dive sites.

28th September to 7th October 2014
9 night Signature Itinerary: diving Kimbe Bay Reefs, Fathers Reefs and Witu Islands.
Due to a recent cancellation we have some space available on these trip dates.

8th October to 18th October 2014
10 night Signature Itinerary: diving Kimbe Bay Reefs, Fathers Reefs and Witu Islands.
Very few spaces left on this trip, we recommend enquiring as soon as possible to secure one of the final spaces.

For more, contact Symbiosis Custom Travel today.

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Check out Tufi here.

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Package 1: Twin Share Plantation House Room
7 night Plantation House room, twin share or double, includes 12 dives, 3 meals daily and airport transfers
Special Rate: USD 1,800 pp, twin share (normal price $2,090)

Package 2: Twin Share Bungalow
7 night bungalow, twin share or double, includes 12 dives, 3 meals daily and airport transfers
Special Rate: USD 2,210 pp, twin share (normal price $2,545)

Package 3: Single Plantation House Room
7 night Plantation House, single occupancy, includes 12 dives, 3 meals daily and airport transfers
Special Rate: USD 2,148 (normal price $2,475)

Package 4: Single Bungalow
7 night bungalow, single occupancy, includes 12 dives, 3 meals daily and airport transfers
Special Rate: USD 2,746 (normal price $3,140)

Valid for travel between 01 April and 01 December, 2014 (excluding Easter, 17 to 22 April)

MUST BE BOOKED BEFORE 30 APRIL 2014

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for info, bookings, and to make your travel arrangements. Please quote “Symbiosis LIDS Special” when booking.

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Dates: 02 to 16 April 2014

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for info and to book

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Dates:
20 to 28 June 2014 (Walindi/Walindi, diving Kimbe Bay and Fathers or Witus Reefs)
19 to 27 July 2014 (Rabaul/Walindi, diving Fathers Reef and Kimbe Bay)

Special 2: 8 nights on the MV FeBrina for only USD3,160 per person twin share or $3,490 single cabin (normal price $3,510 pp sharing, $3,870 single).

Dates:
16 to 24 June 2015 (Walindi/Walindi, diving Kimbe Bay and Fathers or Witus Reefs)
26 June to 04 July 2015 (Walindi/Walindi, diving Kimbe Bay and Fathers or Witus Reefs)
08 to 16 July 2015 (Walindi/Rabaul, diving Kimbe Bay, Fathers Reef & Rabaul)
19 to 27 July 2015 (Rabaul/Walindi, diving Rabaul, Fathers & Reef Kimbe Bay)

Both offers include: all meals, 6 1/2 days diving, 4 or 5 dives per day (2-3 dives on final day), airport transfers and daily laundry.

Conditions: Must be booked through Symbiosis Custom Travel by 30 April.

Also: 5% Early Bird discount of normal prices for ALL departures (subject to availability, or course) during 2015. Bookings must be made no less than 12 month prior to travel.

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel for more info and to book

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Stay 6 nights at Walindi Plantation Resort in May, June or July 2013 and pay for 5 nights only!

Booking must be made between 15th and 31st of May to get this special rate. Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now!

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The Hagen show is held in August every year – and we are be offering three escorted programs and one unescorted program in 2013. Escorted programs have the same guide throughout whereas with unescorted programs, you still have guides to assist you at each location, the only difference being that guides change at the different locations.

For photographers, the Mount Hagen Show offers an amazing opportunity to capture many of the flamboyant traditional costumes of Papua New Guinea’s highlander people all on one place. The tours will also take you to other fascinating parts of the main island, staying at the finest and most remote lodges as you go, with flights by small charter plane to give you some amazing aerial views of the mountains and rainforests.

Tours range in length from 11 to days, starting on either the 8th or 16 August, depending on the tour configuration.

More info with prices on the Symbiosis Custom Travel website.

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A Huli "Wigman" in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

As part of the coming of age ritual, young Huli men would retreat from society into an all male commune for several months while they grew their hair, carefully watering it every day to ensure it formed a perfect shape. It would then be carefully shaved off and adorned with decorative items including shells and dried flowers, and traditionally with the dried torso of a Bird of Paradise as the centrepiece. It could then be worn as a hat, with different versions for different occasions.

Huli women carry their slung bilum on their foreheads

As modern values seep into the ways of PNG’s highlands, few young men bother with the ritual hair growing nowadays. Instead a small handful of them make it a profession; growing several crops and selling the results to those who “can’t find the time”!

The gent in this pic has the real McCoy on show – the tail spread of a Bird of Paradise… plus a feather in his nose for good measure. Over his shoulder is a Bilum, the traditional ubiquitous string bag used to carry everything from sweet potatoes from their gardens to infant children… in the case of women, who wear the bilum with the strap over their foreheads.

Read more about Papua New Guinea and how you can visit this spectacular and most fascinating of countries.

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Special offer applies to any duration of stay, for both Bungalow and Plantation House accommodation.

The diving and snorkelling in Kimbe Bay is world class with rich diversity and vast numbers of fish – one of the world’s great dive spots so jump at the opportunity if you can!

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now to check the latest availability.

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