Tawali Resort

Resort

Alotau, Papua New Guinea

Diving


Tranquility

Tucked away, only accessible by boat, sits what may be Papua New Guinea's best kept scuba diving secret - Tawali Resort. Welcome to the exotic culture of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and to Tawali Resort.
Located on a volcanic bluff overlooking the clear protected waters of Milne Bay, Tawali offers travelers a unique location to dive, relax and enjoy the unspoiled wonders of this magnificent part of the world.
Learn what it really means to step back in time where the worries of the world fade and the magic of nature unfolds.

Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort The Tawali location was hard to beat and the staying was even better. Handmade, local styled lodging with picture perfect lookouts of the bay were only improved by a large pod of dolphins jumping each morning. Sharon Miller, Dive Utah

Heritage

Tawali is located in a secluded area of Milne Bay amongst local fishing villages and accessible only by boat. Built on a limestone bluff eighty feet above the water, Tawali offers guests a private retreat in which to enjoy the wonders of PNG. Tawali was constructed by local craftsmen and you will find beautifully carved totems and woodwork in the spacious main lodge and throughout the resort.

Some of these works of art took two years to complete and are unique to the Milne Bay culture. Covered walkways connect guest bungalows, which are complete with private balconies overlooking Hoia Bay. The air-conditioned bungalows are spacious with two queen beds and rosewood interiors that include desks, closets and lounge areas. Each room has a personal safe and coffee making facilities. Bathrooms are modern, completely tiled and have solar heated water.

Since there never has been electricity in this remote location until Tawali was completed, all the woodwork from framing to finished wood floors was done completely with out the help of power tools. Every board that needed to be cut, every carving and most of the furniture was built on sight by hand. This project has been a great boost for the local workers. Villagers who had never before been able to have jobs were trained by more experienced carpenters so that when Tawali was completed they had new skills to help them get better paying jobs.

Activity

Diving Activity


Tania's Reef
A large coral mount coming from 140 ft to just 8 ft from the surface. Divers are able to dive around the full circumference of the reef with a single tank. The South side of the reef is littered with soft corals of all descriptions. Large schools of fish feed off this face. The reef also plays host to giant clams and turtles.
Cobb's Cliff
Steep drop off on one side down to 150+' rising to just 20' below the surface and dropping back in the center to a sandy lagoon to 60'. This site is frequently visited by large pelagics such as Manta Rays and Hammerhead Sharks. The reef also hosts a variety of macro subjects such as leaf scorpion fish, Rhinopious, Blue Ribbon Eels, Elegant Fire Gobys, and so much more.
Wahoo Point
A small point located on the North side of the mainland with a shelf from 15' to 50' in depth and dropping with a sheer wall down to 200+'. This site is frequently visited by Hammerheads, Manta Rays, occasionally Whale Sharks, Minki Whales and on two occasions, Orcas. The site also hosts a variety of anenomies, a school of Barracuda and very large Elephant ear sponges. A great place for wide angle photography.
Lauadi
This dive site you could spend a number of days doing, this location actually has two separate dives, straight off the boat, no deeper than 25' of water you have an incredible collection of cleaning stations, divers are able to get their teeth cleaned if they wish. The site has a variety of octopuses and on occasions, the Mimic has appeared.
Cherie's Reef
This is a beautiful drift dive along a slope that's covered with large Gorgonians and littered with large schools of fish. Particular Gorgonians host the infamous Pigmy Sea Horse.
Observation Point
A true rubble dive. Sand slopes going down 100' host snake eels, Star Gazers, Pipe fish, Flamboyant cuttle fish, Mimic Octopus, Spanish Dancers, Cuttle fish, Fire urchins with Coleman shrimp and the Bugs Bunny Scorpion fish.
Sponge Heaven
A sheer wall starting at 2' below the surface dropping to 200+' Honey combed with small caves. Huge variety of sponges and home to a variety of Nudibranchs, including the large Spanish Dancer. Beautiful night dive.
Jason's Reef
A small coral mound located in 150 feet of water. This mound has large schools of Banner fish and Fusiliers as well as many pelagics. Also on this mound is the sought after Rhinopious or Weedy Scorpion fish.
Pelagic Point
This dive site has relatively strong current and because of this there are large quantities of fish patrolling a steep wall dropping off to 130 feet. Sharks are often sighted on this site. The top of the reef which is approximately 215 feet, has a large number of bommies hosting a magnificent variety of sea life, ie: crabs, rays, rays not to mention all the fish.
Michelle's Reef
Located on the North Coast, this dive site provides both macro and wide angle. A shallow wall dropping off to 25 feet. Beautiful swim-through with gorgonians growing off the wall and sea bed. Able to shoot up into the jungle canopy from 20 feet of water. Also ideal for macro, a large variety of nudibranchs, Pegasus fish and on occasions Mimic octopus.
Crinois City
Coral mound coming up from 120 feet of water. As it's name suggests, it plays host to a variety of crinoids. The front slope of this reef is covered with a variety of black coral trees. Off the slope, huge schools of fusiliers, anthias and jacks circle. Excellent for wide angle.
Little China
A coral mound coming out of 150 feet of water. Typical of over 30 dive sites in close proximity. Large schools of fish over the front face, soft coral gardens where both macro and wide angle photographers can be more than satisfied.

Non-Diving Activity


Skull Cave and Waterfall Tour
Maybe not everybody's idea of fun, but it's not everyday you can stand in the darkness surrounded by piles of skulls is it? The skull caves are one of the tourist attractions of Milne Bay and a visit to them, together with a side trip to the nearby village & waterfall is a good way to spend a non diving afternoon.
The skull cave is underground and reached using a wooden stairway constructed by the local villages who use presence of visitors to show & sell their handicrafts and will be waiting for you when you re-emerge. After the skull cave, guest will proceed then to the waterfalls located Guides will take you on a forty minute hike up through the lush forest to beautiful waterfalls where guests can take a break for a snack and dip in the pool before heading down..
Mumu (Traditional Stone Cooking)
Mumu is an earth oven that operates by heating stones which are afterward put or arranged around on the food, covered with banana leaves firmly to prevent steam to escape during the process of cooking. The food usually consists of sweet potatoes, yams, bananas, taro, and chicken or pork. These ingredients are mixed together and placed inside freshly cut leaves from a banana tree. The banana leaves are wrapped tightly so that no air can leak out, and just before the package is sealed, coconut grease is poured into the package to flavor the ingredients. The package is then placed on the pile of hot rocks and covered with additional rocks and coconut husks.
Canoe Making Demostration Tour
Showcasing the skill and craftmanship and the rich history of boat making.
Bird Watching Tour
Many people do not know that Papua New Guinea is a bird watcher's paradise. Milne Bay is also home of Birds of Paradise. Witness how a male bird calling out the female bird. Unwind then and enjoy the paradise...
Dei Dei Hotspring Tours
The Deidei Hot Spring on Fergusson Island, Milne Bay Province, is a sight to marvel, with a certain mystical twist. Visitors to the place, located on the eastern side of the island, are awed by nature's force, and for those who do not believe in "black magic", a little convinced that there could be something out there. A whole day guided trip which includes a lunch and other selected activities.
Hiking Tawali
Take guided bush walks into the rainforest or walk along the coast through local villages. There is even an extended day hike across the mountain ridge rising behind the resort, where you can view the entire coastline and the dense rainforest canopy. Take a pair of binoculars to view the cockatoos, hornbills and parrots along the way.

Places

Bird Watching

Amazement

Spirit of Niugini

Dive Boats

Accomodation

Waterfall

Skull Cave

Culture

About Us

Culture

There are four regional, cultural and political groups: Papuans (from the south), Highlanders, New Guineans (from the north) and Islanders. Some authorities divide the people into Papuans (predominantly descended from the original arrivals) and Melanesians (more closely related to the peoples of the southwest Pacific), though some people (particularly those in outlying islands) are closer to being pure Polynesian or Micronesian. The dividing lines between these definitions is very hazy.

I cannot tell you what I like most. I was blown away. The food...and God knows I love to eat, was fantastic. The resort was laid out very well and the rooms were to die for. I mean with so much room I felt I was in a home. Patrick Hammer, Scuba Emporium

Environment

Papua New Guinea lies south of the equator and north of Australia. It's the last of a string of islands spilling down from South-East Asia into the Pacific, and comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and a collection of surrounding islands. The country is dominated by a central spine of mountains, the Owen Stanley Range, with many peaks over 4000m (13,120ft).
There are close to 9000 species of plants in PNG, most of them found in lowland rainforests. Around 250 species of mammals live in the islands, mostly bats and rats, but also including marsupials such as the tree kangaroo. There are also two kinds of echidnas (spiny anteaters). The real treat however is the 700 species of birds. There are more parrot, pigeon and kingfisher species - from huge crowned pigeons to delicate pygmy parrots - than anywhere else in the world. Other notable birds are giant cassowaries, kokomos (hornbills) and cockatoos.
Papua New Guinea has only four national parks, including Varirata National Park and McAdam National Park, but more have been proposed. The major problems facing the environment and its flora and fauna are logging and heavy-metal pollution from copper mines such as Panguna on Bougainville Island (currently closed) and Ok Tedi in the Star Mountains.

Need more information? Click here

Contact

phone : (675) 736-40607
email : reservations@tawali.com
web: www.tawali.com

Read Tawali Resort Privacy Policy.

Map

Port Moresby is the capital city of Papua New Guinea and also the International Airport. Qantas Airways, Airlines PNG and Air Niugini have daily flights from Australia to Port Moresby. There are also weekly flights from Nadi, Fiji, Honiara, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. Check with your local travel agent for flight details and fares from your country of departure.