11 Night Cruise sailing from Cairns to Rabaul aboard Orion.

Retrace the adventurous footsteps of those first explorers to the lost paradise of Papua New Guinea. This was the world of headhunters and deadly tribal battles, still light years from the 21st century - but as you step ashore, you will be greeted with an excitable, heartfelt welcome from gentle villagers and an overwhelming simplicity of life that is long gone from our Western world. You will witness mysterious ceremonies derived from a thousand cultures across the South Pacific. Explore remote coastal villages surrounded by rainforests and towering volcanoes. Swim and snorkel in some of the clearest, most unspoilt waters in the world. And be reminded how a vibrant culture can be built from a strong family and tribal foundation. The joy of this expedition is to experience this deeply satisfying life first-hand and see the skills and knowledge that create a sustainable culture.

Highlights of this cruise include:

Cairns, Australia
The Cairns region is internationally recognised for worldclass attractions, superb natural features and friendly north Queensland hospitality. It is the focal point for the magnificent World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is surrounded by tropical rainforests. Visitors enjoy browsing at indigeneous art galleries, shopping at the night markets and dining out on multicultural cuisine in the many restaurants along the esplanade.

Alotau, Milne Bay
Alotau, the capital of Milne Bay Province, is located at the eastern tip of mainland Papua New Guinea. The rugged Owen Stanley Ranges to the west have isolated Alotau and there is no road access to the rest of the country.

Many of the population of around 10,000 rely on the sea for their livelihood and as a result the busy harbour is the focal point of the town. Cargo movements drive harbour activity, and there is an array of colourful vessels to be seen, ranging from tiny canoes to well-equipped charter boats.

Australian military history is closely linked to this area. The recently completed Battle of Milne Bay War Memorial is close to the foreshore and has a detailed description of the battle. In August 1942, the battle over Gurney Airstrip saw the Australians win the first significant land-based victory over Japanese forces in the Pacific. Remnants of the battle are still being discovered, with aircraft, vehicles and tanks to be found on land and on the seabed.

Australian troops had, at Milne Bay, inflicted on the Japanese their first undoubted defeat on land. Some of us may forget that, of all the allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army.

Field-Marshal Sir William Slim, Defeat Into Victory

Samarai & Kwato Islands
In the early 1900s Samarai Island was the thriving colonial capital of the territory of Papua and the town's streetscape carries reminders of those bygone, halcyon days. Back then it was described as one of the most beautiful places in the South Pacific.

Despite its faded-glory atmosphere, commerce is still the lifeblood of this tiny island, just 24ha in area, with inter-island trading ships frequenting the harbour. A pleasant stroll through the town can be taken past the wharf and the Trading Company opposite to the sports ground, which is still the scene of fiercely contested cricket matches. From here a relatively easy climb up the small hill near the old hospital is rewarded with wonderful views of the harbour and the China Strait.

The China Strait islands surrounding Samarai have a history of witchcraft that persists, despite the best efforts of missionaries to debunk stories of ghost ships and mysterious lights.

Just three kilometres west of Samarai is Kwato Island, where European traders broke their journey en route to the South Pacific in search of gold and to trade in mother of pearl, sandalwood and sea cucumbers (beche de mer).

In 1891 the Reverend Charles Abel and his wife, Beatrice, founded a church and mission, and established a series of self-sufficient coconut plantations to finance their religious work. Boat building also begun and the mission's boats were used to transport and supply Australian Coastwatchers during WWII. The Reverend Abel is best remembered for his theory that the game of cricket would have a civilising influence over the tribes and a local variation of the game is still strong in Papua New Guinea today.

The island is peaceful, with the remnants of boat-building equipment evident amongst the trees. A shady road leads to a hilltop clearing in the centre of the island and the impressive old stone church dating from 1937. Both the church and the sweeping views of the surrounding seas are worth the climb. During WWII this spot was used as a strategic gun position

Also in the group is the uninhabited island of Deka Deka which we will use today as a base for swimming and snorkelling.

Kitava, The Trobriands
In 1793 the French vessel Esperance marked the first European visit to the Trobriand Islands, which were named after the first lieutenant on board - Denis de Trobriand. The area soon became a hub for trading ships from Europe, American whalers and German ships seeking supplies of yams.

The islands are famed for its beautiful beaches and today you'll have the chance to visit a village and see examples of the distinctive yam houses. The people rely on subsistence farming and fishing, and the yam plays a very important role in their diet. More than just the staple diet, yams are revered by all, being proudly displayed after harvesting and then kept in elaborate storehouses. The unique Trobriand culture was studied by the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski in the early 1900's and resulted in the islands being dubbed (perhaps erroneously) "The Island of Love".

Orion guests will be able to admire and purchase carvings which are renowned throughout Papua New Guinea for their high quality and workmanship - look for walking sticks, small stools and bowls of various shapes and sizes.

Tufi
The magnificent scenery around Cape Nelson on the north coast of the mainland is a well-kept secret. More than 30 fjords are carved into the shoreline with each fjord being surrounded by dense rainforest above sheer basalt walls, many with waterfalls plunging into the sea. Sandy beaches meet coral reefs and the crystal clear water is crammed with diverse marine life - a perfect combination for swimming, snorkelling and diving.

Local villages are set in isolated areas along the coast and on the imposing slopes of Mount Trafalgar. The cultural heritage of the area is based on subsistence farming and fishing. The Oro pottery and Tapa cloth-making is also renowned throughout Papua New Guinea.

The world's largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra Birdwing, inhabits the rainforest, and specimens with a 30cm wingspan have been found. The world's largest grasshopper, longest stick insect and longest beetle can also be found in the Tufi area.

Tami Islands
Today we will land at the Tami Islands, a seldom-visited island in Morobe Province not far from the town of Finschaffen.

The Tami Islands are a small group of uplifted coral atolls, with two main villages on the two larger islands and many smaller reefs and cays. In the centre is a beautiful, crystal clear blue lagoon with abundant marine life and stunning coral formations.

The local people will greet Orion with an authentic cultural performance and there will be an opportunity to purchase Tami artefacts and explore the islands and their beautiful gardens.

Madang
Early this morning, Orion will enter the spectacular Madang Lagoon, something worth climbing out of bed for. Madang itself is a pretty town set on a peninsula, with lush gardens and magnificent vistas of tropical seascapes, islands and inlets.

The market is a must-see - with masses of colourful produce, shell jewellery, woven bags known as bilums, carvings and Bilbil clay pots, which are a local specialty. The old German cemetery is close to the marketplace and the weathered stones are reminders of the German colonial past.

Divers come from around the world to dive sites just offshore, which encompass wartime wrecks, pelagic marine life, reef-filled shallow lagoons and drift-diving off deep drops. In the centre of the harbour is the wreck of a US minesweeper (the Boston), still intact after over 50 years.

Sepik River & Watam Village
The meandering Sepik River is the longest river in Papua New Guinea and for years has been a major trading artery linking the coast and the interior. From the West Papuan border, the Sepik twists its way towards the coast where the river mouth is more than a mile wide. Orion will take two anchorage positions during the day, one close to the mouth of the Sepik River and the other nearby the village of Watam, which is home to a population of 300.

In Watam, guests will enjoy a cultural display and meet some of the villagers to gain an appreciation of Sepik River village life. Local artists will have carvings and woven baskets available for purchase.

The dense vegetation and swampland to be seen along the river's edge is home to many species of birds - watch for egrets, herons, kites, jacanas, darters, cormorants and kingfishers. The two local species of crocodile may also be seen if we are lucky..

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
Set at the eastern end of the island of New Britain, the tropical port town of Rabaul has always been famous for its spectacular setting. Nestled beside Simpson Harbour, the township is surrounded by six volcanoes, one of which, Mt Tavurvur, is still active today. During more than 100 years of settlement, Rabaul has been rocked by massive volcanic eruptions and war, a testament to the resilience of the townsfolk who have rebuilt after each event.

The most recent major volcanic eruption was in September 1994 when Tavurvur and Vulcan covered much of Rabaul and surrounding villages with volcanic ash. This eruption saw the growth of the nearby coastal town of Kokopo which has now become the administrative and tourism centre for East New Britain, replacing Rabaul in that role..

The area played a significant role in WWII and the Japanese occupation in 1942 saw the building of hundreds of kilometres of tunnels underneath the town and the Gazelle Peninsula as protection against constant Allied bombing raids. It is almost hard to miss the rusting relics left over by the retreating forces. In one tunnel are five huge barges that were pulled along rails to the shore and back by prisoners of war. Dozens of sunken aircraft and ships dot the harbour and to the north are sea caves used as a drop-off point by Japanese submarines.