Oro Province, also known as the Northern Province, lies on the north coast of Papua New Guinea’s main island, New Guinea.
This region boasts some of Papua New Guinea’s most dramatic and awe-inspiring scenery.
Bordered by the formidable Owen Stanley Range to the west and the Solomon Sea to the east, Oro’s physical isolation has kept it largely off the radar for many travelers. So it rarely receives the number of visitors it truly deserves.
For divers, Oro Province is best known for the spectacular fiords of Tufi and the many pristine offshore reefs that stretch out from Cape Nelson.
The province played a major role in World War II when the invading Japanese forces landed at Buna. From there they tried to capture Port Moresby by going over the mountains of Owen Stanley Range by the infamous Kokoda Trail… A strategy that led to disaster for the Japanese and what many consider to be the very finest hours of the Australian Army in World War II.
Check out the sections below to learn more about this scenic and interesting part of Papua New Guinea.
Oro Province – A Guide…
Oro Province Overview
Oro Province Overview… This area of Papua New Guinea really is quite special. It enjoys an almost unique mixture of awe inspiring scenery, dramatic wartime history and strong village culture. Which, when all combined, really makes you want to go deeper in to what the province has to offer. …
Facial Tattoos of Oro Province
The Facial Tattoos of Oro Province are one of the most interesting and visually intriguing things about the local villagers in this part of Papua New Guinea. Tattoos, and body art in general, have enjoyed an incredible renaissance in western society over the last 25 years or so. Becoming a badge of honor for …
The Puri Puri Men of PNG
The Puri Puri Men of PNG… Puri Puri is often referred to as Papua New Guinea’s version of voodoo. It is in fact directly translated as black magic in Motu – the principal language of central PNG. A more accurate description would probably be sorcery. And in in recent years there has been a a …
Village Life in PNG
Village Life in PNG… To get a better understanding and appreciation of what life is like for the majority of the people of Papua New Guinea. You should really consider a couple of days at a homestay in one of the local villages – in my case Orotoaba… Staying in a village allows you to …
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