Mendi -The Southern Highlands

The flight to Daru is about 35 minutes from Horn Island over the Torres Straits - the waters and 70 islands between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
We were met at Daru by the PNG Customs officers . Due to the burning down of the airport terminal ,paperwork and forms were filled out on the wing of the plane infront of an audience of about 50 locals.
We flew to Mendi via the Kikori River Delta and around the swampy town of Kikori- the river port for the Chevron Gas Pipeline.
About 50 minutes after leaving Daru we had climbed the ranges to land at Mendi at an altitude of 5600 ft.Flying in we realised we where now in another world of high altitude lushness, greenery and mountain rivers reminicent of New Zealand or Canada. The morning temperature was a refreshing crisp 20 o C on arrival .

With your outlook over the fast flowing mountain Mendi River and the lush cool gardens of the resort and onto the local hillside garden plots .
You can sit on the verandahs ,relax and enjoy a few cold SP's in paradise with one of the most best veiws in the world.
You can even try your hand at casting for a Rainbow Trout only 40 metres from the Bar - how good is that!

After a relaxing lunch at the lodge dining room Ted suggested that we visit town and the Markets.
We headed in and checked out the the range of fantastic vegetables on offer by various local stall holders.
The Highlands produce giant carrots,cabbages and just about anything else you can eat.
You can even buy the localy grown tabacco and "gunga" with demonstrations from the locals on how to roll your own 'cigar'!

The next morning we headed off with Ted to a river farther along the road to Mt. Hagen to try our hand at trout fishing.
We found a place where the river had less flow than near the lodge . After waded along the banks to find a few pools to fish around we soon realised the water levels were still too high and rapid to spot any Trout.
We were joined by 4 of the local children who guided us along the banks and through the jungle on the riverside.
Although we didn't catch anything we still had a fantastic morning in a beautiful part of the highlands.
On the way back via a short cut ,Charlie slipped in some mud and gashed his knee requiring a dash to the Mendi hospital for 36 stitches and a batch of pain killers and antibiotics- it was also his birthday -great present!
About 2pm the heavens opened up -as is the comon weather patern for the region. That gave us a chance for a bit of a rest and once the rain had stopped we headed of to explore the grounds of the lodge.
We headed up a hill and looked at the grave site of one of the ancestors of the Lodges owners.
While on the hill we also caught site of a Bird of Paradise courting his mate high in the trees.
That night it rained again as we relaxed on the balcony of the lodge for a cleansing ale overlooking the lush gardens of the Lodge with its veiw of the Mendi River.

In Mendi we stayed at the magnificent 'Kibiru Lodge'about 15 minutes drive out of Mendi with Ted and Heather Hamilton the managers of this large resort in paradise.
The main building typifies a highland lodge with its grass roof utilises the local building materials.
The grounds of the lodge are on the banks of the Mendi River surrounded by beautiful Highland tropical gardens and lawns.

Localy grown Tabacco is sold in bunches to be rolled [cigar style] or cut to suit your tastes.
They even show you how to do it.

Girls who have been cutting grass walk the road from Mt. Hagen.
The grass is then sold from roadside piles to any one building a roof - or even for repairs to old thatched roofs.
All along the Highland roads building and fencing materials are for sale .