Kavieng

Kavieng is located at the northern tip of New Ireland and is the commercial hub of the region. New Ireland is geographically unique in that extends 320 kilometres in length and just ten to fourteen kilometres in width. Situated within the New Ireland Province, the region includes New Hanover, the Saint Matthias group, Djaul Island and other island groups Tabar, Lihr, Tanga and Feni Islands. New Ireland boasts a population of around 160,000 people. Three main cultural paradigms are still practiced by locals on New Ireland. While Tumbuan rituals are also practiced by coastal tribes in East New Britain, Malagan and Kabai are particular to New Ireland. The Malagan figure carvings, which are used in the final stages of ceremony to honour the dead, have become an iconic artefact due to the fact that early European travellers collected and returned with them to Europe. They can be viewed across a number of museums in Europe and Australia today. Malagan Beach Resort and Kavieng Hotel also have these types of carvings on display.

Things to see and do

Diving spots are plentiful in the region, with World War II wrecks dotted throughout Kavieng Harbour. Between the north of New Ireland and New Hanover, the region is flush with superb dive sites. Albatross Passage, one of New Ireland