Alotau

Tucked just below the equator on the eastern shores of New Guinea (the other half belongs to Indonesia), the island nation of Papua New Guinea is home to beautiful tropical landscapes, azure waters, intricate coral reefs, exotic sealife and the wrecks of ships and aircraft that plunged into watery depths during World War II. From here, expeditions to the nearby isles of Samarai, Fergusson and Goodenough offer chances to delve further into history and spot wildlife amid unspoiled terrain.