Bougainville Island
The island was named after Antoine de Bougainville, a French naval officer, and the first Frenchman to circumnavigate the world who, landed here briefly in 1768. He decided not to stay, fearing the local warlike ways.
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Papua New Guinea
New Britain, Rabaul and the Pacific War
New Britain is the largest of the PNG islands and also the one with the longest colonial history. It was here that German colonists first settled in the 1880s, hoping to exploit the local land and people.
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Manus Island and WW 2 in the Pacific
Manus is the smallest province in Papua New Guinea, both in terms of land area and population, but it has
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Pacific Foods: Kava
Kava is the root of the piper methysticum plant, a member of the pepper family. Although the natives of Pacific Islands have used kava in a social context for thousands of years, this fascinating plant has recently gained popularity in western countries as a herbal remedy.
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The Kokoda Trail Campaign
The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War in World War 2. The fighting during the Kokoda campaign represents the first time that Australia’s security was directly threatened.
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