By Jaive Smare
Source: www.myamazingparadise.com
Link: http://www.myamazingparadise.com/?p=298&lang=en-us
Once upon a time, Arovo Island was the site of a super famous resort in Papua New Guinea.
Situated a few minutes by of the coast of Keita in Bougainville, Arovo in the 1980’s was highly frequented by residents of the booming commercial and administrative center of Bougainville, Arawa, as well as by residents of the Panguna Mining Town a few kilometers up in the hills.
Someone said it was famous in PNG as well as in the entire pacific. I don’t know if that’s true, but for them to describe it in such glowing terms it must have been an awesome resort island.
Now, years after the Bougainville crisis, only birds hang out here.
Parrots, cockatoos, strange black birds that look like sparrows, hornbills…all kinds can be seen there. It’s like bird island sanctuary, the first thing you hear is bird calls non-stop. A bird watchers dream.
But there is almost no sign of a resort ever being here. Just giant trees and lots of bush. I took some photos and but it’s all just trees.
The only sign that there must have been something here is a large concrete jetty that extends into deeper water in the passage between Arovo Island and the mainland.
But apart from all the jungle and this disused jetty, there is one new man-made ‘development.’
A few years ago, a fishing vessel that belonged to a Taiwanese firm must have ran into the reefs or rocks that surround this area, blowing a huge hole in the hull of the vessel.
The ship is now beach on the Arovo beach facing Keita. Apparently, a huge snake calls its rusting hull home.
Arovo Island still has an awesome beach with fine sand and for bird watchers and the adventurists, it’s still a good place to hang out.
The kids I went with thought it was great, jumping and fighting in very fine coral sand with which they then painted their faces with.
For divers, the underwater life at Arovo is very colorful so should be a good diving spot.
I would like to thank Carmelita of Pidia village and her kids for taking me to visit the island. Carmelita runs a pretty cool village stay experience and you can contact her through Zhon Bosco of Bougainville Experience Tours to organize a village stay and picnic on Arovo Island.
She also pointed out some of the Kieta people’s sacred sites along the way, so I advise that if you want to visit Arovo, travel with the locals so they can help you with the local customs.
Please enjoy these pictures. If you have any memories of Arovo Island, please share with people like me who have no idea what it might have been way back then.
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Source: www.myamazingparadise.com
Link: http://www.myamazingparadise.com/?p=298&lang=en-us
Once upon a time, Arovo Island was the site of a super famous resort in Papua New Guinea.
If it wasn't for the jetty...you wouldn't know this beautiful island was a famous resort. More pics at the end of this post.
Situated a few minutes by of the coast of Keita in Bougainville, Arovo in the 1980’s was highly frequented by residents of the booming commercial and administrative center of Bougainville, Arawa, as well as by residents of the Panguna Mining Town a few kilometers up in the hills.
Someone said it was famous in PNG as well as in the entire pacific. I don’t know if that’s true, but for them to describe it in such glowing terms it must have been an awesome resort island.
Now, years after the Bougainville crisis, only birds hang out here.
Parrots, cockatoos, strange black birds that look like sparrows, hornbills…all kinds can be seen there. It’s like bird island sanctuary, the first thing you hear is bird calls non-stop. A bird watchers dream.
But there is almost no sign of a resort ever being here. Just giant trees and lots of bush. I took some photos and but it’s all just trees.
The only sign that there must have been something here is a large concrete jetty that extends into deeper water in the passage between Arovo Island and the mainland.
But apart from all the jungle and this disused jetty, there is one new man-made ‘development.’
A few years ago, a fishing vessel that belonged to a Taiwanese firm must have ran into the reefs or rocks that surround this area, blowing a huge hole in the hull of the vessel.
The ship is now beach on the Arovo beach facing Keita. Apparently, a huge snake calls its rusting hull home.
Arovo Island still has an awesome beach with fine sand and for bird watchers and the adventurists, it’s still a good place to hang out.
The kids I went with thought it was great, jumping and fighting in very fine coral sand with which they then painted their faces with.
For divers, the underwater life at Arovo is very colorful so should be a good diving spot.
I would like to thank Carmelita of Pidia village and her kids for taking me to visit the island. Carmelita runs a pretty cool village stay experience and you can contact her through Zhon Bosco of Bougainville Experience Tours to organize a village stay and picnic on Arovo Island.
She also pointed out some of the Kieta people’s sacred sites along the way, so I advise that if you want to visit Arovo, travel with the locals so they can help you with the local customs.
Please enjoy these pictures. If you have any memories of Arovo Island, please share with people like me who have no idea what it might have been way back then.
Arovo Island, its all bush & birds
Approaching Arovo Island
Pokpok Island in the distance
Pokpok Island in the distance
Quite Place on Arovo
Arovo Jetty.On the other side is the Kieta 'point.'
Kids playing in Arovo's fine white sand.
Rock wall with the shipwreck in the distance
The Arovo shipwreck
The damage to the hull of the shipwreck. A big snake lives here.
sun, shade, great swimming at Arovo
The Arovo Island Jetty
Arovo still great for climbing coconut trees
Anchor Up!! Leaving Arovo Island..notice the lush trees
One of the Kids who visited Arovo with Me
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13 comments
- 1 Jessie Joske { 12.11.10 at 23:04 }
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Great story and great pics…very interesting….Arovo Resort..someone should should start up a resort there again..its got great potential judging from the pictures..
The place sounds amazing
- 2 Lisa Colless(now)Stevenson { 12.12.10 at 12:08 }
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We used to have short getaways at this island resort.Roy Orbison would be playing throughout,and the men and women always wore tropical themed clothing when not in their swimmers.A secret spot thats still relatively unspoilt…..One word for it…BEAUTIFUL
- 4 Linda Saul { 12.13.10 at 8:37 }
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We used to go across and enjoy everything Arovo had to offer between 1981-1989. As I recall, the ship wreck was already there..
- 6 Lester Hakalits { 12.13.10 at 10:31 }
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Jaive, Arovo was the isle of paradise in Bougainville…the expats especially hung out there and I always remember the one time I went there, it was a resort buzzing with activity both at the resort premises and on the sea…wind surfing and water skis were there believe or not..and the alot. Sadly, it was destroyed during the height of the Bougainville Conflict…I really want to see someone rebuild it. Thanks again Jaive.
- 7 Katherine Hakalits { 12.15.10 at 0:42 }
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It was an escape to a place where you would think you were a world away but just a quick 10 mins ride on the boat to the island…amazing place!! Miss it!!
- 8 Albertha { 12.15.10 at 3:40 }
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Jaive,great work..keep it up bro. I never knew this beautiful islands existed..will make ma way there very soon.
Thumbs up ***
- 9 Dave { 12.15.10 at 8:33 }
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I remember when I waws a boy, the Kokomo bird that lived on the island swooped me and grabbed my sandwhich! One minute I had a lovely fresh sandwhich, next minute it was gone
LOL I used to love walking over the island to the deserted beach on the other side. PLEASE can someone guide me on a holiday bak there?
- 10 Sue Atkinson { 12.19.10 at 20:03 }
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Our family ( Myself, husband Ted aka Lumpy and sons Mark and Peter) lived at Arawa from 1972 – 1975. We visited Arovo often during our time ther it was an Awesome place. I still have photos taken there.
- 11 Petrus { 12.20.10 at 8:52 }
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The place is still lovely. I use to live at happy valley in the 80s and travel every weekend with my family to the resort. I hope someone can reopen the place again.
- 12 Sharon { 01.06.11 at 9:14 }
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I remember Arovo Island, we used to catch the banana boat there from Kieta. I remember going there for the end of school trip in about 1984, playing volleyball, snorkeling, paddling bikeboats. My mother remembers snorkeling just off the jetty and coming face to face with a grey nurse shark. It was a beautiful place!
- 13 Ray { 01.26.11 at 10:20 }
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lived in kieta hotel for about 8 weeks in 78. As it was managed by the same crowd, spent most weekends at Arovo, travelling there on Friday nights and returning to kieta sunday afternoon…
fantastic walks on the white sands at sunset/night…relaxing on the deserted beach during the day….jigging for squid off the old wooden jetty at night….
this was a bonus paradise in an already paradise….
Leave a Comment
I lived on Bougainville from 86 to 89 and loved visiting Arovo. I often think of the pink and grey decor, and resort feel of this great place. My son caught his first fish here, and the staff cooked it at served it up for him in the restaurant. The beach was beautiful and jumping off the jetty to swim in the clear warm waters was great. Wonderful memories, and I too remember the Kokomo bird there. Yes the shipwreck was there when we used to visit. I have photos of the place when it was running.
ReplyDeleteI was just there , I was invited there by the elders of the land , I also am a travel agent and developer . I head back there to do enquiries about reopening up a small resort. I own tourist accomodation in noosa heads qld . will keep you all posted on how i go .. So far all is good and the doors are opening with or without the mine?
ReplyDeleteBougainville has so much potential as a tourist destination . phil
My father leased the island resort in 1974 and my husband managed it for six months elevating it from a business that was not doing well to a successful and popular resort. It was indeed very beautiful but not without it's problems having to survive on a not always reliable electricity generator and it's own water supply. The miners and hospital staff would come over on weekends and we would entertain them with barbecues, themed nights, bathtub races in the channel and our staff who were mostly Mortlock Islanders would do their island dances including an amazing fire dance. We had a wonderful time there although it was very hard work. It was originally built as an upmarket resort for visiting yachtsmen, game fishermen and people who just wanted to 'get away from It all'. Many happy and funny memories of our time there. Kerry Grieve.
ReplyDeleteI worked at Panguna mine as a teenager 1970/71. We used to go down to Kieta and visit the island hotel every few weeks. It was owned by my girlfriend's uncle. It was a simple hotel, from memory single storey, bar and typical restaurant for that part of the world. Nothing like a luxurious 2017 Seychelles resort! The visitors were mostly working people doing business or working at the Bougainville Copper Project. They weren't looking for luxury, just affordable fun.
ReplyDelete