Welcome to Bougainville’s website. This site is to encourage adventurous and independent travelers who enjoy exploring wild places and experience the amazing culture of island Melanesia.
Bougainville is situated about 5 degrees south of the equator and is hot. Bougainville is mostly volcanic with some areas of raised coral platforms in North Bougainville and Buka Island. It is surrounded by many islands, some are inhabited and others are not.

Bougainville has an interesting history, in particular World War II and the things it has left behind. Japanese, American, Australian and New Zealand forces spent time serving in Bougainville during World War II. The relics left behind are scattered all over the island from the east coast to the west, from north to south and on some of the islands surrounding Bougainville.

Bougainville has been inhabited for about 30,000 years. The diversity of Papua New Guinean culture has remained intact and is one of the oldest cultures that exist today. Papua New Guineans are some of the oldest agriculturists in the world, this is still evident today with most people depending on subsistence agriculture to survive. Bougainville has large plantations of coconut and cocoa that are worked in small scale production to produce money for food and school fees. Bougainville had the largest plantation in the south pacific known as the Numa Numa plantation.

Bougainville has many rivers ideal for expeditionary kayaking. The rivers drop steeply from the mountains are filled with boulder gardens and rapids of various degrees. Caves abound here, most caves have never been explored past their entrance. One cave exists on the west coast known as Bunua cave and is said to be around 4,500,000 m3. Two very active volcano’s are accessible by foot and provide a good taste of the rainforest of Bougainville as you pass through the different forest types as you gain altitude. The highest point on Bougainville is Mt Balbi which is still well below the forest line in the tropics. When you enter the crater it is like a moonscape with solidified lava and sulphur. Smoke and steam can be seen issuing from many vents. Bougainville's volcano’s are part of the Pacific rim of fire, they are spectacular to view.
The waters surrounding Bougainville are abundant in marine life with dolphins and whales passing through on their search for food. Tuna, mackerel and sailfish can be caught as well as many other species. Dugong also exist on the east coast of the mainland in sheltered reefs and sea grass beds. The reefs make for excellent snorkeling, no dive charter exists here yet. The reefs are teeming with a myriad tropical fish with a kaleidoscope of colors like a giant fish bowl.

Bougainville is going through a time of rapid change. Since the signing of the peace agreement in 2001 development agencies have been working on various projects from agriculture to business to improving health, education to name a few. Bougainville will be gaining autonomy in 2005 and it will then be able to decide on its on future direction. Elections are to be held mid 2005 paving the way for an autonomous Bougainville.