Madang’s pretty harbor is dotted with islands and surrounded by colorful coral reefs thriving in the clear waters. Built on a fertile peninsula, the town is backed by one of New Guinea’s most rugged mountain ranges cloaked in lush vegetation. Ethnic groups within the Madang Province fit loosely into four groups occupying the coastal, islands, river banks and mountains. Traditional clothing among these groups consists mainly of skirts of dyed, multi-colored pandanus or sago palm fiber. There are displays of arts and crafts, as well as various flora and fauna at several of the town’s resort hotels, which also sponsor markets for these goods. The local Didipa Clan owns a small tract of remnant rainforest, which is used for education and conservation purposes. Snorkeling and diving is excellent in the surrounding waters, which hold shipwrecks and abundant coral reefs.
