Welcome to Sibonai Guest House – a family-friendly and authentic New Guinea experience.
Stay in a comfortable thatched hut in the rainforest an easy three-minute walk inland from the bay, and spend your days exploring the bay in a dugout canoe, resting on the golden beaches of nearby islands, hiking through primary rainforest, visiting villages, snorkeling on kaleidoscopic reefs, bird watching, eating home cooked meals with fresh fish, and experiencing and learning about traditional island culture.
Sewa Bay is located on Normanby Island, and is part of the D’Entrecasteux Islands which lie off the eastern point of New Guinea in the Soloman Sea. The D’Entrecasteux are a part of the maritime province of Milne Bay, one of the most spectacular regions of the country. Sewa Bay was home to several US battleships in WWII and its glassy smooth waters are a large and varied area to explore. The bay is reachable from Alotau, the capital of Milne Bay, by vehicular transport first to the town of East Cape, and then by dinghy to Normanby Island.
Sibonai Guesthouse was designed to promote eco tourism and provide an authentic experience of the culture and nature of the islands. The guesthouse lies next to a cool stream, just off the bay, in primary rainforest. Guests will wake up to the sounds of the forest and can spot birds, insects, and mammals in the nearby trees. Guests can experience the unique traditional island lifestyle through village visitations, meals, and in-depth conversations. The accommodation consists of a thatched village hut with four large separate rooms capable of catering for up to eight guests (bedding and mosquito nets provided). A thatched eating patio sits across from the guesthouse, and all meals are home cooked and consist of traditional foods, such as fresh fish, yams, sweet potatoes, and noodles. A pit toilet is located a quick walk from the lodging and bucket showers are available–guests also have the option of washing away the day in the stream local-style. Sibonai is also an ideal base for plants and mammal research to view flora and fauna in their natural habitat.
Wonderland Adventure Culture Tours (WACT) offers excursions in and around the islands. The tours can be tailored to ability and interest. The day trip to Dutches Island is a popular excursion consisting of an outboard motor dinghy to the island, where guests can snorkel on pristine coral reefs, rest on the picturesque beach, hike in the surrounding rainforest and spot birds. There are many options of great things to do on and around the island, including village visitations and chats with villagers, dugout canoe trips (often combined with snorkeling on nearby reefs), hikes through the rainforest to pools and waterfalls, and much more.
Sibonai welcomes professional and amateur bird watchers alike and can easily cater tours to interest. There are many ideal birding sites not far from the guesthouse and guests can spot endemic and rare bird species in the rainforest canopy. The famous goldie’s bird of paradise (buyetai), lousiade white eye, and nicobar pigeon can be found on Dutches Island, and others can be spotted right out the backdoor of the accommodation. A bird list for Normanby Island is provided at the guesthouse.
Sibonai Guesthouse is an authentic cultural experience and caters to those interested in experiencing the island lifestyle, and thus can be a bit challenging for people used to a sedentary lifestyle. The general amenities are sparser and the time frame is different than those to which guests are accustomed; however, Sibonai Guesthouse is focused on hospitality and guests can be assured of excellent care. Milne Bay Province is quite safe for tourists, in part due to its matrilineal culture, and the local culture is very polite to visitors. Guests’ financial contributions will protect biodiversity and support local conservation efforts and values, not western-style accommodation. Each site tour and cultural activity takes place on private land and thus each has a standardized cost which is paid to the owners of the land that the activity utilizes. The guesthouse also has community support programs and any donations or tips offered will support this cause. Guests are advised to bring 60 litres of petrol for their return trip.
Host
Waiyaki Nemani
https://www.facebook.com/waiyaki.nemani
Welo
Sibonai Guest House 