Milne Bay province is a large area of PNG, with only 5% of the area being land. The area is enormous – roughly around the same size as New Zealand. There are four main groups of islands here; The D’Entrecasteaux Islands, which still have some volcanic activity and offers excellent birdwatching. The Trobriand Islands, also known as the Islands of Love. Woodlark Island, known for their beautifully crafted wood carvings. And finally, the Louisiade Archipelago which is mostly only accessed by yachties.

Milne Bay is within the province and is a large bay to the southeastern tip. During WWII, the Battle of Milne Bay (25 August – 7 September 1942) took place here. Milne Bay was a significant base for the Allied troops, made up predominantly of an Australian garrison. The battle was significant in that it is considered to be the first battle in the Pacific campaign where the Allied forces decisively defeated the strong Japanese land forces, causing them to withdraw and abandon their strategic objective completely. Subsequently, Milne Bay was developed into an Allied base used to launch further attacks in the region.

Today, divers come to explore the biologically diverse coral reef systems of Milne Bay and experience the beautiful tropical setting and maybe even the fascinating culture of some of the islands.