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About
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Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort is a premier le isure and dive destination of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea .
Situated on a limestone bluff backed by densely rain forested hills overlooking the clear and protected waters of Milne
Bay **. This One (1) Hectare Resort boasts of Twenty two(22 ) spacious Standard Rooms, Bungalows and Premier Villa ,
making it the first of its kind in Milne Bay Province
Each room is well appointed and reflects an exceptional Local Contemporary Design.
Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort has a magnificent Hous e Reef wherein hundreds of spec ies to discover, a Restaurant located
at the main building , which offers a wide variation of I nternational and Local a la carte or Buffet dishes at the finest
ingredien ts , Look Out (Viewing where you can indulge and relax while basking the spectacular panoramic view of
Milne Bay , a Conference Center for meeting, conferences and events, Swimming Pool where you can enjoy a few stroke and
relax on the sun bed . Dive Center and Dive Shop, one of the best diving facility in Milne Bay Province guided by the
Professional PADI Licen sed Dive Master s The Spirit of Nuigini, a Live Aboard Charter and Tawali Explorer for cruising
experience in Milne Bay.
Tawali Leisure and Dive Resort is an ideal location for Holidays, Unique Diving Experience, Meetings, Conferences and
C elebrations.
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Property amenities
Car park
Public wifi
Pool
Bar / lounge
Beach
Boating
Kids stay free
Babysitting
Pool / beach towels
Swimming pool toys
Pool with view
Adult pool
Outdoor pool
Saltwater pool
Shallow end in pool
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Complimentary welcome drink
Outdoor dining area
Wine / champagne
Canoeing
Diving
Hiking
Snorkelling
Water sport equipment rentals
Windsurfing
Fishing
Walking tours
Board games / puzzles
Books, DVDs, music for children
Children's playground
Kids pool
Highchairs available
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
24-hour security
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
First aid kit
Express check-in / check-out
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Desk
Dining area
Housekeeping
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Bath / shower
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Seating area
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Bottled water
Clothes rack
Iron
Private bathrooms
Electric kettle
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Mountain view
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Languages Spoken
English, Filipino, Japanese
Location
Hewiia 211 Papua New Guinea
E-mail hotel
Getting there
Car HireSee all Hewiia car hire
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Detailed Reviews
+1
We traveled here with a young family in October and it was amazing. From the moment you get off the boat the warm welcome and friendly staff just make it special. A huge thank you to Nozaki who was so helpful in assisting with our booking and ensured everything was in order for our perfect holiday. She even checked and alerted us that the special airfares were still available on a number of occasions. Traveling with young kids the staff were exceptionally thoughtful and offered for our dinner to be served earlier than the standard 7pm start. This was such a thoughtful gesture and never have we ever had such a attention and special treatment in the world. The food was great and a very big variety with 2 of us being vegetarians chef Benson did an outstanding job and there was plenty to eat and a very good variety. Outstanding fresh seafood every day. Snorkeling off the beach was great as well as the kayaks. Definitely do the skull cave day trip and remember to bring along some toys and clothes for the village kids as they are really friendly and it's pretty remote there. Definitely a highlight of our PNG experience and highly recommend Tawali for the most unforgettable stay. Lovely resort, untouched remote pristine location and amazing staff.
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Date of stay: October 2019
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â If you're going to have one PNG beach or island holiday Tawali should be the place!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tawali's location is really peacefull and amazing, surrounded by untouched wilderness and crystal clear water.
Spacious and comfortable rooms that might deserve a slight refreshing.
High quality service for housekeeping, meals, guided tours...
We were not yet OW certified at that time so we only snorkeled but it was already great ! We will definitely come back to explore diving spots there.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were looking for a Christmas break away from Port Moresby and found it at Tawali! Alotau (Gurney) is a short flight from POM, and were met by the bus for a 90 minute shuttle to a small dock where the Tawali boat was waiting to take us to the resort 15 minutes away. Lunch on arrival, shown to our room then were snorkelling on the (excellent) house reef by 2pm!
We were there for 3 days - saw the skull caves and nearby waterfall, went on a day trip to a nearby island, another snorkelling morning - had a great time! Food was also plentiful and tasty and all staff warm and welcoming. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: December 2020
Location
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed three nights at Tawali in late August 2018. The staff was friendly. The rooms were clean. The food was not very good.
My husband and I did two dives one afternoon. We rented equipment from the resort and they warned that it was second hand and sometimes not in the best of repair. On my first dive, my regulator leaked throughout the dive and when I tried to switch to my secondary air source, it free flowed, wouldn't stop, and blew my mask off. I had to make an emergency ascent, but fortunately, we were not too deep. The dive master changed the regulator for my second dive and then I was able to enjoy the gorgeous corals and sea life.
After three days visiting local sites and celebrating the beautiful waters near the resort, we were gathered in the dining room with all the other guests for dinner. That's when a band of armed robbers entered the room and proceeded to hold us all hostage for over an hour. They took computers, phones and cash from the guests, the buffet dinner and the liquor from the bar. They also repeatedly tried to break into the hotel safe.
Several guests were singled out to leave the dining room with the robbers and two young women were held at gunpoint while the robbers spoke over a radio trying to find the hotel's manager to gain access to the safe. After they fired two shots over the head of one woman, the other asked for the radio and asked the manager to please bring the key so that no one would be hurt. We found out later that this resort had been robbed in a similar manner the year before and were told that the manager had been hiding to try to keep the robbers from getting the key to the safe.
It was a terrifying experience, especially when I was first pulled out to leave the dining room with the robbers. (They shortly sent me and another woman back to join our group saying we were "too old"--never have I been so glad to be described as such!)
Once we heard their boat(s?) pull away, we went in search of the guests who had been taken away and were very grateful to find that none had been harmed. The hotel called the police, but they never came to take any statements. They claimed instead that they were going to pursue the robbers (in the dark? along a dark coastline?)
Given that the resort is located on a remote peninsula, it is easy to understand that it presents an easy target. This doesn't, though, excuse the resort from not sharing news of the earlier robbery with tour organizers so that they could decide if they wanted to take a risk on sending guests there. It's too bad because all that makes the resort vulnerable is also what makes it an appealing place to stay. Still, I feel future guests should be warned that there are very definite risks in choosing Tawali (or any similar resort on the coasts of Papua New Guinea).
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Date of stay: August 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
While concerned that negative comments may impact upon those who don’t deserve it, saying nothing allows the management and ownership to get away with a lack of real care. While Tawali is run by friendly and caring staff, there is a down-at-heal aspect to the place, which aggravates. For Tawali, in common with most accommodation in PNG, is not inexpensive. While the rooms are pleasant enough, they lack what would be best called homeliness. Little in the way of touches to make them other than apartments for the repose of the body. They are kept clean and were certainly pleasant enough, with verandahs overlooking Milne Bay, ceiling fans, A/C, bar fridge and an electric jug. The bathroom was adequate, yet mine could not manage to be provided with hot water for the entire 7 nights I was there. Many were the explanations, all pointing to the fault being elsewhere, the difficulty of supply in PNG, and anything which amounted to excuse. This without rectification of the problem, despite workmen climbing on the roof and in the ceiling space.
The exterior of the buildings are in slow decay. Bargeboards and fascias continue to rot, and spoutings fall askew, spewing rain water with deluge. A railing on the walkway to my room remained fallen down throughout my stay, and the boardwalks which connect all bungalows to the main complex were everywhere patched and rotting. Signs were erected to warn pedestrians about the slippery nature of these walkways, rather than real attempts to overcome this.
Food at Tawali is ordinary, if plentiful. The chef is a cook, and lazy. Seen on his phone much of the time, sitting about the main area. The meals, served in the bain-maries, rarely are hot, and are all versions of the what was presented yesterday.
The diving around Tawali is spectacular, although a little too much muck diving for my liking. Whenever divers with expensive, underwater cameras appeared for the days diving, my heart sank, as it meant the majority of the dive would be searching above areas of volcanic sand, for microscopic life to add to their photographic collection. But when we did get to the coral ravines and the drop offs, it was worth the effort in getting to the area, and Tawali does involve a few connections and transfers.
After arranging to get from POM to Gurney, the road trip from the airport was 90 minutes, albeit through picturesque countryside, and then there was a 20 minute boat ride.
A well maintained pool area was a pleasant diversion, and the activities around the locality likewise. The village walk past thatched houses with coconut palm roofs, banana plantations and taro gardens yielded a sense of timeless romance. No fibro cement in sight was a delight! Village life as it was in the beginning.
Tawali may find apathy its undoing, unless some real care and money is put into bringing it back up to standard, and introducing point of difference. For this is my second trip to PNG, and I will not return to Tawali, given a far better experience elsewhere, and Milne Bay offering alternatives.
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Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Have a look at what alternatives are available before selecting your room. Especially check for...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
+1
We stayed at Tawali for about 2 weeks in November 2017. We met friends from Australia for the last week and they stayed here as well. Our friends concurred with our review rating of 3 stars. This review includes the resort itself and the dive operation. Our purpose for staying at Tawali was to dive the sites in Milne Bay.
The resort
The resort is situated at the top of a large hill and is located about 2 hours from the Alotau airport. The first 90 minutes from the Alotau airport to the resort are by air conditioned van on a very bumpy road and the last few minutes are by boat. There are 2 docks at the resort and they are on opposite sides at the bottom of the hill. The dive shop (which we did not visit) is near one of the docks. The restaurant, lobby, outdoor patio, and rooms are at the top of the hill.
The views from the lobby, outdoor patio, and rooms are very pretty. Half of the rooms face the main dock and the other half face the dock near the dive shop. The higher your room number, the farther you are from the restaurant and lobby. Pathways from the rooms to the lobby/restaurant are covered (which is convenient during frequent rains). The trek from either of the docks to the lobby is up several ramps and flights of stairs, not all of which are covered. The ramps can be slippery. The trek from one dock to the other is probably a quarter mile up and down ramps and stairs. Hubby said he saw a boardwalk that may connect the two docks but I didn't see it.
Our room was huge (room #16). We had two queen beds, a desk, an area for hanging clothes, tons of floor space, a large bathroom, and a large deck overlooking the ocean. There were two electrical outlets - one near the coffee service shelf and one in the bathroom, so if you're diving you'll want to bring a power strip.
Our room was cleaned every day, but supplies were replaced on a hit-or-miss basis. If you need anything you can ask for it at reception and they will bring it to you. They provide 2 bottles of water and a pitcher of water each day because the faucet water is not potable. There is a small fridge in the room along with coffee, tea, sugar, packets for making milk, and shampoo and conditioner in the shower. We had to ask for coffee, tea, shampoo, conditioner, and toilet tissue replacement from time to time because it was missed during daily cleaning.
The air conditioner worked well and we usually had to turn it down at night because it could get quite cold. Lighting in the room was better than in many dive resorts. There is a drying bar on the balcony to dry dive gear, and a hair dryer was also provided upon request.
The food was plentiful but not overly imaginative and is served buffet style. Chances are the buffet will include coleslaw, shrimp, fish, at least one meat choice, fruit, and a starch. Dessert is served after dinner. If you have special requests you can ask the staff, or better yet ask for it in advance of your trip. For example, the first day we were there they served wonderful dark, hearty bread at breakfast, but I only saw white bread after that. Hubby explained that the hearty bread was probably served because of requests from prior guests.
Breakfast starts at 7:00 although some food items were available earlier. They ask that you are on the dive boat at 8:00. I thought one hour would be tight but it turned out to be just fine. Lunch starts at noon and they keep lunch available for late arriving morning divers and late arriving guests from Alotau. Dinner starts at 7:00 at night. Often we didn't come in from the morning dive until about 1:30 in the afternoon and lunch was still available. Internet is only available in the lobby and restaurant and is moderately slow.
The resort staff was friendly but not overly so, but certain folks really stood out. Chris (at the bar and in the restaurant), Clement (in the kitchen), and another lady (so sorry I can't remember your name but you work in the restaurant) really made our days. Thank you for service above and beyond!
Tours
We did the village tour and the skull cave/waterfall tour. We brought toothbrushes and toothpaste from our dentist to give to the village. Many people bring school supplies. The village is happy to receive these things as well as any donation you can give. I think most village tours go by boat to and from the resort, but we walked back to the resort (around 2 miles) because the boat was in use. I didn't mind the walk but BE SURE to wear grippy sandals or shoes that can get wet. There were several log crossings over the creek and other crossings through the creek. The village kids are quite friendly and inquisitive. We took pictures and showed them the images - they were delighted. We promised to print them and mail them back (which we're in the process of doing now) so the village kids can have a copy. This is better than having pics printed at reception (cost is pretty high and quality is pretty low.) You'll visit a village that has a school, a church, and several community buildings. We were able to talk with quite a few locals which was wonderful. It's a good idea to take kina if you want to buy local crafts.
We also took the skull cave and waterfall tour. I loved this adventure. You go to the skull caves by boat and then climb about 10 minutes before you enter the skull cave. Very engaging. You then go by boat to the waterfall. Along the way you'll meet friendly kids and pass by a couple of locals selling crafts.
Dive Operation
There is one large dive boat and one or two small boats. Dive locations from the big boat are decided each night. The large boat will accommodate about 20 divers, but most days there were far fewer divers on the boat. If you don't like the dive site selection for the big boat, if you have 4 divers, and if a smaller boat is available, you can select to go to a different dive site. Usually there is one guide per 4 divers. We had several 80 - 90 minute dives, especially on the muck and shallower dives.
The boats can leave from one of two docks and there was some confusion on several days about which dock the boat would depart from. Because the docks are a fair distance from each other, it's best to confirm with the dive manager which dock to use. We got different answers when asking different personnel, so be sure to confirm with someone who knows.
Some guides were far better than others, and some guides know the muck site better than others. There really is only one muck site, but it's a very good muck site. The coral reef sites closer to the resort are average, and the coral reef sites further out (an hour or longer from the resort by boat) are a bit better. If you are there for muck diving it's important to note that there is just one muck site and it is only reachable by boat. Since so many people want to dive the coral reefs and not the muck, you will need at least 4 muck divers in order to take the smaller boat unless the big boat is scheduled for muck diving (which only happens about once every 3 or 4 days.)
Snacks between dives are always available as is water, coffee, and tea. The big boat either schedules 2 morning dives and comes back to the resort for lunch, or schedules the 3 dives on the further reefs and includes lunch on the boat. IMHO the house reef is average at best. We did one dusk dive to see the mandarin fish. We've seen mandarin fish in several other places and I wasn't overly impressed with either the house reef or the mandarin fish activity. Keep in mind that dusk or night dives that include a dive guide cost extra. Don't assume you can exchange an afternoon for a dusk dive without additional cost unless you agree to this before the dive.
Help with your tank before dives was hit-or-miss. I ended up hoisting my tank and BC out of the hole by myself more often than not. It's been our experience in other places that the boat staff are ready and able to help you get into your BC, but I didn't find this to always be the case at Tawali. However, changing tanks between dives and overnight was always done by the boat crew. I left my wetsuit on the boat overnight because the staff dunked the wetsuits in soapy water and left them to dry. This was very convenient. Be sure to analyze your tanks when diving with nitrox. The oxygen content varied from 29 to 34 %.
Conclusion
There is much to like about Tawali (it is very remote and is situated in a beautiful area). The one muck site is great, and we dove this site at least 12 times before a storm came and messed up the muck site. The one time we dove it after the storm it was not as good, so timing and good luck can make a big difference in your muck experience. I should have done more research about the muck sites near Tawali - I wished there were more than just one. The coral reef sites were okay but I think I am getting harder to impress. I'd say they were not as good as Beatrice or Sombrero in the Philippines (Batangas Bay - but keep in mind that info is over 10 years old) but better than most sites in the Caribbean. There is some current on the coral reefs, especially those furthest from the resort.
Some of the dive guides and boat crew were not as attentive as I would have expected, and some are more knowledgeable and energetic about pointing out critters. All in all I would say it was above average in terms of restaurant service, average in terms of food and friendliness, and average to below average in terms of dive organization and knowledge. The coral reef sites were good and the muck diving site was great but limited.
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Date of stay: November 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
Location
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The resort is an outstanding accomplishment. It is totally remote -- accessible only by a long drive followed by a boat -- and yet it is completely up to western standards in terms of luxury, comfort, and cleanliness. And the diving is spectacular ... among the healthiest reefs I have ever dived (I have dived all over the world).
Guests are housed in cabins that are connected by a covered walkway. The rooms are decorated in a sophisticated and attractive manner ... sort of 90% Pottery Barn and 10% ethnic/folk. Each room has its own deck that generally has a beautiful sea view. The main lodge is tastefully decorated and a lovely place to hang out after dives, pre-dinner, or whenever. Meals are served in the main lodge buffet-style; the food is very varied, plentiful, and generally quite good.
The staff is very accommodating -- to the point of arranging for impromptu video showings (from the staff's personal collections) if, for some reason, you are sick and have to miss a day or so of diving. And if you find yourself in that situation, tasty snacks (popcorn, sashimi made from locally-caught tuna, and the like) may appear.
The dive operation is pretty good. They have access to a fleet of boats of different sizes. Maintenance of the fleet is an obvious challenge given the remoteness, but they have sufficient redundancy that they always had enough boats operating to accommodate our large group (that filled up the resort). The dive guides are mostly local (or regional) and have been trained by the resort. They're pretty good, to varying degrees, at pointing out stuff to people who want a guide. There's a lot to see, including a lot of small things (e.g., an extraordinary array of nudibranchs), so it's helpful to have a guide at least for the first dive in a particular site. Some of the dives are easy, but then tend to the intermediate and advanced, especially if there's some weather and choppiness. They take care of rinsing your dive gear every evening, which is kind of nice, but if you are a large group expect a little confusion at the end of the trip in getting precisely your gear back (everything worked out in our case but it took a couple of hours the last morning).
The resort is very remote. It is near some villages but you can't really go walking around. The resort will, however, set up guided tours and the prices are reasonable. And, if something (e.g., a festival) is going on in town (Alotou), they'll tell you about it and arrange an outing if you like.
Air travel can be touch and go to Alatou. You may want to build an extra day or so into your itinerary in case your flight is canceled, so that you can be sure to make your international connection. We spent an extra day in Alatou, courtesy of Air Nuigini, when the pilot of the plane that was supposed to take us to Pt. Moresby decided that the cloud cover was too low to land the plane to pick us up.
All in all, a very memorable vacation in a beautiful, and exceedingly remote, location.
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Date of stay: August 2008
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Check-in / front desk
Service
Business service (e.g., internet access)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tawali R, Guest Relations Manager at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort
Responded 16 Jul 2014
Thank you for taking the time to review the Resort. We appreciate all of your feedback and hope to see you back one day soon
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
As resorts go it is paradise! the view is wonderful, the cooks and guides are great BUT there is a sheer lack of security. We planned to be there for a week, but on November 26th, at noon, the resort was held up by 10 armed gunmen, with homemade guns,two of them escaped prisoners from the Alotau jail one pointing his gun at my husbands head and others pointing axes,marchetes and guns on the other two guests that were there. We endured 4 hours of agony as hostages before any help came. Luckily my second mobile was not stolen so I could call for help from the embassies and our travel agent. Money and cell phones were stolen, fuel lines cut at the jetties, folks injured as they were beaten by the rascal intruders. Lots of interrogations and discussions followed by the police and the dept. of tourism, but we have not heard from the Resort management after we left. We are glad that we came out alive. The divers were gone for the day, they came back to a broken and disheveled environment, we had stayed on at the resort choosing to take the village walk that day. The next day we all left to go and stay in town. This is a great diving/snorkling place, BUT good security needs to be put in place.
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Date of stay: November 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â all rooms have a great view but can be vulnerable to intruders
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tawali R, Director of Sales at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort
Responded 8 Jan 2016
Thank you for taking to the time to comment. Our sincerest apologies that you were present during this incident. It was a huge shock to all involved. For those guests who chose to relocated for the remainder of their stay the Resort Owners' representative immediately flew up to meet with those guests and discuss any concerns they may have. He then travelled on to the Resort to meet with other guests and our staff. We are very grateful with how quickly the Alotau police responded to our request for help and for their on going assistance. We have been able to provide trauma counselling for our staff to ensure that they feel secure and comfortable continuing to work with us. The safety and wellbeing of our staff and guest is a high priority for us at Tawali. There has always been security onsite at the Resort. We now have two police who (discretely) remain at the Resort on a full time basis. If you wish to discuss this incident any further feel free to contact myself sales@tawali.com or the Manager, manager@tawali.com and we will be more than happy to assist you.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We (2 ladies mid 50's) had 7 nights at Tawali in Mar13. Our stay at Tawali exceeded all expectations. It's remote location makes it very special - the road from Alotau had recently been graded - so the road and boat trip to get to the resort was 1 hr 45 mins. This journey is part of the holiday as you get to see the coastal East Cape Road and different villages on the way, and the last 20 mins is a boat ride to the resort - stunning coastal scenery. Arriving at Tawali we were greeted by smiling staff and then directed up to reception for a refreshing drink on the deck overlooking the bay. This was followed by a tour of the resort, so that we could get our bearings and then we were shown to our well appointed bungalow which was lovely - spacious, aircon, great balcony with wonderful views. For those who like TV, there is a TV, but limited channels, due to location.
Tawali Resort represents the culture and artwork of PNG - timber walkways, the large support poles in the main building and elsewhere are intricately carved. The common lounge room has lots of different books to read - info on PNG, diving mags, etc.
We did the early (4.30 am start) Bird of Paradise tour - Gilbert was a wonderful guide and we were very fortunate to see quite a few Bird of Paradise and a very big cuscus (possum).
The Skull Cave and Waterfall tour was also very good - skull cave very interesting and the waterfall was lovely.
3 Village Coastal walk was very good - very informative re the culture and village life.
Snorkelling at the house reef and off the boat (Coral Garden reef) was very good and we were accompanied home by a pod of dolphins... beautiful!!!
3 Hour afternoon fishing trip - caught tuna - lots of fun.
Kayaking - the kayaks are complimentary, and very easy to paddle around the bay
Boia Boia Waga Island Picnic Day - Gorgeous small island, white sand, very good snorkelling. On the way back, we had a quick stop off at The East Cape (the very tip of PNG) and had a look at the market. Great day out if you love picturesque islands, snorkelling, and a visit to east cape.
We visited the Wagohuhu School (which is in a village close to Tawali) and gave some goodies to the teacher and kids -educational and fun items are always appreciated.
The Tawali management and staff were great. All of the tours were very good and the guides were knowledgeable and proud of their beautiful part of PNG. The food was delicious and plentiful.
Tawali isn't just a dive resort, there are many choices of different activities and also one can choose to sit, relax and enjoy the beauty.
We had the non divers package which included accommodation and all meals and we thought it was good value. The tours are very reasonably priced - the fishing (trolling) is dearer due to the amount of fuel required - but still worth it if your a keen fisherman/woman.
Tawali is a special place!!!
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Date of stay: March 2013Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Before reading, bear in mind that this place is ISOLATED.
You won't find marble sinks, or Mercedes Benz chauffeurs.
The rooms (huts) are tucked on a hill in the bush overlooking pristine clear reef.
The staff are excellent and helpful, and obviously well trained.
We were picked up from Gurney airport in the resort bus, which is battered - but Gurney airport is a shed and you are a long way from civilisation so deal with it.
An incredible bus ride on dirt roads through Alotau and beyond takes you to the small jetty where a boat will whisk you to the resort.
Diving and snorkelling are the best I've ever experienced. Take a boat and a guide.
We don't dive, just snorkel, but short dive trips close to the resort are amazing.
The rooms were nice and well air conditioned.
Food was great.
The silence and beauty of the place is incredible.
Don't expect 5* luxury, but expect to be well looked after in one of the most amazing places on earth.
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Date of stay: March 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â The 'big' house is close to the water, but you may prefer to be up on the hill amongst...
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Response from Tawali R, Director of Sales at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort
Responded 16 Jul 2014
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful time and that our beautiful piece of paradise met your expectations. We look forward to having you back again some time.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Yes, Tawali is primarily for Scuba diving. Generally doing 3 boat dives a day. There is availability for diving on the house reef and extra boat dives can be arranged.
Internet connection can be slow or non-existent. Meals are buffet, not a la carte with a couple of choices. Food is pretty good. There's nowhere else to eat, so definitely worth booking! Don't remember how much we paid for trips, but they were great - bird-watching our favourite.
Not sure exactly but probably around 10+ units. A wonderful remote paradise that is highly recommended.
Negatory. There's a really expensive laundry service - you could just about buy a new pair of undies for 4 kina! We hand washed in the bathroom and hung our washing on the veranda. No big deal.
H there
Yes, all our rooms are air conditioned.
"Avoid high/holiday season since the resort will be overcrowded by day tourists. As for a bungalow half with the other half not occupied."Read full review
"If you're going to have one PNG beach or island holiday Tawali should be the place!"Read full review
"Have a look at what alternatives are available before selecting your room. Especially check for hot water."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
HK$782 - HK$868 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Papua New GuineaPapua RegionHewiia
NUMBER OF ROOMS
22
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Frequently Asked Questions about Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort
What are some of the property amenities at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a refrigerator, and blackout curtains.
What food & drink options are available at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort?
Yes, a parking garage and secured parking are available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort have airport transportation?
Yes, Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and a banquet room during their stay.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Filipino.
Does Tawali Leisure & Dive Resort have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.