Wewak - provincial capital of East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea.

Understand

From a travel perspective Wewak is mainly important as an access point for visits to the Sepik River. During World War II, it was the site of a large Japanese airbase and the location of formal Japanese surrender to Allied forces on New Guinea.

Get in

By plane

Air Niugini has daily flights from PNG's capital Port Moresby, Nadzab (Lae) and Madang.

Airlines PNG (dead link: January 2023) connects Wewak with Mt. Hagen in the Highlands and with Madang.

By road

It should be possible to reach Wewak from Papua (Irian Jaya) in the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea. From Jayapura by road to Vanimo in Sandaun province takes around 3 hours. Public transport services are available on both sides of the border. There are then road connections to Wewak. During flood season some of the river crossings may be impassable.

By Sea

Lutheran Shipping and Rabaul Shipping run passenger vessels from Madang to Wewak and Madang to Vanimo via Wewak a few times a week. Schedules can change so be prepared to wait a few days for a ship. Tickets can be purchased at the local Madang offices.

Get around

See

Wewak has a considerable number of relics from WW2 and, in particular, attracts many Japanese visitors.

• Cape Wom. This is a war memorial and peace park located on the spot where Lieutenant General Adachi signed the official surrender documents for troops in New Guinea, on September 13, 1945. Behind the memorial, there are some Japanese tunnels that are still open.

Do

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

• In Wewak Boutique Hotel, +675 856 2100. K215-500 per room

Connect

The Telephone Prefix for all numbers in Wewak (and also other urban centres) has changed. In Wewak it is now 4 instead of 8.

Go next

Wewak is linked by road to three villages on the Sepik River, Angoram, Timbunke, and Pagui.

There are 4 islands near Wewak which can be reached in under one hour by boat; Mushu, Kairu, Yuo, and Karasaw.