Vanimo is the capital of West Sepik, or Sandaun, province in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. You can travel overland to or from the neighbouring Indonesian province of Papua via Vanimo.

Vanimo from the air.

Understand

A Malaysian-owned forestry company dominates the town's economy. The local hardwood, kwila, is exported mainly to China, but is now in danger of extinction. Vanimo attracts lots of shoppers from the other side of the border and often comes close to running out of basic supplies.

Get in

By plane

• Air Nuigini flies here from the nation's capital, Port Moresby, and from Wewak.

There are no scheduled flights from Indonesia, but a charter is possible to arrange.

By road

Vanimo is reached by a north coast road from Aitape and Wewak. Boats connect Vanimo to Aitape in 3h. Departure from Vanimo beach.

From Jayapura in Indonesia by road takes around 3 hours. Public transport services are available on both sides of the border. From Jayapura to the Indonesian border there are taxis (RP 200,000 per person / 2 Hours). In PNG, Public Motor Vehicles travel regularly the coast-hugging road between the Wutung border crossing and Vanimo (K10 / 50 mins).

Do

Vanimo is an increasingly popular surfing location. A short drive west of Vanimo finds surfing that is good from September to March, with breakers of up to 3 meters. But this is not an area for the inexperienced.

Sleep

• Sandaun Motel, PO Box 35, Vanimo 551, Sandaun Province, ☏ +675 857 1000, fax: +675 857 1119. 
• Vanimo Beach Resort Hotel, PO Box 42, Vanimo 551, Sandaun Province, ☏ +675 857 1102, fax: +675 857 1131. Close to downtown. Attracts a lot of patrons from nearby logging camps who like to play the slot machines. 
• Yako village. Bungalow accommodation is available for surfers.

Cope

Consulates

• Indonesia, Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea (P.O.BOX 39 VANIMO), ☏ +675 857 1371, +675 857 1372, +675 70012138, fax: +675 857 1373, vanimo.kri@kemlu.go.id. (updated Nov 2017)

Go next

A side trip to Jayapura in the neighbouring Papua province of Indonesia is highly recommended. Indonesia has a consulate in Vanimo that will issue visas, usually within 24 hours.