We are pleased to announce the second instalment in our Victories in the Pacific series, The New Guinea Campaign. Departing on 13 November 2013 our 10-night voyage between Alotau and Rabaul allows you to relive the key battles of World War II in New Guinea, as Australian and allied forces held back the offensive of the Japanese Imperial Army in their seemingly unstoppable march towards Australia. During the expedition you will tour Milne Bay and Rabaul, with their many military artefacts, and pay your respects to Australia’s fallen soldiers at Lae’s impeccably preserved military cemetery. We will also be the first organised group to make a landing at historic Cape Gloucester on the western end of New Britain, and spend a full day exploring the villages of Buna, Gona and Sanananda. It was in these villages in October 1942, on the eastern end of the Kokoda Track, where Australian and allied forces launched a fierce offensive against Japanese bases, ultimately resulting in the sacrifice of some 2,700 Australian lives over three months before the Japanese were finally forced to retreat. Our itinerary has been planned with the expert assistance of Australia’s foremost military historian and author Mat McLachlan, ensuring that we visit the most historically significant locations throughout Papua New Guinea. Mat has spent many years visiting and writing about the first and second world wars in both the Pacific and Europe, and he will join us on board, ably guiding our excursions and sharing insights into the battles, along with countless tales of heroism of the young Australians who went to war, many of whom never returned. Be sure to ask us about our optional pre-cruise touring in Port Moresby, where there is the

opportunity to visit Owen’s Corner at the western end of the Kokoda Track, the Modern

History Museum and pay your respects at Port Moresby’s imposing Bomana War Cemetery

on Remembrance Day.

Victories in the Pacific Expedition Cruise

10 Nights - Departs Port Moresby 13 Nov 2013

MAIN DECK

(Cat. B)

MAIN DECK

(Cat. A)

PROMENADE

DECK (Cat. B)

PROMENADE

DECK (Cat. A)

BRIDGE

DECK

Twin Share, per person $9,090 $9,390 $9,790 $10,090 $10,590

Your Military Historian – Mat McLachlan : Mat McLachlan

Throughout this special cruise you will share in the extensive knowledge of Australia’s own military expert Mat McLachlan. Mat will explain Australia’s involvement in the battle and share

the legends of the Australian soldiers who upheld the legend of the ANZACs.

Prices are per person, twin share. Enquire for single traveller prices. Price is cruise only in Australian dollars.

Victories in the Pacific: The New Guinea Campaign

For bookings and information, please contact:

Day 1: Port Moresby, Alotau and Milne Bay This morning we board our special charter flight (included) in Port Moresby for the short flight to Alotau and Milne Bay. Even before we board Oceanic Discoverer we will be immersed in history! Our flight from Port Moresby lands at Gurney Airfield, constructed during the Second World War and one of the Japanese objectives during the legendary Battle of Milne Bay in August 1942. During the transfer from the airfield to the ship, we drive along the very roads where the Japanese advanced during the battle, and past the sites of bloody encounters with Australian troops, the first major land defeat the Japanese suffered during the Pacific War. We will stop at several key sites where Mat McLachlan, our acclaimed Military Historian, will discuss the ebb and flow of the battle. On arrival in Alotau, boarding of Oceanic Discoverer commences at 2:00pm for a 3:00pm departure. After departing Alotau we cruise through Milne Bay – our Military Historian will point our key landmarks from the battle. Enjoy time to settle in and explore Oceanic Discoverer before joining the Captain and his crew at the Captain's Welcome Cocktails.

Day 2: Dobu and Goodenough Islands We are greeted by a flotilla of canoes as we approach our Dobu Island anchorage early this morning. Our Guest Lecturer will share with you the history of the Kula Ring where Dobu Island was a pivotal link between the Kula trade routes. Travelling ashore, the local primary school children welcome us with a traditional dance before there is time to explore the village and learn of the villager’s traditional customs.

This afternoon we cruise around the Southern end of Goodenough Island, a strategic staging base for the Japanese attack on Milne Bay. Over 300 Japanese troops first landed on the island on 24 August 1942, but their landing craft were spotted by Australian Kittyhawk fighters. In an attack lasting just over an hour all seven landing craft had been destroyed and the Japanese troops were stranded. In October 1942 Australian troops landed on Goodenough and after a tough fight the Japanese forces made a strategic retreat to nearby Fergusson Island and eventually fled to Rabaul. Goode-nough Island was later used as an Allied staging base, and this is where the US 1st Marine Division was based before the invasion of Cape Gloucester in 1943. This afternoon, subject to time, we board the Xplorer with our Military Historian and Guest Lecturer to travel ashore at Belu Belu, the main village on the island and the site of the former Allied base of the former Allied base.

Day 3: Buna and Gona This will be one of the most significant days of our voyage as we visit the coastal villages of Buna and Gona. These two villages formed the main Japanese base during their advance across the Kokoda Track, and it was here that the Japanese made their last stand in New Guinea after their withdrawal following the Kokoda campaign. By November 1942 more than 6000 Japanese troops were dug-in in the Buna-Gona area, using the rugged terrain to great effect to conceal hun-dreds of machine gun bunkers and trenches. A com-bined Australian and US force launched a series of bloody attacks against the Japanese defenders, wrenching the ground from them inch-by-inch. By Janu-ary 1943 more than 22,000 men had been killed or wounded on both sides, a casualty rate that makes the Buna-Gona campaign one of the bloodiest of the entire Pacific War. The casualty rate at Buna-Gona exceeded the much better-known Guadalcanal campaign by more than 3-to-1. Today we will explore key sites from the campaign. Our first stop will be the site of the old Buna Government Station. Some of the heaviest fighting of the campaign occurred on this site, and Australian and US. Memories pay tribute to the men who died here. We will also explore key sites on

the battlefield such as the Old Airstrip, Simemi Creek and Giropa Point. Leaving Buna, we travel north along the coast to Sanananda, one of the three key Japa-nese strong points in the area. While here we will explore key sites from the battle and visit the Sanan-anda War Museum in Girewo village. We will make our final stop of the day at Gona, a former Anglican mis-sion that was captured by the Japanese in July 1942. The mission was recaptured by Australian troops in December 1942 after a month-long battle the claimed the lives of virtually the entire Japanese garrison. While here we will visit a memorial to two Australian missionaries who were executed by the Japanese, and see relics from the fighting. Day 4: Kotoku Maru and Lae This morning, off the coast of Salamaua, we explore the wreck of the Japanese Imperial Navy ammunition ship Kotoku Maru. While en-route from Japanese-controlled Lae to Bona on 30 July 1942 the Kotoku Maru came under attack from Allied aircraft, and was eventually sunk by American B17 Flying Fortresses. Today the wreck lies in shallow water and we will have the opportunity to SCUBA dive and snorkel over the wreck.

This afternoon we visit the city of Lae and pay our respects at the Lae War Cemetery. The cemetery contains 2818 Commonwealth burials, over 300 of them unidentified, and is also the final resting place of William Ellis Newton VC. Newton is the only Australian airman to have earned a Victoria Cross in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. We also enjoy time to explore the neighbouring Botanic Gardens.

Day 5: Finschhafen and the Island of Tuam The Japanese occupied the Lutheran Mission at Finschhafen as their headquarters from March 1942 until its liberation by the Australian 20th Brigade on 2 October 1943. This morning we cruise past Scarlett Beach, site of the Australian landing, before travelling ashore with our Military Historian to explore. Much of the town was destroyed during the war however we will see one of the old Lutheran buildings, which is still used by missionaries today. We will also visit the Finschhafen airfield, which was quickly constructed by the US Army 808th Aviation Engineering Battalion and was used as a fighter and bomber base for the remain-der of the Pacific campaign.

The afternoon brings us to the island of Tuam offering a mix of both mainland and Bismark Archipelago cul-tures. Their prized trinkets and decorations include dog's teeth, spondyllus shells and wonderful balsa wood and sago bark headdresses. We enjoy the wel-come dances and village hospitality.

Day 6: Historic Madang Madang sits on a peninsula surrounded by a number of picturesque islands and is famed for its diving, with excellent visibility and many war wrecks to explore. Discover the town and enjoy the opportunity to pur-chase a large selection of artefacts from the Sepik region. Enjoy diving, snorkelling, swimming and a harbour exploration.

Day 7: Sepik River and Volcanic Manam Island Sure to be a highlight, this morning we enter the mouth of the mighty Sepik River - one of the world's great river systems. Only with Oceanic Discoverer will you cruise well up into the Sepik region, renowned for its unique artefacts. Visit the remote village of Bien where the locals are amongst the greatest primitive artists on earth. Enjoy the opportunity to purchase unique hand carvings. On farewelling the Sepik, we pass the active volcano on Manum Island and enjoy the sunset.

Known as a turtle nesting ground and home of the giant lizard we explore the beaches of this seldom visited is-land. Spend time relaxing or snorkelling in the beautiful clear waters and enjoy glass bottom boat tours.

Day 9: Cape Gloucester In 1943 the Allies devised a plan to isolate the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul by capturing a chain of strategic sites around it. The plan was known as Operation Cart-wheel, and one of its key elements was the capture of the Japanese airfield at Cape Gloucester, on the western tip of New Britain. On 26 December 1943 the 1st Marine Division landed on several beaches at Cape Gloucester. Over the next four months some of the fiercest fighting of the war took place in the swamps and jungles of the Cape, before Allied forces eventually took control in April 1944.

This morning we travel ashore at Cape Gloucester, where our Military Historian will lead us on a walk through the jungle to the site of the original airfield. Even today, it’s possible to see many remnants left behind by both the Allied and Japanese forces stationed on the island. Cape Gloucester was one of the key battles featured in the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg mini-series The Pacific, and this is the first time a tour group will have the oppor-tunity to walk the ground where this epic action took place.

Day 10: Witu Islands - Kimbe Bay With the support of local guides, our Expedition Leader will lead us on an exploration of the region. Kimbe Bay has one of the world's richest and most diverse coral reef systems, home to over 860 different species of tropical fish and in excess of 400 different varieties of coral. Here we experience genuine island friendliness and hospitality. The Kimbe Bay area was also the scene of several key actions during the Allied advance towards Rabaul, and our Military Historian will discuss both American and Australian operations which took place here in 1944and 1945.

Day 11: Rabaul Rabaul was the provincial capital of the island of New Britain. It was first established by German colonists in the early 1900s and was occupied by Australian troops dur-ing the First World War. In January 1942 Rabaul was again occupied by Australian troops when it came under attack from the Japanese. An invasion force landed on January 23 and within hours Rabaul was in Japanese hands. Within months Rabaul had become the Japanese Army and Navy Headquarters in the South Pacific and formed one of the largest and most important Japanese bases in the Pacific. Operation Cartwheel, the Allied operation to isolate Rabaul, was extremely effective, and by early 1944 Rabaul was cut off from the rest of the Japanese forces. The undersupplied Japanese garrison held out until the surrender in August 1945 but their abil-ity to wage war had been completely neutralized. Today Rabaul has many reminders of its important wartime history and makes for a fascinating visit. We will arrive in the morning and enjoy a half-day tour of the town’s Sec-ond World War landmarks. We will also visit the beauti-fully maintained Rabaul (BitaPaka) War Cemetery, where over 1100 Commonwealth servicemen are in-terred, 495 of whom remain unidentified. We will hold an informal commemorative service at the cemetery, a fitting tribute to the men who fought and died in the New Guinea campaign. This emotional service marks the end of our journey through the battlefields of World War Two. At its conclusion we will travel to the airport to board our onward flights.

This itinerary is an indication of the destinations we visit and

activities on offer. Whilst every effort will be made to follow

the itinerary we do reserve the right to make allowances for

weather, tidal conditions and any other event that may affect

the operation of the vessel.