Arawa, Papua New Guinea: City Guide with United Travels

Welcome to Arawa, the largest town in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea [11, 24]. Nestled on the east coast of Bougainville Island near Arawa Bay, this town offers a unique mix of natural beauty, rich Melanesian culture, and poignant history [3, 4, 9]. Originally developed in the 1960s and 70s as a planned town to support the nearby Panguna copper mine, Arawa served as the provincial capital before the Bougainville Civil War [9, 11]. The conflict significantly impacted the town, but Arawa is resiliently rebuilding and recovering, emerging as a symbol of peace and hope [7, 11, 14]. Surrounded by lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and volcanic landscapes, Arawa invites travellers to explore its recovering streets, engage with its welcoming community, and discover the raw beauty of Bougainville [3, 4, 5, 14].