Alotau
title: "Alotau" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-milne-bay-province", "provincial-capitals-in-papua-new-guinea"] topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-milne-bay-province" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alotau" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Alotau |
| settlement_type | Town |
| image_skyline | MilneBay-Alotau.JPG |
| image_caption | Milne Bay, Alotau |
| pushpin_map | Papua New Guinea |
| pushpin_relief | yes |
| coordinates | |
| pushpin_label_position | right |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location within Papua New Guinea |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Papua New Guinea |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | Milne Bay Province |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Alotau District |
| subdivision_type3 | LLG |
| subdivision_name3 | Alotau Urban LLG |
| population_total | 15939 |
| population_as_of | 2012 |
| population_rank | 15th |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Languages |
| demographics1_title1 | Main languages |
| demographics1_info1 | Tawala, English, Suau, Tok Pisin |
| elevation_m | 6 |
| postal_code_type | Postcode |
| postal_code | 211 |
| timezone1 | PGT |
| utc_offset1 | +10:00 |
| blank_name | Location |
| blank_info | 365 km ESE of Port Moresby |
| blank1_name | Annual rainfall |
| blank1_info | 3108 mm |
| blank2_name | Climate |
| blank2_info | Af |
| :: |
| name = Alotau | other_name = | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = MilneBay-Alotau.JPG | image_alt = | image_caption = Milne Bay, Alotau | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Papua New Guinea | pushpin_relief = yes | coordinates = | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Papua New Guinea | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Papua New Guinea | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Milne Bay Province | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Alotau District | subdivision_type3 = LLG | subdivision_name3 = Alotau Urban LLG | area_total_km2 = | area_footnotes = | population_total = 15939 | population_as_of = 2012 | population_rank = 15th | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Main languages | demographics1_info1 = Tawala, English, Suau, Tok Pisin | established_title = | established_date = | leader_title = | leader_name = | elevation_m = 6 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 211 | timezone1 = PGT | utc_offset1 = +10:00 | website = | blank_name = Location | blank_info = 365 km ESE of Port Moresby | blank1_name = Annual rainfall | blank1_info = 3108 mm | blank2_name = Climate | blank2_info = Af Alotau is the capital of Milne Bay Province, in the far south-east of Papua New Guinea, on the tip of the Papuan Peninsula. It is located on the northern shore of Milne Bay and the township is conveniently situated within the Alotau Urban LLG.
Being the capital of the Province, Alotau Town is renowned for hosting revered cultural events such as the National Kenu and Kundu Festival and Huhu War Canoe Festival, boasting some of the Province's cultural heritage and traditional practices. The vibrant streets of the town come alive with an array of different cultures, with each group celebrating their traditions with displays of dancing, singing, music and craftsmanship. The Kenu and Kundu Festival is a celebration of the traditional dug-out canoes of all varieties & the wooden drums and kundu bands used in ceremonies, while the Huhu War Canoe Festival pays homage to the region’s ancient warrior culture. During both festivals, locals dress in unique ceremonial costumes and showcase their skills on their respective instruments. Visitors to Alotau Town can experience a unique blend of cultural practices and witness age-old customs that have been passed down through generations.
The Province's Main Sea Port (Wharf) facility run by PNG Ports Corporation Ltd, is conveniently located within the township and allows for smooth Tourist transits accommodating the likes of P&O and other major tourist vessels that run scheduled visits through the Province. This much welcomed visits usually affords many of the township's local SME's, Operators and Crafts-folk to capitalise on.
Its Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alotau–Sideia.
The town is located within the area in which the invading Japanese army suffered their first land defeat in the Pacific War in 1942, before the Kokoda Track battle. A memorial park at the old battle site commemorates the event. Alotau became the provincial capital in 1969, when it was shifted from Samarai.
Transport
There is a road from Ulumani to Alotau which passes the local Gurney Airport, named after squadron leader Charles Raymond Gurney of the Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed in the area in 1942. The airport is located 12km from the town.
Alotau is the gateway to the Milne Bay Province, which contains some of the most remote island communities in the world. Milne Bay is noted for its coral reef and scuba diving experiences.
Climate
Alotau has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with heavy rainfall year-round. |location = Alotau |width = auto |metric first = yes |single line = yes |temperature colour = pastel |Jan high C = 31.2 |Feb high C = 31.5 |Mar high C = 30.9 |Apr high C = 30.1 |May high C = 29.3 |Jun high C = 28.5 |Jul high C = 28.0 |Aug high C = 28.2 |Sep high C = 28.8 |Oct high C = 29.5 |Nov high C = 30.4 |Dec high C = 31.0 |Jan mean C = 27.5 |Feb mean C = 27.6 |Mar mean C = 27.3 |Apr mean C = 26.7 |May mean C = 26.2 |Jun mean C = 25.5 |Jul mean C = 25.1 |Aug mean C = 25.1 |Sep mean C = 25.5 |Oct mean C = 26.1 |Nov mean C = 26.7 |Dec mean C = 27.2 |Jan low C = 23.8 |Feb low C = 23.8 |Mar low C = 23.8 |Apr low C = 23.3 |May low C = 23.2 |Jun low C = 22.6 |Jul low C = 22.2 |Aug low C = 22.1 |Sep low C = 22.3 |Oct low C = 22.8 |Nov low C = 23.1 |Dec low C = 23.5 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm= 163 |Feb rain mm= 179 |Mar rain mm= 186 |Apr rain mm= 285 |May rain mm= 369 |Jun rain mm= 341 |Jul rain mm= 308 |Aug rain mm= 291 |Sep rain mm= 346 |Oct rain mm= 282 |Nov rain mm= 164 |Dec rain mm= 141 |source =
References
References
- "Alotau-Sideia (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]".
- "Alotau port". PNG ports.
- "Alotau Climate (Papua New Guinea)". climate-data.org.
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