Alotau

Infobox PNG Place
type = town
name = Alotau
othername =
province = mbp
llg = Alotau Urban
lang = English, Tawala, Suau, Tok Pisin
langarea = Tawala
dot_x = 155
dot_y = 144

---

caption = Alotau and Gurney Airport
pop = 10,025
popdate = 2000
poprank = 15th
est =
postcode =
elevation = 6
coor = coord|10|19|S|150|26|E|region:PG_type:city
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall = 3108
dist1 =
location1 =

Alotau is the capital of Milne Bay Province, a province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern shore of Milne Bay.

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 after it was shifted from Samarai.

There is a road from Ulumani to Alotau which passes the local Gurney Airport is named after squadron leader Charles Raymond Gurney of the RAAF, who was killed in the area in 1942. The airport is located 12 km from the town.

Alotau is the gateway to the Milne Bay Province which contains some of the most remote island communities in the world. Renowned for it's friendly people and amazing tropical islands, it is a very well kept secret and see's very few tourists each year. The whole of Milne bay offers some of the worlds best scuba diving and coral reef experiences.

Alotau itself is a busy regional 'Oupost' like town. Most facilities are available here although it can be sporadic at times.

Phones
Phones (Land lines) here are not always available. Mobile is available in the Alotau township, but as of Late 2007, nowhere else. International roaming MAY be possible, enquire with your phone company at home.

Postal
The local post office can send and receive mail (And faxes) for you. You will need to provide your own envelopes.

Banks
Westpac (With ATM) Not 24hr accessBank of South Pacific (With 2 ATM's) Not 24hr access

Internet
A small internet cafe is working now with a fairly reliable (Dial up) connection.

Web sites from Alaotau and the Milne Bay region

WildPNG conducts guided adventures starting in Alotau
[http://www.wildpng.com WildPNG - Papua New Guinea guided tours]

Local accommodation
[http://www.masurina.com Masurina Lodge]
[http://www.pngbackpacker.com Ulumani]
[http://www.driftwoodpng.com Driftwood]
Alatou Internation hotel

[http://niuginitourism.com Papua New Guinea tourism association]