Tufi Resort

Tufi Resort is a boutique base for divers who want more than a bed beside the boat. It sits above the harbour with 180-degree views, a swimming pool looking down towards the fjord, and enough room to make the evening feel like part of the trip rather than an afterthought. English is spoken by the hotel team, so the practical conversations are straightforward from arrival onwards.

The mood here can run in two directions. You can keep things easy with the pool, a cold drink and the view, or use the resort as a starting point for village visits, coastal adventures and time on the water. It is a small resort with 26 rooms, set in a remote part of Papua New Guinea rather than a resort strip lined with shops and restaurants.

The hotel is in Tufi, in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, perched on the edge of a fjord and directly beside the sea. Jungle and mountains surround the property, while the cliff-top position gives the rooms and shared areas a broad outlook across the harbour and surrounding waterways. A white-sand beach is available on foot, with sun loungers and parasols for those who prefer their sea time horizontal.

This is a genuinely remote address. Tufi Airport is about 250 metres away, close enough to walk in a few minutes, and Port Moresby is 250 miles to the east. There is no road journey from the capital: Tufi is reached by air, followed by the short transfer to the resort.

The accommodation divides neatly between sea-facing bungalows and rooms. Every option has air conditioning, an en suite bathroom, mosquito nets and a verandah overlooking the sea, so you can cool down properly after a hot day and still keep the view when you are back indoors. Twenty-four-hour electricity and hot water remove two small but important worries in a remote destination.

For a couple, the Deluxe Room is the straightforward choice, while the Deluxe Bungalow gives three guests more room to spread out. Family rooms are available, and cots can be requested for young children; extra beds are not available. The smaller double rooms keep things simple, with a double bed and private bathroom facilities, while the bungalow format adds breathing space around the main sleeping area.

Daily housekeeping, room service, a fan and non-smoking rooms cover the practical side of the stay. There is also an electric kettle for the first cup before breakfast, free WiFi throughout the hotel, and a private bathroom with shower, towels, toiletries and a hairdryer. The verandah is the useful detail here: somewhere to sit with a drink, watch the light change over the fjord and let the day settle before dinner.

Full board covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with the dining room doing the heavy lifting for a remote resort. Breakfast is a buffet with fresh seasonal fruit, bread, muffins, banana bread, pancakes, cereals, yoghurt, preserves, dried fruit, nuts, tea, local coffee and juice. Continental, vegetarian and gluten-free choices are available, with a small hot breakfast menu as an extra option.

Lunch and dinner are prepared by local chefs, using seasonal produce from the mainland and the surrounding area. Reef fish and seafood take a prominent place, alongside local specialities and more familiar western dishes such as meat and chicken. Dinner is usually a changing three-course menu, which is a sensible arrangement when the nearest restaurant is not just around the corner.

There is one bar, plus wine, cold beers and wine or champagne for the moments when the day calls for something colder than water. BBQ facilities allow meals to move outside onto the terrace, while themed dinner nights, a happy hour and live music or performances add a little life after dark without turning the resort into a club.

The outdoor pool is the obvious recovery station, with views over the fjord below and loungers nearby. A hot tub gives you another way to unwind, while the terrace, garden, picnic area and outdoor furniture provide quieter places to sit when you have had enough of the water but are not ready for bed.

Away from the pool, you can take a canoe, go fishing, try windsurfing or use the on-site water-sports facilities. Table tennis, billiards and darts keep the competitive energy modest, which is probably wise after a full day outside. Board games and a shared lounge offer a slower option when the weather turns or the legs have had enough.

Walking tours, hiking, bird watching and cultural excursions take you beyond the resort, including visits and activities connected with local villages and coastal communities. Traditional outrigger safaris, cooking, weaving and cultural performances are part of the wider programme, giving a travelling companion plenty to do while you are underwater, and giving you both something to talk about over dinner.

Tufi is reached by plane, with flights operated by Tropicair from Port Moresby. The resort offers transfers to and from Tufi airstrip, which is a short walk away, and the airstrip transfer can be arranged with the hotel. Private check-in at Tropicair’s private terminal is available for resort guests, keeping the airport process separate from the main domestic terminal. Flight arrangements go through the resort rather than the accommodation booking platform.

Check-in runs from 08:00 to 19:00 and check-out from 06:00 to 15:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, although cash is the accepted payment method at the property. Children of all ages are welcome, with a cot available for children aged up to five on request; guests under 18 check in with a parent or official guardian.

WiFi is available throughout the hotel, and the tour desk can arrange diving, snorkelling, cultural tours and other activities. Luggage storage, currency exchange, daily housekeeping, laundry and packed lunches are useful additions for a stay built around flights, boats and days away from the resort. An on-site infirmary adds a practical layer of support in this remote setting.