Transportation, Meals, Lodging:  Aurora Expeditions  -- Aurora's Marina Svetaeva 100 guest small cruise boat hosted our kayaking on their standard tour.   Aurora Expeditions delivery was a huge disappointment.

Kayak Rating: B 
Difficulty: Low
Recommendation:  Take this trip if you have an interest in development of primitive cultures and enjoy kayaking.  But be forewarned that the host cruise run by Aurora Expeditions will subject you to a constantly changing the venue and to spending half your time in 'tour bus' level activities geared to the special safety needs of the slowest moving of octogenarian guests. 
 

As part of the booking process we had to spell out our kayaking experience.  Our ocean going experience consisted of two runs down the NaPali coast of Hawaii, and day long trips in Spain, Alaska, Mexico, and Palau.  In addition we have taken long multi-overnight canoe trips on inland waterways.  The questionnaire instrument was excellent and we were happy to be notified that our skills were acceptable.  In all candor we were a bit nervous that we would be outclassed by kayak experts.  In reality, we turned out to be as skilled and strong as any [except of course for the guide]. 

When Aurora Expeditions rescheduled their trip dates, Ana Salazar got involved once again in helping us sort out our logistics issues. 

The pre-trip information given to us by Southern Sea Ventures answered our questions and we felt well prepared to undertake the trip. 

Overall, we are were very pleased by our interactions with Southern Sea Ventures

KAYAK EXCURSIONS
We had some excellent kayaking while in Papua New Guinea.  Except for one 30 minute stretch, the seas were nearly flat.  We were never fighting headwinds, cross winds, or tides.  Our longest trip was just over 8 miles, our shortest just under 3 miles, and I'd say 5 miles was the norm.  We combined strong paddling [to make distance], leisurely paddling, and just plain floating as we watched the natives and wildlife at work.

Our most memorable kayak excursion occurred on KarKar island.  100+ people from the cruise boat had gone ashore to visit a plantation.  After a 45 minute tour most guests were wondering how to occupy the remaining 2+ hours on shore.  We took off kayaking -- just the guide Judd and us -- We rounded the first point and realized we had a following -- pied piper style -- of about a dozen children waving and calling to us from shore.  Another half mile and the number doubled.  We slowed our pace and paddled within100 feet of shore so we could shout greetings back and forth.  Around another point we encountered a small stream emptying into the ocean.  After Judd obtained permission we paddled up stream.  The first group we encountered was a women with 3 small kids.  We must have frightened them as they took off running into the bush.  Soon we could go no further and beached the kayaks and continued on foot.  The hike up the streambed was interesting in itself, but the real surprise was waiting for us when we returned.  A dozen locals had gathered around our kayaks and were staring in admiration.  We picked one up from shore and carried to deeper water.  When we turned around, 8 small kids -- all naked of course -- had picked up the second kayak and were carrying it to the deeper water.  They wanted to be part of the experience.  Next, we climbed into our boats and before we could even get our paddles in the water, the kids started pushing us toward the ocean.  Pretty soon they were racing... some pushing Judd's boat ... some pushing our boat.  When we got back to where the river meets the ocean half the town had come out to cheer us goodbye.  We waved farewell for the next 10 minutes.

Another exceptional encounter happened when we chanced upon a fisherman off the coast of a deserted spit of land in the Admiralty Islands.  He quickly befriended us and invited us to visit with his family.  His family [actually 3 families related as brothers] and about a half dozen kids awaited us.  We took turns giving the kids rides in our kayaks and then brought the whole bunch to where a zodiac had parked and gave them all motor boat rides.

On another memorable kayak paddle we probably spent a half hour to travel less than a quarter mile.  It seems a young local had chosen this particular rocky stretch of shore line to sing a melody of songs.  Our private sing-sing was exceptional.

KAYAKING EQUIPMENT
The kayaking equipment provided by Aurora was great.  The boats were in excellent shape and everything functioned perfectly.  The skirts were new and sealed well.  The rudder system was tight.  There was plenty of room for storage.  I'd say these boats were the best maintained of any we have rented.

Loading and unloading the boats from the Marina Svetaeva cruise ship was not easily accomplished.  The burden fell mostly on Judd and others of the Aurora Staff and Marina Svetaeva crew.  Facial expressions of the trip leaders told us the extra effort wasn't always appreciated.  Other guests however seemed mildly amused by the whole affair and never did we hear a negative comment from other guests.

KAYAKING GUIDE
Our Kayaking guide was Judd Hill, an Aussie in his early 30's.  He was personable, knowledgeable, and capable.  And he went out of his way to make sure we were getting the kayaking opportunities we had booked.  We appreciated his quick wit. 

Judd has extensive sea kayaking experience including a fair amount of experience in south pacific waters.  His familiarity with local customs was invaluable.  He generally played the role of diplomat thereby opening the possibilities for experiences for the rest of us.

We tipped him generously [according to our standards] and would gladly have him as a guide again. 

Our only disappointment came at the end of the trip in the airports headed home.  Judd hardly acknowledged our existence which ended the Southern Seas Venture tour on a less than upbeat note.  It's a pity that when Judd went off the clock, he found it a chore to be sociable with the people he had lead for the past two weeks.