Loloata Island Resort

Rooms and decor

The resort has about 56 rooms spread along the beach, across low hills, and out over the water. The look leans on local materials, with thatched roofs, dark timber floors, and cream walls set against the wood for a warm island-cabin feel, but the interiors are clean and modern, with air-conditioning, tiled bathrooms, soft king beds, and a private balcony with a sea view from every room. The highlight is the group of roughly 16 Overwater Villas built straight out over the sea; lean off the balcony and you can watch fish moving across the reef all day, and at high tide the water laps against the villa posts as a quiet lullaby. The Beachfront Bungalows along the sand have their own pull — open the balcony door, walk a few steps, and you're on white sand, which suits families or anyone who wants the beach over deep water.

Food and amenities

If Loloata has a heart, it's the PADI dive center at the resort's jetty, the reason divers fly in from around the world for this one spot. The center runs several speedboats out to dive sites nearby, including the roughly 29 dive sites in the surrounding Coral Sea known for exceptional marine diversity — intact reef that commercial tourism hasn't worn down, WWII plane wrecks (Papua New Guinea was a Pacific Theater battleground), and big schools of fish that are hard to find elsewhere. The instructors are a mix of expats and trained local staff, and reviews praise the team's safety and knowledge. Beyond scuba there's snorkeling off the island, kayaking along the shore, and a trip to see dugongs in a nearby sanctuary that PNG has set aside. On the island, an outdoor sea-view pool is there to soak in after a dive, the main waterfront restaurant serves both Western plates and PNG dishes, and the bar stays open late enough for a cocktail as the sun drops over the Coral Sea. A short walk up the island's hill gets you a 360-degree view across Bootless Bay with other islands lined up behind.

Location and getting there

This is the part that reframes Port Moresby. You land at Jacksons Airport, drive the roads many people warn you about, and 20 minutes later you're standing at Tahira Marina in Bootless Bay with the resort's small speedboat waiting. Once it pulls out, the sea wind hits, the green-blue water clears until the reef shows faintly below, and 10 minutes on a small island under tropical forest rises up with a timber jetty and villas reaching over the water. By road it's about 30 minutes from Jacksons Airport (POM) to the marina. The whole journey runs on the resort's fixed boat schedule, so check the runs and flag your flight when you book.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. Room rates and dive packages here run fairly high against Papua New Guinea's local price standards, so the trip can total more than many people expect. If you're set on diving, a combined room-and-dive package booked from the start beats buying day by day. The other thing reviews flag often is limited food options: you're on an island, you can't eat anywhere else, and the resort restaurant is the only choice, with a menu that stays fairly samey and prices on the high side, so some guests pack their own snacks or wine to break it up. Travel runs entirely on the resort's boat schedule, so a missed run means waiting for the next, and on rough-sea days the speedboat can be uncomfortable if you get seasick easily, so bring something for it. Wi-Fi is available on the island but slower than in town; fine for checking messages, but don't count on work calls or streaming. And even on a private island, check safety and health information before traveling to PNG — malaria prophylaxis, for one.

Our take

From reading through real reviews and the resort details, Loloata Island Resort is the answer for anyone who wants to reach Papua New Guinea without losing the trip to the stress of Port Moresby. It sells a private island in Bootless Bay that's the easiest to reach in the country, paired with a renowned dive center and new villas from the 2019 renovation. It suits divers flying in to log time in the Coral Sea, couples after an unusual honeymoon, and easygoing travelers who want the island as a rest base before pushing on to the Highlands or the Sepik. If you're on a tight budget, want a varied menu, or need big-city convenience, it may not fit. Overall we give it 8.6/10 — for Port Moresby, this is the best real escape from the city.