THE MAGIC of MINJ

 

Trekkers on the climb.

Minj’s Kusne-Wasne falls are adventurous

By Andrew Dupre (Freelance Writer)

 

For those obsessed in adventurous treats, Kusne-Wasne falls in Minj, Jiwaka province can be a definite addition to your itinerary. It can be an exotic lifetime experience.

Whilst tourism is slowly picking up from the Covid 19 ravage the world over with vaccination as the only contemporary guard, local outdoor goers find joy venturing to exotic sites such as little known Kusne-Wasne falls.

Lawyers Kewan Kilipi and Nadika Popuna with that nag for adventure, found the falls spectacular and adventurous in their outing early this year.

Learning of the falls through Kopung Village Resort’s Facebook page, it was go and see for the trios.

There was no second thought as Kilipi puts it. It was pack and rove for them. The urge, it seems, was unsettling.

The Kusne-Wasne falls envelopes trekking, hiking, bird watching, site seeing,nature photography, traditional culture captures, and an elevated view of the picturesque Waghi valley; products offered by Kopung Village Resort located about 5kms east of Minj town on dirt road but fairly kept, and nestled in a village made of very friendly people.

Kilipi and her team expressed delight through her Facebook commentary. They have praised the staff of Kopung Village Resort for their hospitality and made special mention of the porters or tour guides who escorted with licensed firearms.

The magic of the falls.

In Kilipi’s own words: “we came, we hiked, trekked and swam in the icy cool Wusne-Wasne falls, what an experience, amazing!”.

Gushing from the Kubor range, the falls are spectacular sights you’d hardly miss when in Minj town for business or pleasure unless it is covered with fog.

Looking slightly southeast from Minj town, the falls sparkle in their glittering white bubbles and form a cool refreshing pool at the foot where they both meet in a ‘V’ shape, making it perfect for a memorable soak but you’d definitely freak outon colder days. You know what I mean – chillingly cold!

Trekking and hiking with friendly porters and soaking eventually by the Kusne-Wasne pool, Kilipi notes, were great fun and encourages interested people to try the treats on her Facebook wall.

Young Kilipi is a local adventurer by her trace. Her Facebook wall has stories and pictures of her at Mt Whilem’s lake Pindi. Her hobby it seems.

Back to Minj, the Wusne-Wasne falls and its tourism offerings has been on the cards of visiting expatriates years back. British Anthropologist Dr John Offer tipped me via email that it was gold sitting untapped.

“There are adventure tourist in the world over who save their money to explore virgin forest and uniquely amazing sites; you are blessed with that”, he emailed. “I am one of them, I travel the world for my work and adventure” he added.

He is a fan of my write-ups; before I penned this we communicated on Facebook. I wanted to see if his views have changed. John’s has not changed, he’ll be here soon to complete his mushroom research – he was trekking and hiking here over the years for his research.

At the base of the falls.

The country is perfectly pitched for adventure tourism given its unique biodiversity; surfing, hiking, trekking and diving spots are spectacular, found nowhere else on earth.

Covid 19 did ravage the tourism industry in the world over. According to the Tourism Promotion Authority(TPA), tourist visits to PNG since the pandemic has dropped by 82 percent (Business Advantage PNG) and monetarily the country has lost about K500 million, that’s a big blow to the industry.

Ban to international arrivals has been lifted in almost all parts of the world with vaccination as a key requisite. PNG is faring very badly on vaccination. According to TPA, only 2 percent of the country’s 10 million people have been vaccinated.

That isn’t much of good news; visitors will have their tail tucked. Fiji knowing the positives of tourism, surges ahead with committed business network, “Care Fiji Committed Businesses – promotes vaccination.

A concept I guess, has been adopted here with the Country’s Surfing Association President, Andrew Abel. And the endgame comes in the form of the vaccination inflight questionnaires. It is hoped that vaccination will reach out like Fiji but at a snail’s phase.

So, when things get fine-tuned, Kusne-Wasne falls is the place to be for your once in a lifetime experience but for the local adventurer like our young Lawyers, you can find Kopung Villlage Resort on Facebook and make reservations today.

Adding to the products here, if you are the rough white water kayaking enthusiast, you can try out the bubbling Minj river and can tee off at one of the country’s best golf course, Waghi Valley Country Club if you are a golfer.