Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#1 of 2 hotels in Kimbe
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Walindi Plantation Resort, established in 1983, is an intimate dive resort situated on the shores of Kimbe Bay on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Celebrating over 40 years of operation, the resort is world famous for its quality of diving, international award-winning photography and warm hospitality. The resort's guest book reads like a Who's Who in the world of Sport Diving and Underwater Photography and the resort has been voted to have the "best diving from a resort anywhere in the world" by reader surveys. Walindi Resort offers 11 traditional style, self-contained bungalows spread along the beachfront and surrounded by rainforest gardens along with 8 Plantation House rooms. Bungalow facilities include en-suite bathrooms, ceiling fans, large windows to catch the tropical breezes, kitchenette with tea and coffee making facilities, and private verandas overlooking the beach and gardens. The central resort area is the social hub of Walindi and includes the tropical and airy reception and dining room, lounge and bar area, swimming pool, sundeck, boutique and a comprehensive library with computers for guest internet connection. Wireless internet is available in the main resort area. Catering to a small number of guests at the resort means you receive undivided attention, yet the freedom to feel every dive has been made for you alone. Good company, great food, friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere provide a perfect backdrop while you enjoy the delights of Kimbe Bay diving.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
The accommodation and staff are absolutely amazing at Walindi. The location is stunning and the diving is without a doubt one of the best places we have ever been to. We also did 2 day trips - the volcano walk and the hot springs. Both were worth doing … the hot springs is a bone jarring hour away by 4 wheel drive but a very special place. The volcano ascent is definitely a hike and you need to be relatively fit to make it to the top - once again, well worth it. Be aware that the flights on to the island are changed /cancelled quite often. This happened to us when we were travelling there with less than 12 hours notice. Air Niugini had it all organised though when we arrived in Port Moresby and we were transported to a hotel for the 12 hour delay. We would definitely recommend travel insurance to cover this possibility. It really didn’t dampen our experience though - it’s a remote island, you have to expect some adventures.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Travel insurance to cover flight changes
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We came to Kimbe for the untouched reefs and left with not only some world class snorkeling under our belts, but we also had a very enjoyable time relaxing in a quiet comfortable cottage located in a tropical environment catered to by some of the most hospitable and salt of the earth staff on the globe!
Walindi is the only dive shop operating in Kimbe bay – there are no other dive boats but the resorts own boats. We hired a boat for a full day of snorkeling, which we found to be well worth the cost as we were able to visit many sites at our own pace. The dive staff are amazing and the pristine corals and sea life are everything they are purported to be
We booked an Ocean Front cottage – The cottage was quiet and had a lovely porch for sitting out on and just enjoying the serenity.
The cottage was basic & included a fridge. There was no A/C and the power goes off at 11:00 PM leaving just a fan and a battery-charging outlet powered by a battery. We slept great and were never hot.
The room is spotless – Cleaned every day by a prenominal local gal. In fact, we could walk about on the wooden room floors in white socks every day and they would not show one bit of dirt. The cleanliness of the cottage would win a prize any day over a five star Marriott or Hilton!
The cottage had bars on screened Windows – A Solid Wood Door with a heavy-duty bolted lock – Security was visible everywhere and walked the grounds day and night. At no time were we ever concerned for the safety of our belongings or ourselves
Meals were plentiful & consistent with what one would expect in a remote location. Breakfast = Continental & Cooked Eggs & Bacon, Lunch was alcarte if at the resort or provided on the dive boat. Dinners included a variety of meat dishes, pasta etc. + soup
There is a small gift shop selling local wares, wooden carvings and some unique pieces.
Many thanks to Cheyne for all his help, and advice, it was appreciated.
To all the fine staff who made our stay superb and memorable we thank you sincerely – it was a pleasure to get to know you and just know you are the best. You made our stay special & we thank you!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Walindi Resort , Owner at Walindi Plantation Resort
Responded 23 Feb 2020
Dear andykarla, Thank you so much for your lovely review, we all enjoyed your company and thank you for visiting. I hope your carving made it safely home and that the rest of your holiday went well. Regards, Cheyne Benjamin General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I spent 9 nights here mid february and did 22 Nitrox dives each. The resort is family owned and well established with lovely gardens and good facilities. We stayed in one of the bungalows which are clean, basic but spacious. I found the bed and pillows very hard! There is no aircon but there are 2 overhead fans and plenty of airflow as the windows only have screens on them and a nice breeze comes off the water. They have tea/coffee making facilities, a mini frig (with real milk!) and partial electricity supply. Full electricity supply is available most days though this seemed to be dependent on how many guests were in residence. As we were often the only guests in the entire resort the power was off during the afternoon but came on again about 5pm. During these time and over night there is solar electricity which provides limited lighting and runs a fan. The frig/kettle does not work when on solar power. There is a non airconditioned/open bar area and dining room as well as an airconditioned dining room if the weather is too hot. The weather was rainy and overcast most days we were there and didn't need the airconditioning. I really appreciated having a free laundry service included in our stay as nothing would ever dry in the overcast conditions and in fact some of our soft sided luggage actually started to go mouldy. Meals were nice, nothing fancy and varied between a la carte or a buffet depending on how many people were staying. The resort is isolated with no shops nearby so all drink and snack purchases are in house. The service from staff was generally great except occasionally bar staff seemed to disapear but we could always hunt down someone to help us out. The WiFi is only available in the dining area and was pretty good. The dive crew were professional and always very helpful. There is an onsite dive centre and wharf with boats. Depending on the number of people diving we used 2 different sized boats. There are no toilets on the boats. If we did 3 dives/day then the crew would take lunch out with us, otherwise we would return in time for lunch after 2 dives. Visibility was affected because of the frequent rain so we tended to go to the distant dive sites away from the main island which would take 45mins - 60mins or more. The water was 31degrees and generally calm. An occasional dive site had a bit of current and where it was strong the crew would put out safety lines to go out and down on. I found the diving great with heaps of fish life, large schools, with healthy reefs and negligible rubbish in the water. Maybe it was just the time of year but I found there were not a lot of "critters" (non fish sealife). I would like to come back in the non rainy season and see how the sealife variety compares. We had flight disruptions with Air Niugini (a regular occurance) both coming and going so be prepared for delays and flight cancellations at the last minute. We really enjoyed our stay at Walindi and are looking forward to returning again.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â The Plantation room units are quite small and a long walk from reception and dining area. Book a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’ve been to Walindi Resort and number of times and it’s always been an amazing experience! So much so I will always look to try and squeeze in long weekend if possible. The dinners are amazing feasts every night- a person will never go hungry. And the scuba diving is out of this world. The crew is fantastic and there really isn’t a way to have a bad day- most of the time whales or dolphins will join the boat for a bit too. The staff at the resort are welcoming and you never feel alone even if you are traveling solo.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent 6 nights in April at this beautiful and well kept resort. The diving was top notch, with a very professionally run operation. The reefs are very healthy and full of life and color, the water warm like taking a bath, and the visibility was superb. Currents were very weak as well. The boat ride out each day to the different sites was great, usually accompanied by a school of dolphins, both bottlenose and the large melonheads as well. Don't expect to see too much of the big stuff though, sharks, rays etc. During my 12 dives sightings were very rare. Took a double bungalow first row to the beach, and it was both spacious and very comfortable. Meals served were also excellent with a nice variety, and the staff headed by Ema and Shane was excellent. I do think, however, that the non-diving tours offered need to be upgraded, especially since they are quite expensive. As an example, we took a town tour to Kimbe which was disappointing. The resort's guide offered very little information and was mostly busy tending to his personal needs in town rather than taking the time to explain and show us around properly. The dive team was very professional, but I was disappointed to have gone back to the same site more than once rather than see other sites that kimbe bay has so many of, like the Japanese war plane which I had asked to see but never got the chance to do so. I also think that charging $190 round trip to the airport for us as a couple is way over the top... All in all, and I have been diving for many years across different parts of the globe - great and unique experience and well worth the logistical effort to get out there. Highly recommended.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very cozy bungalow, cleaned daily, with flowers even... Buffet dinner fit for a king. Peaceful location by Kimbe Bay, luxuriant manicured garden, with old casuarina trees, flowerbeds, birdwing butterflies and exotic birds including Eclectus parrots, Papuan hornbills, Island imperial pigeons... friendly dive team and quite a diverse variety of dive sites to chose from, including a Zero Japanese fighter plane
Read more
Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â Best to stay away from noisy families with kids!...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Walindi for a few days before setting off on the MV Oceania for diving
The resort is lovely- really well cared for and beautifully maintained, and all the staff wo make up the team at the resort are super-friendly and helpful.
Cabins are traditionally built and sit amongst beautiful tropical gardens, where you can hear the hornbills in the trees and see the warm Bismarck Sea a few metres away.
Food is great- good choices to order for breakfast & lunch and a great buffet in the evening- fresh fish, loads of fresh veggies and nice desserts.
Sitting next to the pool , by the bar with a South Pacific Export or two is super-relaxing, and we borrowed kayaks and paddles out the the nearby sandbar for a spot of snorkelling.
We took a trip out with the excellent Joseph to a nearby volcano- he arranged for us to climb to the top with a chap from a village at the bottom, and over 5 hours, we climbed through virgin rainforest until we reached the caldera, to find bubbling mud, steam vents and sulphuric formations- it is stunning- would totally recommend.
Same afternoon, off with Joseph again in a 4x4 to a nearby hot river- fed by geothermal springs from the volcano- sat and soothed away the aching legs from our climb with a couple of beers- what a cool day!
We left soon after that for what can only be described as 9 days of perfect diving on PNG's number one dive boat! Pristine coral, unnamed/ possibly unexplored reefs, WW2 Japanese aircraft on the sea floor, clouds of tropical fish, a multitude of critters big and small and unspoilt scenery of jungle and volcanoes from the deck- if you were going to open a dinosaur park, PNG is the place
MV Oceania is a 16 berth catamaran with a top-notch crew, working for Captain Dan. Aircon in the cabins, 3 meals a day fresh-prepared with snacks in between - we were so well looked after!
Best ever diving, up to 4 times a day all the way to Rabaul, where we went to the old town (which was hit by a volcano eruption in 1997) to attend a cultural festival. We went to Yamamoto's bunker, the New Guinea club and also into the newer parts of town for markets and meals.
Overall a great great trip- holiday of a lifetime. My teenage kids learnt to dive with the very capable (and patient) Dominic at Walindi, and have had their eyes opened to the wider world, both under the sea and their 1st taste of the tropics.
Getting to PNG/ New Britain on the way was fine- it's a long trip. The way home took 4 days- be warned, Air Niugini are a very basic airline- lots of delays and potential for missed connections etc. We're told it'll get better- (it can only get better), but don't let any of this deter you from going to one of the last unspoilt places on the planet, or from going back again, if you can.
We plan to
Thanks Walindi and Oceania x
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Getting to/from this part of the world has some challenges- it's worth the inconvenience
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A truly amazing resort! On the more remote island of New Britain you are in a beautiful setting right on the water. We stayed in one of the Bungalows which were well appointed and had a gorgeous view. There was plenty of room for us to spread out all of our camera gear for diving. Also, the housekeeping was amazing, doing laundry for us during the trip. Meals on site were also fabulous. Cooked to order breakfast, amazing buffet lunches on the dive boat and delicious buffets each night with a great variety of food. Of course the highlight of the trip for us was the superb diving and exception dive crews. The dive sites are pristine with large groups of schooling fish and our knowledgeable dive masters never failed to find us unusual critters to photograph. You truly feel like you are part of the Walindi Resort family while you are here. Well worth the short flight from Port Moresby.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family of four (two adults, a 4 year old and a 2 year old) had such a lovely and relaxing time at Walindi. The food was top notch, the friendly staff quickly learned all of our names and bent over backwards to help us enjoy our time, and the outings were memorable in the best way (we did a boat ride, snorkeling, bird watching, the firefly tree, and a trip to town). We were a bit worried about our young kids at a resort, but Walindi far exceeded our expectations. They hunted for crabs, played on the beach, swam in the pool, and loved the wide array of food. The childcare was fantastic too, as the workers kept the kids in public areas and gave our kids tons of attention. We'd go back in a heartbeat!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â We loved the bungalows for our family.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Walindi Resort , Owner at Walindi Plantation Resort
Responded 6 Aug 2021
Dear thetalkingmouse, Thank you so much for your lovely review of Walindi and the kind words about our staff. We have a great team and we all strive to make everyone's holiday as special as possible. We look forward to your families return. Regards, Cheyne Benjamin
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We spent a week including 12 dives at Walindi and it was the best family holiday we have ever had. The whole experience was perfect in paradise.
Set amongst lush green gardens the three of us stayed in a Bungalow with magic views of Kimbe Bay. The restaurant bar area whilst simple was sufficient and perfectly suited to the environment and surroundings. Again, great views across the pool to the bay. Anything more and it would take away from the whole atmosphere of the place which really is paradise.
The Diving was incredible with a different site every dive, beautiful Coral, fish too numerous to list, Sharks & swimming with Dolphins. Lunching on a beautiful uninhabited island, this location really has it all and the Dive masters and entire staff were all attentive to our needs and well versed in their roles.
We were able to do some local tours each day after our diving and the Volcano walk on our lay day prior to departure.
Thank you Walindi plantation resort for a perfect holiday.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Sezzy333, February is in the middle of our wet season, so you could get a week of rain or your could get a week of sunshine. Generally though it is more likely to rain in Feb - which is why we offer our discounted low season rate from Jan-March.
Yes you can explore Kimbe, we are 20mins drive from the town so if you do wish to visit Kimbe we send you in with one of our guides and vehicle to show you around. We also have several other tours around Walindi you can do (weather permitting). Hope that helps you.
Orange Beach, Alabama400 contributions61 helpful votes
I went in June and again in August. Both time were great. I would message them directly to ask about Feb. They are more than happy to help you on that. Kimbe is fine to visit, but you will most likely use one of the resorts vehicles and guides, so let them take you. They are filled with information and helpful tidbits.
Hello Stephanie. My wife and I spent 5 nights at Walindi in January this year and yes they can assist with guides for both hiking and bird watching. It's worth while especially the hot springs but I wouldn't advise doing it on your own even if you knew where you were going.
There are more places to choose from in the Kimbe area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$453 - AU$468 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
walindi plantation hotel kimbe
LOCATION
Papua New GuineaIslands RegionWest New BritainKimbe
NUMBER OF ROOMS
19
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
