Well, I might just be able to help you here. As a matter of fact, I'm just finishing off a PNG story right now. But first, you have to tell me how long and how much. PNG is ferociously expensive for shoody services. It also provides, without doubt, the most astonishing travel experience you're likely to have if you play it right.

Are you talking up-market? That's easier but woah, expensive. Cruise? As in Sepik river cruise. Ambua Lodge?

Goroka is reputedly better than Hagen for sing-sing. Go to sing-sing. Go Go Go. Anywhere. Amazing pictures. Kinda odd. Really good. Sometimes the smaller ones are better.

AND where are you based? I'd recommend dealing with an Australian company. There are a few. A USA based one will just sell you off to them anyway.There are a couple of PNG top-end compsanies who get the bulk of the loot.

Here's one of 'em.
http://www.pngtours.com

here's an OZ company:
http://www.nghols.com/

I think that'll keep you busy. DO NOT forget the islands. DO go down the Sepik.
Here's a really smart option for Sepik cruise that nobody knows about:
http://www.kalibobospirit.com/
check out this, too:
http://www.mtspng.com/

stay at Madang resort. Get a bumgalow overwater.

Dogster,
Thank you for the information! Much appreciated. Expensive? yes!! but you make is sound like it is worth it. What is your PNG 'story'? Are you a writer? I am a photographer. You are terrific.
djsilverman.

Hey dj - the PNG story/photo-essay is, in first draft form, here:

http://thedogster3.wordpress.com
plus some Sepik pics.

Since you first posted, I've also found some cruises that cover very, very interesting territory:
http://clipperodysseyship.com/clipper-odyssey-itineraries.php

SO juicy - and, for a single, a mere $10,000 + for ten days. lol lol lol.

Forget the $$ - if you are a photographer, just GO, GO, GO. Mind-boggling.

Clipper Odyssey (zegrahm cruises) does a first rate job and if 5 star service though it is an expedition type tour. Another firm though I doubt they can trump Zegrahm is Orion, an Australian firm but the price is the same and I understand with add-ons it can exceed Zegrahm.

Try http://wandertours.com/destinations/papua-new-guinea/ Great price for the itinerary.

My first time here and yes! i attended the Goroka Highland Fair (sing-sing) in 1962. Really nice then. No danger to anyone except local folks who snatch random pigs. A lovely place and i am very disappointed that violence has become so rampant, so i read. My goal, one day, is to climb Mt. Wilhelm as for one year i lived in the bush at it's base and heard tales of the broken WWII aircraft on the slopes. Wishing you a good journey. I will need to brush up on my 'pidjin' english.