Alotau (Papua New Guinea)

Alotau is the capital city of Milne Bay Province, located in the southeast of Papua New Guinea. Alotau (population around 16,000) lies on Milne Bay's northern shore.

The city is located within the region in which the invading Japanese army suffered first land defeat during the Pacific War (1942), before the Kokoda Track battle. At the old battle site, a memorial park commemorates the event. In 1969, when shifted from Samarai, Alotau became a provincial capital.

There is a road to Alotau from Ulumani which passes by the local Gurney Airport, which was named after squadron leader of the Royal Australian Air Force, Charles Raymond Gurney, who was killed in this area in 1942. The airport is 12 kilometers away from the town.

Alotau city is the gateway to Milne Bay Province, containing some of the world's most remote island communities. Milne Bay is noted for its scuba diving and coral reef experiences.