I'm heading to PNG (Tupira Surf Camp) for 8 days next month and want to know if it is necessary to take malaria tablets. Advice from previous travellers to the area will be appreciated. Have heard that you are not advised to drink if on the medication (not good on a trip with 10 blokes) and other various side effects.

Hi markf. I spent 7 years up in the islands. Some strains of malaria will resist the stuff they'll give you here. And yep long term use can make you crook and sun sensitive. Best advice i can give is protect yourself or stay indoors right on dusk. Best cure is the chinese stuff (artemether / artesunate) available over the counter up there. Bring a pack back with you if it's still allowed. Not many quacks here are familiar with malaria. Not nice having a sick family member back in oz trying to convince your local gp what's wrong. They still love quinine too. Blech

I work not far from there on a gold mine. Just cover up as much as possible and try not to sit around outside too much. There are a lot of different strains of malaria up there including the cerebal one which is a case of "get on a plane real quick". Had one of our expats get it recently. Ive never taken the tablets. Talk to your GP is the best advice I can give and have fun. Some great waves up there. "Dont try the nut and leave the Mary's alone" is my best advice. SP takes a bit of getting used to as well.
W

Two bits of good advice there, stay away from the Buai and Mary's... no good will come from either.

I don't mind the SP.

Yeah best advice cover up and avoid them , the side affects of the malaria tabs are pretty bad. They make you crook in the guts and you have to avoid sun which is near impossible . One remedy for the sickness was to take the tablet with a shot of Tia Maria in the morning stopped the upset stomach. its not as bad as what you hear. Main thing is mosquito net at night and use something like Bushmans repellant. As Brerrno said that Chinese Medicine is gold not available in Aus.