Balek Sulfur Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Balek Wildlife Sanctuary. 20 km from Madang, on Madang Ramu Hwy. Turn left at sign. (-5.317904, 145.722797)
Open:	All year daily. [2025]
Fee:	Adults PGK 10. [2020]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Balek Wildlife Sanctuary, PO Box 910, Madang 511, Tel: 71170885. Oniel P. Beibi, Madang Provincial Administration, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch, PO Box 2026, Madang 511, Tel: 4221601, Tel: 72731228. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1977	declared a protected area.
2000	concrete walkway to the sulfur spring built.

Description

Balek Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for its wildlife, the enormous wealth of fish and the sulfur caves. The smell of the sulfur springs is the reason why the site is also known as Balek Smell Water and Smellwara. This site has been used for several film sets including Robinson Crusoe and James Bond. And while the Robinson Crusoe film is said to be rather bad, the location is really impressive.

There are two streams which join in the reserve, one is a freshwater stream, the other one is sulfur-rich water. The sulfur stream spring is a cave, which is said to be the home of a huge snake. Visitors have to ask the snake to let them in, otherwise it will block the way. The cave is waterfilled and only thin people fit in.

The site is owned by the Awa Tribe and managed by a management committee. The nature preserve was established after the independence of PNG to protect the nature from logging companies.