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Tropical Leaves
Bensbach River

Papua New Guinea

"I would argue there is no better place to fish on Earth!"
Bensbach angler Craig. M - 2023

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Been looking for an angling adventure of a lifetime? Then look no further as we offer exclusive fishing tours on the remote Bensbach River in Papua New Guinea, the greatest barramundi fishery on Earth!

From the palm lined river to the endless floodplains, a trip to Bensbach is a life changing experience. An environment teeming with wildlife, rusa deer, wallabies, jabirus and crocodiles this is as close to a natural state as you are likely to find and that goes for the fishing as well!

Boasting more barra over one meter long than anywhere else in the world and hundreds of sub meter fish caught weekly, there's nothing that comes close!

Grab your mates and crack the meter!

Group Size

Up to 9

Target Species

Season

Duration

Cost Per Person

Barramundi

Jun > Oct

6.5 Days fishing 

From $10980pp

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The scenery on our tours is like nowhere else in Papua New Guinea, as you move through the densely forested lowlands, a bend in the river will transform the landscape, as swiftly as an image on a screen, into a vista of rolling parkland, empty, green and infinite.

There are literally thousands of head of rusa deer grazing the plains, descendants of small herds introduced more than fifty years ago by the Dutch in Irian Jaya. Wild pigs, wallabies and packs of wild dogs all roam at will on the plains, not at all timid and very easy to spot, as well as goannas, turtles, and a dazzling variety of birds.


You can see pelicans and parrots, motionless herons standing sentinel in the reeds, magpie geese and scrub turkey. Jabiru storks floating overhead on the unseen thermals, dancing brolgas and delicate ibis, cormorants diving for fish, bush fowls, cassowaries, eagles - and many, many more.

 

The Bensbach Wilderness Lodge, owned and operated by Trans Niugini Tours, is perfectly-located just under than 100km inland from the river mouth. Its deceptively simple design, harmonising perfectly with its surroundings, offers a well-equipped comfortable base from which visitors travel by boats at a relaxed and easy pace, to explore the surrounding wilderness.

The Lodge has been built entirely from locally available materials, charmingly and cleverly adapted to the tastes and comfort of its visitors. The result is a building which blends perfectly with its surroundings and yet offers accommodation for up to sixteen guests (we keep our groups to nine). Rooms are basic, spacious and cool, with ceiling fans. Covered verandas link the accommodation wings to the main building, which has a dining room, bar and a relaxing lounge. Food at Bensbach is ideal for a country holiday - delicious farmhouse cooking with venison, duck and freshly caught barramundi as regular items on the menu. Simply put, overall it’s a fishing trip you’ll not soon forget!
 

Bensbach is undoubtedly home to the best barramundi fishing on the planet by a country mile...

While most barra fishing charters would be thrilled to capture 10 fish over one metre in length per year, guests at Bensbach usually beat that in a week!

2023 saw an average of 20 "meteries" caught per week, with one group setting a new lodge record of 46 meteries during their trip.

Ever wonder what fishing was like long before it was ravaged by the modern world?

This is it.

This is fishing history in the making...

Safe Journey.

When travelling to Bensbach River, you have nothing to worry about except coming face to face with the with the meanest barra on the planet..
Flying out of Cairns, with a quick stop on the island of Daru for a customs check, you can be on the river hauling them in by the afternoon!

Over 500 kilometres from the nearest city, you're fully immersed in an amazing wilderness area, teeming with birds, wildlife and big fish. The local lodge staff and fishing guides will keep you well fed, watered and fishing to your hearts content.

Many anglers come away from Bensbach with new, lifelong friends at the lodge and memories to last a lifetime.

This year the lodge also welcomes an Aussie fella in an Overseer role to help keep the show on the road and fish coming in the boat. 
You're in good hands, just keep on casting!

2025 Availability 
Trip 1: 01 > 10 June - Fully Booked
Trip 2: 10 > 17 June - Fully Booked
Trip 3: 17 > 24 June -  Fully Booked
Trip 4: 05 > 14 July - Fully booked
Trip 5: 14 > 26 July - Fully booked
Trip 6: 03 > 10 Aug - Fully booked
Trip 7: 10 > 17 Aug - Fully booked
Trip 8: 17 > 24 Aug - Fully booked
Trip 9: 24 > 31 Aug - 9 spots left

2026 Availability 
Trip 2: Mid June - 6 spots left
Trip 6: Early August - 3 spots left!
Trip 7: Mid August -  9 spots left
Trip 8: Mid / late August - 9 spots
Trip 9: Late August - 9 spots

Included
- Return flights to Bensbach Wilderness Lodge
- Accommodation and meals at Bensbach  

- Guided fishing 
- Personalised Itinerary, packing list, fishing tackle list and our expert advice and guidance to help your trip run smoothly!

Not Included
- Visa costs (approx $70)
- Alcohol and soft drink at the lodge
- Airport transfers in Cairns
- Complete Bensbach River Tackle Packs available for hire and delivered to your door!

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