Kundiawa, Mt Wilhelm & SimbuKundiawa is the capital of Simbu (Chimbu) Province, with a population of around 8,000 people. It lies along the Highlands Highway,approximately halfway between Goroka and Mount Hagen. It is a relatively small town, containing a bank, a police station, one of the few airports in the province, several stores, a hospital, a post office, a second-hand market, two food markets and several churches. The Highlands Highway is the only paved road that leads out of it, but there are several smaller, unpaved roads, including one of the roads to Mount Wilhelm. The Waghi River runs along one side of Kundiawa, and the Simbu River, which runs on and becomes the Wahgi, flows along the other side. The terrain around Kundiawa is very steep and mountainous, and many people walk several kilometres each way to get to Kundiawa from their villages because they don't have access to roads. These rugged terrains prevent people from having an elaborate commercial agriculture. However, they are known for their skill cultivation on these very steep, sloping terrains. Their main foods are sweet potato, taro, banana, and sugar cane. Coffee is the main cash crop. Kundiawa is a good starting point to trek Mt Wilhelm, PNG's highest peak at 14.753 feet or 4509 metres above sea level. Simbu in the local dialect really means Sipuuuu, which means "thank you". Simbu is located in the central highlands cordillera (extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges) of Papua New Guinea. It shares geographic and political boundaries with five provinces: Western, Eastern and Sothern Highlands, Gulf and Madang. It is a significant source of organically produced coffee.
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