Distance from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia: 88–185 km Across the Torres Strait

The **maritime border** between **Papua New Guinea (PNG)** and **Indonesia** runs through the **Torres Strait** and along the **141°E meridian** (land border). The distance between their territories varies by location:

Minimum Separation (Maritime)

• ~88 km (55 mi / 47 nm): Between **PNG's Daru Island** (Western Province) and **Indonesia's Yamdena Island** (Tanimbar Islands, Maluku Province) — across the **Arafura Sea**.
• ~150 km: Between **PNG mainland (Western Province)** and **Indonesian Papua (Papua Province)** across the **Torres Strait** (includes PNG's **Boigu, Saibai, Dauan** islands — *Australian* territory, but culturally PNG-linked).

Land Border

• 760 km (472 mi) along **141°E longitude** (Fly River headwaters → Star Mountains → Sepik River). **No major roads cross it.**
• **Wutung (PNG) ↔ Skouw (Indonesia)** — only official land crossing (near Jayapura / Vanimo).

Context

• Western New Guinea (Indonesia: Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua, South Papua, Southwest Papua) — former Dutch New Guinea, transferred 1963/1969.
• PNG — independent 1975 (Australian territory prior).
• Torres Strait Treaty (1978) — Australia/PNG maritime boundary; traditional inhabitant movement rights (not Indonesia).

Travel: No ferries PNG ↔ Indonesia. Fly: **Port Moresby (POM) → Jayapura (DJJ)** ~1h 15m (Air Niugini, Sriwijaya — sporadic). Or **Daru → Merauke** (charter).