Merauke

Merauke is the capital of South Papua province and one of Indonesia's easternmost cities, a low-lying town near the Papua New Guinea border. Its name anchors the national expression 'from Sabang to Merauke,' marking the country's westernmost and easternmost reach, and it serves as the administrative and economic hub of South Papua.

Founded as a Dutch colonial military post in February 1902, Merauke grew from a frontier settlement on land long inhabited by the Marind people. Mission, trade and government later shaped the town, and its story is reflected in monuments such as the Libra Monument, the PEPERA monument and the Sabang-Merauke zero-kilometre monument at Sota near the national border.

The town's greatest natural draw is Wasur National Park, a protected area of savanna, wetlands and wildlife often called 'the Serengeti of Papua.' Nearby, visitors head to Lampu Satu and Payum beaches, the Rawa Biru spring and the towering musamus termite mounds, while Sota offers a view of cross-border life with Papua New Guinea.

As the centre of South Papua, Merauke hosts regional government offices, Musamus University and the busy Pasar Wamanggu market, alongside a developing agricultural and food estate programme focused on rice and farming. Local food centres on sago, fresh fish and venison dishes such as sate rusa, and the port and Mopah Airport connect the town to the rest of Papua and Indonesia.

For travellers, Merauke is a quieter gateway to Indonesia's far east, combining wildlife, wetlands, border history and a distinctive Papuan culture. Business visitors come for agriculture, fisheries, trade and regional administration, making the city a practical base for exploring one of the country's most remote provinces.