Bulolo, Papua New Guinea

The gold rush in Bulolo is long over, leaving behind a town still dependent on forestry and a struggling economy. With an estimated population of 20,000, the town serves as a hub for the province's timber industry, though gold dredging once dominated here. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the town remains isolated, connected to the larger city of Lae by a winding road through the river valleys. Overall, Bulolo offers little to attract the average expat - this is a place for the rugged and determined, not the faint of heart.