Visit Merauke's clean beaches for free, they don't ask for retribution fee or anything. But the gazebos on the beach usually belong to someone and they'll charge you for using it. There is no specific rate for this, so use your bargaining skill.
They sell shrimps, crabs, and fishes along the way to the beach. They don't use scales, the shrimps/crabs/fishes are packed inside rugs, n they sell it per rug. Just ask for the price and use your bargaining skill if needed.
There are a lot of beach: Lampu Satu, Urumb, Nasai, Payum
In the centre of the town, you can find Pepera Statue (Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat / People Free Act of Choice).
You can also visit Wasur National Park, about 2 hours from the central district. Here you can go fishing and swimming. You can also find unique plants like Papua orchids and Kantung Semar. Don't forget to take pictures beside the enormous Ants' Nests (but please don't damage it or carve anything on it).
Merauke is famous because it is the borderline of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. So visit Sota District, where the borderline lies. It is about 1 hour from Wasur.
For your safety, it is recommended to go in a group of cars when you go to Sota, because there is no mobile phone signal, the road is long, and other cars rarely pass by. If there's a trouble with your car, people in the other car in the group can go and seek for help.
Try exotic foods while you're in Merauke. There are shops which sell deer dendeng (dendeng means dried meat). Ask the seller how to prepare it.
Kangaroo's tail is also recommended. Look for buntut saham (buntut = tail, saham = kangaroo) in the traditional market.
When you decided to visit Merauke (and any other cities/towns in Papua), be sure to take malaria prophylaxis. Many areas in Papua have Chloroquine-resistant malarias, so inform your doctor about your destination well. Don't forget to bring mosquito repellant too.
