PAPUA NEW GUINEA

–

The Last Frontier!

Papua New Guinea is like no place you’ve ever been. Adventure abounds – trekking, scuba diving, game fishing, surfing, bird watching, history and of course PNG’s amazing culture.

Explore amazing ceremonial ensembles at one of our many cultural festivals held throughout the year. Highlight festivals, open to visitors, include the Coffee Festival in Goroka (May); the National Mask Festival in Rabaul (Jul); the Mt. Hagen Show (Aug); the Goroka Show (Sep); Moale Festival in Port Moresby (Sep); the Morobe Show in Lae (Oct) and the Kundu and Canoe Festival in Alotau (Nov).

Markets throughout the country are always a great drawcard for visitors, giving the opportunity to experience local foods, as well as see the many arts and crafts often displayed – traditional carvings and beadwork, traditional and contemporary paintings on canvas and traditionally woven baskets and serving trays.

Gateway to PNG is capital Port Moresby, where warm, sandy islands and untouched national parks meet a thriving metropolis of small cafes and bars, a diverse food scene and a unique blend of fine art and artefacts.

PNG’s rugged hiking and trekking opportunities attract many visitors. The most famous of these being the infamous Kokoda Trail. Definitely not for novices, this track was made famous during the WWII conflict between Australia and Japan. Another popular hike is climbing Mount Wilhelm, the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea.

Of all PNG’s highland provinces, most famous must be the Western Highlands. The capital city, Mt Hagen, is a bustling commercial centre where wealth from coffee and tea plantations has brought rapid change to traditional lifestyle. If you want to visit the last frontier of Papua New Guinea this is it. Taste the sweetest strawberries at Rondon Ridge, attend one of the regular cultural festivals held throughout the province and don’t miss the kaleidoscope of colours on view at the Saturday markets

What To See and Do

• Discover the Ragianna bird-of-paradise at the Port Moresby Nature Park
• Take a selfie below the dazzling entrance to Parliament House
• Explore the Harbour Side’s fine selection of restaurants, along the boardwalk overlooking Fairfax Harbour.
• Meet our exceptional artists at one of the city’s weekend markets

• Experience a crocodile BBQ, straight out of the river, at the Kokoda Trail Hotel.
• Pop into the Western Highlands Cultural Centre at Mt Hagen, featuring a reconstructed village hut and exhibits of artefacts and curios.
• Gain permission to visit the archaeological sites at Kuk Valley, the first place on earth to cultivate land for gardening.
• Catch a glimpse of the richness of traditional Highland’s social structure and ceremonial dress at the Mt Hagen Show held in August each year

When To Go

Papua New Guinea’s climate is tropical, with the coastal plains averaging a temperature of 28°C, the inland and mountain areas averaging 26°C, and the higher mountain regions, 23°C. The area’s relative humidity is quite high, and ranges between 70 and 90 percent.

The main variable of Papua New Guinea’s climate is not temperature, but rainfall. The extreme rainfall variations are linked with the monsoons. Generally speaking, there is a dry season (Jun – Sep) and a rainy season (Dec – Mar). Western and northern parts of Papua New Guinea experience the most rain. Typhoons can hit Papua New Guinea from Dec – mid-March.