Papua New Guinea

Highlands, Coasts and Coral

The terrain shifts dramatically from mist-covered highlands around Mount Hagen and the Wahgi Valley to mangrove-fringed coasts and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Milne Bay and Kimbe Bay draw divers from around the world to walls, wrecks and pygmy seahorses, while the Kokoda Track threads through dense jungle between Port Moresby and Oro Bay, following one of the most storied military campaigns of the Second World War.

Culture That Commands Attention

The Goroka Show and Mount Hagen Cultural Show bring hundreds of distinct sing-sing groups together each year in a spectacular collision of feather headdresses, body paint and traditional percussion. Markets in the highlands overflow with sweet potato and hand-woven bilum bags. The coastal Hiri Moale festival in Port Moresby celebrates the great trading voyages of the Motu people, whose double-hulled lakatoi canoes once sailed hundreds of kilometres for sago.

Getting Around and Planning Ahead

Papua New Guinea rewards travellers who plan carefully. Road infrastructure outside Port Moresby and Lae is limited, so domestic flights are the primary way to reach highland towns, island provinces and remote lodges. The capital connects to Australia, Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong and Fiji, making it reachable from most parts of the world with one connection. Independent travel in rural areas is best arranged through a reputable in-country operator.