Papua New Guinea Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

Port Moresby
The capital is situated on the magnificent Fairfax Harbour and is home to the National Parliament, the National Museum, the Botanical Gardens and the Catholic Cathedral, built in the haus tambaran (spirit house) style.

Kokoda Trail and Sogeri
Outside Port Moresby, visit the Kokoda Trail and Sogeri, which offers magnificent views and winds through rubber plantations. Other nearby places of interest include the Wairiata National Park, Moitaka Crocodile Farm, Loloata Island and the Sea Park Oceanarium.

Lae Botanical Gardens
Stroll the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Lae, capital of Morobe province. Mount Lunaman in the town center was used by the Germans and Japanese as a WWII lookout because of its magnificent views over the Huon Gulf and the Markham Valley.

Wau Ecology Institute
Go to Wau, near Lae, where the Wau Ecology Institute has a small museum and zoo. Visitors can see cassowaries, tree kangaroos, crocodiles, birds of paradise, native butterflies and rhododendrons.

River tour
Take a tour round the islands and up the Sepik River from the capital of Madang Province, Madang. It has a variety of shops and markets, where storyboards depicting myths and legends can be bought. In nearby Bilbils and Yabobs, traditional pottery-making can be seen.

Kanganaman
Visit Kanganaman, where a haus tambaran (spirit house) of national cultural importance has been rebuilt, providing an excellent example of the carvings on the immense Haus Posts. Also see local clans' elaborately carved masks, insect totems, canoe prows and stepladders.

Eastern Highlands
Browse traditional crafts in the Eastern Highlands. Bena Bena Village, near Goroka, is the region's largest handweaving organization. Also nearby is Asaro, where men coat themselves with mud to re-enact their historic revenge on a neighboring village, whose inhabitants supposedly scarpered thinking the mud-caked locals were ghosts.

Baiyer River Wildlife Sanctuary
Witness the beauty of the famous birds of paradise at Baiyer River Wildlife Sanctuary, 55km (34 miles) north of Mount Hagen. Possums, tree kangaroos, parrots and cassowaries are also part of the natural habitat.

Mendi Valley
Soak up some spectacular scenery views in the Mendi Valley of the Southern Highlands, also known for its limestone caves. It is home to the Huli Wigmen who wear red and yellow face-paint and elaborately decorated wigs made of human hair.

New Britain underground tunnels
Visit part of a 576km (360-mile) underground tunnel system left by the Japanese on the island of New Britain, which suffered extensive damage from volcanic activity in 1994.

Milne Bay
Enjoy the white sandy beaches of Milne Bay, the islands offshore from Bougainville. Swimming and snorkeling enthusiasts are well catered for here. The harvesting of yams from May to September is also accompanied by ritual and celebration.

Top Things to Do

Explore the deep
Make the most of spectacular swimming and snorkeling opportunities off the beaches and coral reefs around Papua New Guinea.

Go diving
Madang, Port Moresby and Rabaul offer a wide variety of dives from wrecks to reefs. Diving holidays can also be arranged at Loloaka and off the island of New Britain, the latter being considered one of the best diving areas in the region.

Jungle tour
Take a river or jungle tour in the Chambri region, stopping at remote villages where houses are built on stilts, and the dugout canoe is still the main means of transport. Hear Upper Sepik-style Garamut Drums (‘Slit Gongs'), and see dramatic local carvings here too.

Fit in some fishing
Game fish are plentiful in Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul and Wewak. Information is available from Port Moresby Game Fishing Club (www.pmgfc.org.pg).

Go sailing
Sail off Papua New Guinea's beautiful shores. The Royal Papua Yacht Club (www.rpyc.com.pg) makes its extensive sailing facilities available to visitors; the season begins in late April.

Explore the scenery
Take one of the many backpacking and hiking tours on offer, ranging from simple bush walks to extended tours through the rugged interior.

Gobirdwatching
Head to the Chambri Lakes, which are home to myriad species from brahminee kites to kingfishers. Go on an early morning jungle excursion to experience the unique cacophony of birds preparing for the day's hunting.

Take to the water
Take advantage of some of the many sporting facilities in Port Moresby, including scuba-diving, windsurfing, sailing, game fishing, waterskiing, golf, tennis and squash.

White-water rafting
If you're adventurous, take a white-water rafting trip on the Watut River; the Wahgi and Purari rapids are also exciting.