Papua New Guinea
Capital: Port Moresby
Population: 9.9 million
Area: 452,860 km²
Official Languages: Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, English, PNG Sign Language
Currency: Kina
For Papua New Guinea related Blog Posts Click Here
This one’s not for the faint of heart. Tell people you’re going to Papua New Guinea (PNG) on holiday, and you’ll likely be met by blank stares and endless warnings about the risks of cannibalism.
Thankfully, the days of explorers quickly entering the locals’ cooking pots are over. That said, it’s still a land where you have to have your wits about you; small-scale pirates roam the offshore islands, and tribal fighting intermittently flares up in the Highlands. Then there are the raskols that loiter in the streets of the Capital, Port Moresby, and hold up PMVs (public transport) in the provinces.
Despite the risks, PNG is a richly rewarding and varied country to travel through. With over 800 spoken languages, PNG has a vast array of cultures and traditions to discover, best showcased in the colourful highland singsings.
The landscape is just as varied, with tropical-paradise islands, impenetrable rainforest, vast lowland rivers and mountainous highlands. This is an adventure lover’s dream; think jungle treks, some of the world’s best scuba diving, uncrowded surf breaks and unique wildlife found nowhere else.
Alotau is the capital of PNG's Milne Bay Province, and its harbour is a hive of activity
Getting to Papua New Guinea
International flights arrive at Port Moresby’s sleepy Jacksons International Airport. The national carrier, Air Niugini, flies from select destinations around Asia and Australia, as well as some Pacific neighbours. Qantas also has direct flights from Australian cities.
Public dinghies carry people, freight and livestock between PNG's many islands. We shared this one, from Esa'ala, with a live pig.
Getting around Papua New Guinea
Getting around PNG can be a challenge. With a limited road network that doesn’t connect the capital to any other significant centres, to get around PNG, you’re going to have to fly.
Air Niugini and PNG Air are the leading operators of domestic flights. Both predominantly connect through Port Moresby, so unless you’ve a lot of time and money to spare, you’re best picking one or two regions to explore in more detail.
PMVs (public motor vehicles) are the main form of ground transport, varying from packed mini-busses to open pickup trucks where you sit in the back. PNG’s many offshore islands are serviced by a plethora of ad hoc boat services. Shorter distances are covered by open public dinghies, while longer journeys are serviced by larger and slower trade boats. This is PNG, so needless today, there’s no timetable.
Where to Stay in Papua New Guinea
Accommodation here isn’t cheap. There’s a smattering of dive resorts, tourist lodges, and some overpriced hotels in the main centres.
To get a proper sense of Papua New Guinean life and culture, though, make sure to spend at least some of your time in village guesthouses. These usually consist of a hut or bungalow adjacent to a family home. The family will usually cook for you and act as guides for local excursions. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the country. Just don’t expect luxury.
Trobriand Island dancers
What to do in Papua New Guinea
Explore the mighty Sepik River in the west, trek the famous Kokoda Track, or climb PNG’s highest mountain, Mt. Wilhelm, for views of the north and south coasts. Or, if you’re a water baby at heart, explore PNG’s myriad offshore islands for world-class diving, snorkelling and surfing.
What to see in Papua New Guinea
The riotous exuberance of a highland singsing is a cultural feast for the eyes, with feathered headdresses galore and mud-daubed tribal fighters displaying their best moves. Or spot the iconic bird of paradise in its natural habitat to get an idea of the inspiration behind the singsing’s elaborate displays.
The Trobriand Islands offer more cultural sights, with intensely decorated yam houses and Trobriand Island cricket to watch, with singing and dancing included as part of the sport. Other islands provide volcanic vistas, like those around Rabaul on the island of New Britain or at Deidei Hot Springs on Fergusson Island.
The Drone in Papua New Guinea
Samarai Island, Papua New Guinea
Entry Requirements Papua New Guinea
All visitors require a visa to enter PNG. At present, it is not possible to get a visa on arrival, and you must apply for a visitor visa beforehand. This can be done online and is relatively straightforward.