Highlights of Papua New Guinea
- Take a boat trip around the islands of Alotau
- The Owen Stanley Ranges plunges into the sea near Alotau and a scatter of islands dots the ocean for hundreds of kilometres further out. This is the start of the Pacific proper; tiny atolls, coral reefs, volcanic islands, swaying palms and white beaches.
- Take a boat trip around the islands of Alotau
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- See Birds of Paradise in Ambua
- Ambua is located in the Tari Basin and dominated by the numerous and culturally intact Huli Clan whose colourful tribal outfits are a spectacular sight. This is one of the best spots in the country for spotting Birds of Paradise.
- See Birds of Paradise in Ambua
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- Watch the 'Goroka Show' in Goroka
- The main commercial centre in the Eastern Highlands Province, Goroka is famous for the Goroka Show which is held in mid-September where there are all manner of sing-sings, tribal performances... and normally some tension between the groups!
- Watch the 'Goroka Show' in Goroka
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- Go on a wildlife trip down the Karawari River
- A tributary of the mighty Sepik River, the Karawari riverbanks are home to lush tropical rainforest and an amazing array of birdlife. Butterflies the size of dinner plates flutter between trees and the peace is interrupted only by the call of water birds and the occasional crocodile slinking into the river.
- Go on a wildlife trip down the Karawari River
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- Take a boat trip to an island around Kavieng
- Looking out over the Bismarck Sea from Kavieng, the surrounding scenery is scattered with coral islands surrounded by golden beaches. From the attractive harbour you can take a boat to one of the nearby islands where the snorkelling and diving is superb.
- Take a boat trip to an island around Kavieng
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- Try diving in Kimbe Bay
- The stunning reefs in Kimbe Bay provide some of the best diving in PNG and indeed the world. It is also a superb location for bird-watching, jungle trekking and cultural village excursions.
- Try diving in Kimbe Bay
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- Go trekking around Mount Hagen
- Mount Hagen is located at the western end of the Wahgi Valley, a huge valley, bound by mountains whose peaks exceed 4,000 metres. The areas surrounding the town consist of mountain ranges covered with lush tropical rainforest, rugged limestone bluffs and small valleys with tribal villages.
- Go trekking around Mount Hagen
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- Take in the sights of Port Moresby
- Port Moresby itself certainly nothing to write home about but there are some good sights such as the National Museum, Art Gallery and Parliament House built in the style of a traditional maprik haus tambaran. A visit to the Botanic Gardens is also worthwhile to learn about the indigenous flora and fauna.
- Take in the sights of Port Moresby
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- Visit the volcanic region of Rabaul
- Rabaul is the site of two of Papua New Guinea's most impressive volcanos, Tarvuvur and Vulcan, as well as some amazing snorkelling spots and wreck dives.
- Visit the volcanic region of Rabaul
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- Visit the local villages around Tufi
- The mountainous jungle-clad interior of PNG gives way to charming isolated villages and the breathtaking landscape of Tufi. Volcanic eruptions created the unique fjords or 'rias' where the vivid turquoise waters can be explored by dug-out canoe.
- Visit the local villages around Tufi
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Our country specialists have travelled the length and breadth of Papua New Guinea - here are a few of their favourite things to do
To visit Papua New Guinea is to step into a world where tourism is not yet an industry.
Visiting, you will discover a beautiful country of folded mountains and remote tribes, untouched rainforests, vast river deltas and pristine coral waters.
PNG, as it is known locally, is home to the largest intact rainforest outside the Amazon, a natural sanctuary where sheer remoteness has protected countless species, from iridescent birds of paradise to the huge flightless cassowary.
Local tribes
Its tribal population is no less diverse, with more than 700 languages hinting at the wealth of different traditions, customs and costumes you will find. In the Highland regions, first explored by westerners in the 1930s, spectacular rituals live on in a vivid world of feathered headdresses and tribal sing sings, while the slow waters of the Sepik River flow past a panorama of rainforest cultures little changed over the ages.
Volcanic islands
The coastline is fringed by beautiful beaches, colourful coconut plantations and volcanic islands. Here, New Britain is home to stark reminders of PNG’s role in World War II, and more recently the dramatic effects of volcanic activity. However, exposure to western influence has done little to change the age-old values and beliefs of the welcoming people who are proud of both their history and breath-takingly beautiful home.
Popular Places to visit in Papua New Guinea
Rabaul, one of PNG’s most attractive towns, was a main base for the Japanese during the Second World War and fascinating reminders of this turbulent time are everywhere.
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The sleepy town of Kavieng is the capital of New Ireland, an area known for its white-sand islands and beaches, diving, surfing and thriving Malangan culture.
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The capital is a low-rise city that sprawls around the coast and the hills inland. The attractive Botanic Gardens provide a good introduction to the indigenous flora and fauna and are worth a visit.
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Madang has an excellent cultural centre, several pleasant parks, a thriving market, and countless flying foxes, which hang like fruit from every tree. It also has excellent beaches and diving opportunities.
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Few visitors make the journey to Milne Bay and those who do tend to be divers. But venture a little further and you will find age-old cultures, friendly villages, pristine wildlife and good accommodation.
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Goroka is famous for the Goroka Show, where there are all manner of sing-sings, agricultural displays and inter-tribal dance contests. It’s a short drive to see the Asaro mudmen warriors, daubed with grey clay.
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Capital of the Western Highlands province, Mount Hagen is the gateway to the smaller Highland towns. In this rural region you can see the Wahgi 'mud-men' perform one of their traditional displays.
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Navigable through much of its 1,126 kilometre length, the Sepik River reaches deep into a remote world where dugout canoes are the main form of transport and remote communities survive.
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Practical Info
Flight time from UK
23 hours (to Port Moresby, via Singapore)
When To Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
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