Remote and still relatively undiscovered, Papua New Guinea is one of the few places where you can truly go off the beaten track. Whether you’re trekking in remote mountain ranges, searching for the elusive bird of paradise in cloud forests or travelling to off-the-grid villages to get to know some 750 tribes who call PNG their home, you are likely to have the country’s wanders mostly to yourself.
The country comprises about 600 small islands with only 13 percent of people living in urban areas. Papua New Guinea has more than 800 indigenous languages and approximately 312 different tribes, including some uncontacted peoples.
Who goes to Papua New Guinea
A raw destination diverse in offerings, Papua New Guinea attracts a number of different types of travellers. Adventure travellers will enjoy the outdoor activities such as trekking, diving, surfing and fishing. Birdwatchers can see some incredible birds, such as the famous bird of paradise, while history buffs can delve into the past with a rich war history. Travellers seeking a cultural experience will find Papua New Guinea is so diverse and rich in culture, it would take many visits to even scratch the surface.
How to get to Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea may sound like one of the world’s more remote destinations, but a trip here is both attainable and highly rewarding. The capital, Port Moresby, is just one and a half hours by plane from Cairns, Australia. Papua New Guinea’s national airline, Air Niugini, also has several direct flights weekly from the capital to Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Manila, as well as Brisbane and Sydney.
There are few roads in Papua New Guinea, so you’ll most likely have to take a number of domestic flights from Port Moresby to get to the majority of your destinations. Boats link some of the outlying islands as well as various coastal destinations, so you may find yourself taking a banana boat (small, cargo-carrying dinghy), catching a ride on a cargo boat or chartering a boat along the Sepik. Some dive operators have their own live-aboard boats for reaching remote dive sites.
Top things to do in Papua New Guinea
Journeying along the Sepik
Imagine making your way along Papua New Guinea’s mightiest river by motorised longboat. As you round the river’s bends, every so often, traditional villages come into view – places with stilt-houses, where mysterious rituals are conducted in haus tambarans (spirit houses), where drummers beat complex rhythms on garamut drums, carved out of entire logs and adorned with animal head carvings, and where you can encounter men with scarring made to resemble crocodile skin – the sign of passing a coming-of-age ritual. The villages of the Middle Sepik are among the most interesting; here you can stay in thatched guesthouses, share simple meals of tubers and tinpis (tinned fish) with the locals and admire some of the most remarkable art and carvings in the country, produced by master craftsmen. Trips along the Sepik are typically arranged in the town of Wewak, or you can prearrange your journey on a liveaboard boat.
Trek the Kokoda Track
The rugged Kokoda Track stretches for 96km across the Owen Stanley Range in eastern Papua New Guinea. During WWII, between July 1942 and January 1943, bitter fighting took place along the track between the invading Japanese forces and Australian defenders, eventually resulting in a massive defeat for the Japanese. The Kokoda Track has since become a place of pilgrimage for many Australians, who see it as their opportunity to pay their respects to those who fought and died here. Whether you are a military history buff who’ll appreciate the war memorials and relics en route, or simply an outdoor enthusiast in search of a tough trekking challenge, the Kokoda Track fits the bill. The trek takes from six to 11 days, depending on your pace and physical fitness. The steep, challenging terrain should not be underestimated: most trekkers spend months training for the hike. Trekking is normally done in a group, with several locally-based operators offering experiences guides and porters. Visit southseahorizons.com/trips/kokoda-trail to book your Kokoda Trek.
Celebrating traditional culture in the Highlands
The Highlands hold some of the most resilient cultures in Papua New Guinea, maintaining a treasure trove of extraordinary experiences from sharing a traditional mumu feast to immersing your senses into the colour and culture of the Huli Wigmen. There is perhaps no better time or place to see impressively adorned and painted tribesmen than the country’s two biggest cultural fests: the Goroka Show, which takes place in Goroka over a weekend in mid-September; and Mt Hagen, which takes place in Mt Hagen over the third weekend in August. Massive feather headdresses, fearsome war paint, grass skirts and traditional weapons all feature in the celebrations, and as many as 100 tribal groups from across the Highlands attend, with many taking part in singsing (traditional songs and dances). Visit southseahorizons.com/trips/goroka-show to book the Goroka Show
Dive beneath the waves
Papua New Guinea is a world-class diving destination, with exceptional marine diversity, varied underwater topography of colourful reefs and splendid walls, a vast range of WWII wrecks to explore, and good visibility year-round. Rabaul in New Britain is particularly renowned for its wealth of wrecks; Kimbe Bay in West New Britain boasts a bewildering array of reef fish, while dive sites near Kavieng in New Ireland attract large pelagic life, such as rays, barracuda, grey sharks and turtles. Off the mainland, Milne Bay has some of PNG’s best wall dives and muck diving, while Madang is an all-rounder, with a proliferation of reef and wreck dives. You can base yourself in diving lodges or else spend a few days aboard a local live-aboard, such as the Chertan in Milne Bay or the FeBrina in Walindi, New Britain.
Explore the volcanic city of Rabaul
Formerly referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Pacific’ Rabaul Papua New Guinea is like nowhere else in Asia Pacific. A still active volcano stands sentinel at one of the most scenically beautiful harbours on earth. Rabaul possesses a unique atmosphere. Much of the town still lies eerily under fallen ash from the last major eruption yet in the eastern precinct modern-day life flourishes around the port of Simpson Harbour. Rabaul today is becoming a very popular destination for visiting cruise-liners. The key attraction lies in the unique blend of present-day beauty and former disaster and upheaval. The stunning scenery is best viewed from viewpoints atop Namanula and Observatory Hills but a visit to the Duke of York Islands is a must too. There are often dolphins frolicking in Simpson Harbour and even magnificent diving opportunities. History buffs are also sure to be fascinated by the vast amount of World War II history left behind after the Japanese occupation. Close to 600kms of tunnels were constructed during this time some of which can still be explored today and relics abound in situ such as gun emplacements and fallen aircraft. The Kokopo War Museum is also a must. Visit southseahorizons.com/trips/rabaul-papua-new-guinea to book Rabaul tours.
Birdwatching in the Tari Basin
Papua New Guinea is a world-class birding destination, and the plumed beauties that birdwatchers are particularly keen to see are the exotic birds of paradise. One of the best places to see them is in the Tari Basin and the Tari Gap, in the Highlands. Renowned biologist Sir David Attenborough himself stayed in the Tari Basin in 1996 while making the documentary Attenborough in Paradise, and the variation in altitude here ensures a high diversity of bird species. Luxurious Ambua Lodge, located near the town of Tari, runs birding tours.
How to book Papua New Guinea
It is important to plan your trip properly before visiting Papua New Guinea as it can be difficult to get around and there are certain traditions and cultures that need respecting. Festivals and events do sell out in advance. It is recommended you book with a reputable tour operator. South Sea Horizons (SSH) was established in 2007 and is Papua New Guinean owned and operated. SSH offers an authentic Papua New Guinean experience offering insight into areas only the true locals know and focusing on delivering a genuine personal experience to our guests. Alan Manning is the co-founder of SSH and founder of the Rabaul Cultural Centre. Alan has an unrivalled affinity and relationship with the cultures of the PNG Highlands, Islands and famous Kokoda Track. He hails from a Baii Village in East New Britain and is proud to have been initiated within the Tolai men’s society. However Alan was also educated in Australia and played professional rugby for the NSW Waratahs affording him an excellent empathy and understanding of PNG/ Australian shared values. These strong ties to the indigenous community allied with understanding of both the Papua New Guinean and Australian cultures means you will be looked after by the best and SSH will deliver on a promise. For more, visit southseahorizons.com
How to learn more about Papua New Guinea
You can learn more about Papua New Guinea by visiting the Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority website – papuanewguinea.travel. Here you will find a range of helpful information and downloadable brochures.
