Papua New Guinea travel guide

Getting there

Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby is the main gateway, with flights from Australia, Asia and the Pacific. There are no tourist-friendly land borders, and onward travel within PNG is mainly by air.

Best time to visit: May–Oct – drier season, good for trekking and festivals.

Tougher months: December-March - the wettest months in many areas, with heavy rain, though some regions follow different patterns.

Weather by month in Port Moresby

• 32°J●●
• 31°F●●
• 31°M●●
• 31°A●●
• 31°M●
• 30°J
• 29°J
• 30°A
• 31°S
• 32°O
• 32°N●
• 32°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Pacific/Bougainville, Pacific/Port_Moresby. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 14 of 198 other passports can enter Papua New Guinea without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 183 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 1 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Papua New Guinea (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-04-29). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Papua New Guinea travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Papua New Guinea are based around Port Moresby, Goroka or Mount Hagen. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$70–110 for a backpacker and US$150–250 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Papua New Guinea page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: I. Voltage: 240 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +675.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Port Moresby (Southern coast · capital): The capital, with the National Museum, Parliament House and nearby Varirata National Park.
• Goroka (Eastern Highlands · culture): A cool highland town famous for its cultural show and the Asaro mudmen.
• Mount Hagen (Western Highlands · culture): A highland hub with an annual show and gateway to forest lodges.
• Sepik River (North · river culture): One of the world's great rivers, lined with villages known for art and spirit houses.
• Kokoda Track (Owen Stanley Range · trekking): A demanding multi-day trek through mountains steeped in wartime history.
• Rabaul & Kokopo (East New Britain · volcanoes): Volcanic landscapes, hot springs, WWII relics and mask festivals.
• Kimbe Bay (West New Britain · diving): Spectacular coral reefs and marine life for divers and snorkellers.
• Alotau & Milne Bay (Eastern tip · islands): A gateway to beautiful islands, reefs and canoe festivals.

Things to do

• Attend a highland show. Watch hundreds of groups in feathers, shells and body paint perform at the Goroka or Mount Hagen show.
• Cruise the Sepik River. Travel by canoe to villages with towering spirit houses and intricate carvings.
• Trek the Kokoda Track. Follow the historic wartime trail through rugged jungle mountains with local guides.
• Dive Kimbe Bay. Explore some of the most biodiverse coral reefs on the planet off New Britain.
• See Rabaul's volcanoes. Visit a town rebuilt in the shadow of active volcanoes and explore wartime tunnels.
• Watch birds of paradise. Head into highland forests at dawn to see spectacular courtship displays.
• Relax in Tufi's fjords. Snorkel and kayak among rainforest-clad volcanic fjords on the north coast.
• Join the Hiri Moale. Watch traditional lakatoi sailing canoes and celebrations in Port Moresby.

Source: full Papua New Guinea guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Mumu – pork, sweet potato and greens cooked in an earth oven
• Kaukau – sweet potato, the highland staple
• Sago – starch from the sago palm, staple along the Sepik
• Coconut fish – fish cooked in coconut milk

Source: RoamSun Papua New Guinea guide

Money and safety

Currency: Papua New Guinean kina (PGK). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not customary..

Emergency numbers: 112 police · 111 ambulance · 110 fire.

• The currency is the kina; cash is essential outside major hotels and businesses.
• ATMs are available in main towns but may run out of cash, so plan ahead.
• Crime is a serious problem in Port Moresby, Lae and Mount Hagen; avoid walking alone and travel with trusted local contacts.
• Tribal fighting can flare up in parts of the Highlands; check your government's latest travel advice and local conditions.

Source: RoamSun Papua New Guinea facts