Papua New Guinea Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org

Travel Notes: Oceania: Papua New Guinea Travel Notes

Papua New Guinea tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Papua New Guinea links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.

Order Papua New Guinea Travel Brochures - for Free.

Papua New Guinea

New Guinea lies North of Cape York, Australia; across the Torres Strait.

Papua New Guinea is the eastern half of New Guinea; the western portion is the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya.

The capital of Papua New Guinea is Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea's rough terrain means that there are no railways and very limited paved roads.

Air Niuguini provides air connections to much of the country and its outlying islands.

PNG Flight Schedule:
Online flight schedule listing all major airlines in Papua New Guinea.

The island was first sighted by the Portuguese navigator,  Antonio d'Abreu, in 1511, although the first known European to land there was the Spanish explorer Jorge de Menezes, in 1526.

The Spanish named the island Novo Guinea, after the country in West Africa, and claimed it for Spain.

The East India Company claimed the entire island for Great Britain  in 1793, but the Netherlands disputed the claim and the Dutch East India Company took possession of the western half of New Guinea in 1828.

Germany then annexed the north-eastern part of New Guinea, that was not under the control of the other two European nations, in 1884.

The British region was transferred to Australia in 1906, and during the First World War the Australians had governance of the German region as well.

The Japanese invaded the island during World war II, but Australia become the administering power again in 1946.

The Dutch gave up control of the western part part of New Guinea in 1962, and on September 6th, 1975 the eastern section became independent as a part of Papua New Guinea.

Although Bougaineville and Buka are part of the North Solomons geographically, they are actually controlled by Papua New Guinea; for the time being.

Papua New Guinea has ongoing problems with the secessionist revolutionaries in Bougaineville, who forced the closure of the copper mines that were destroying the environment.

Papua New Guinea Island Groups

The most significant of Papua New Guinea's island groups are the Bismarck Archipelago, the Louisiade Archipelago, the Trobriand Islands, the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, and Woodlark Island.

Papua New Guinea Travel and Tourism

Papua New Guinea is serviced internationally by one carrier only, Air Nuigini (which has a code share arrangement with Qantas). Air Nuigini has direct flights into Papua New Guinea from Australia, Japan, Singapore and The Philippines.

All International flights arrive at Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby.

From Port Moresby, the rest of the country is serviced by air only, as there are no road or rail systems linking Port Moresby to other centres.

Papua New Guinea - Smart Traveller:
Advice for Australian nationals intending to visit Papua New Guinea.

PNG Tourism:
Website of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority.

Travel and Tourism in Papua New Guinea:
Part of the Papua New Guinea Business Directory, there's a lot of good tourism information on Papua New Guinea here.

Papua New Guinea Travellers

Photographs From Papua New Guinea:
Carole-Anne Fooks, of Adelaide, has always had an interest in other cultures and presents her pictures of village life in Papua New Guinea to the world.

The Islands of Love:
We knew from our lecture on board Oceanic Princess that the Trobriand Islands possessed the fabled reputation as the 'Islands of Love', but what was taking place on the pearl white sands as we approached struck us as something much more forthright!

Goroka

Goroka is the capital of Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands.

Goroka is famous for its Highland Show. There's no road between Port Moresby and Goroka, so you'll need to fly to get there.

Highland Tribes of Papua New Guinea:
Pictures of the ceremonial dress of 26 Highland and Madang Villages, as displayed at the Goroka Highland Show.

Hiking Out of Goroka

You're best advised to get yourself a guide if you plan on hiking out of Goroka. It can take up to two days to get to the next village and you probably won't see anyone else in the jungle.

Accommodation in Goroka

Quality Hotel Bird of Paradise: Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

Elizabeth and McWilliam Street Hotel Details. Hotel Rates. Add Hotel Review. View Map. Official Website: Quality Hotel Bird of Paradise.

Located in the centre of town, the Quality Hotel Bird of Paradise is within a minute's walk of shopping centres and a three minute drive to the market. Guaranteed Best Hotel Rates Online Book a Room at the Bird of Paradise To get to the hotel from the airport, take the first left into Main Street, then the right to the end of Elizabeth Street - the Bird of Paradise is situated at the end of the T-Junction. Day tours are available from the hotel.

Mount Hagen

Mount Hagen is the provincial capital of the Western Highlands.

Be sure to catch the Saturday market in Mount Hagen. The Mount Hagen Cultural Show, usually around August, is also worth making the extra effort to be around for.

Hagen Cultural Show:
Samson Komati Yuimb has a few colourful tribal pictures to give you an idea of what the Mount Hagen Cultural Show is all about.

Quality Hotel Highlander: Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea.
Hagen Drive. Hotel Details. Hotel Rates. Add Hotel Review. View Map. Official Website: Quality Hotel Highlander.	The Quality Hotel Highlander is centrally located with 24-hour security, heated pool, restaurant and bar. Guaranteed Best Hotel Rates Online Book a Room at the Hotel Highlander If you follow the Highlands Hiway to Mt. Hagen intersection of BP/Shell service stations, the hotel opposite.

Kokoda Trail

Originally used by gold miners during the 1890s and later the scene of much fighting during World War II, the 96km Kokoda Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Papua New Guinea.

Day trippers from Port Moresby may prefer to do the one hour walk along the trail, towards the Goldie River. For those who continue, the trail starts to get steep as it climbs up the 'Golden Stairs' and over the Imita Ridge.

Walking from south to north is the preferred choice and August to September the best time to get your hiking boots on. At a moderate pace, tours along the length of the Kokoda Trail take around eleven days.

Kokoda Track Authority

Under the Kokoda Track Trek Permit Law 2005 of both the Kokoda and Koiari Local-level Governments, persons, whether as individuals or part of a group, who wish to walk the Kokoda Track, are required to obtain a Trek Permit. Trek Permits are available upon application from the Kokoda Track Authority or through recognised Tour Operators registered with the Authority.

Kokoda Trekking:
The unspoilt villages throughout the Kokoda Track will welcome you and the Koiari and Orokaiva people will greet you with smiles and tempt you with seasonal fruit and vegetables.

Madang

Madang is one of the most popular locations in Papua New Guinea for divers, with its reef-fringed lowlands and offshore volcanic islands backed by some of the most rugged mountains in Papua New Guinea.

Getting to Madang

Madang is a 1 hour flight from Port Moresby - serviced by Air Nuigini with good daily connections.

Madang Diving

Madang Wrecks:
A database of photographs, descriptions and locations of W.W.II wreckage remaining in Madang Province.

Madang Accommodation

Quality Hotel Coast Watchers: Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Coast Watchers Avenue Hotel Details. Hotel Rates. Add Hotel Review. View Map. Official Website: Quality Hotel Coast Watchers.

The Quality Hotel Coast Watchers is handy for the golf course and ocean village tours. There is a licensed bar and restaurant, conference facilities, and an outdoor pool at the hotel. Guaranteed Best Hotel Rates Online Book a Room at the Hotel Coast Watchers To get to the hotel from the airport, take the North Coast Road to Modilon Road. The hotel is at Kalibobo Point. Harbour cruises and diving can be arranged through the hotel.

Budget Accommodation in Madang

Jais Aben Resort: (From $37)
PO Box 105, Madang.
Jais Aben Resort has 20 timber bungalows spread along the water's edge, 15km north of Madang Town. All have private bathrooms with hot water. Some rooms have air conditioning, others are fan only. There is sea access for swimming, snorkelling, shore diving and there are tea and coffee making facilities are in all the rooms.

Papua New Guinea Provinces

Papua New Guinea Provinces (and Provincial Capitals).

Central Province (Port Moresby); East Sepik (Wewak); Eastern Highlands (Goroka); Enga (Wabag); Gulf (Kerema); Madang (Madang); Manus (Lorengau); Milne Bay (Alotau); Morobe (Lae); National Capital District (Port Moresby); New Ireland (Kavieng); North Solomons (Buka); Oro (Popondetta); Simbu (Kundiawa); Southern Highlands (Mendi); Western Province (Daru); Western Highlands (Mount Hagen); Sandaun (Vanimo); East New Britain (Rabaul); West New Britain (Kimbe).

The Tribal Peoples of Papua New Guinea

Deadly Twist to PNG's Tribal Feuds:
In Papua New Guinea tribes gather peacefully to celebrate their ancestral traditions with singing and dancing. Mock battles are also staged but, as Nick Squires reports, in real life there has been a bloody resurgence in tribal fighting.

Kentiga Tribe of Papua New Guinea:
This document is aimed at better informing potential international guests planning on visiting Papua New Guinea and may choose to spend a night or more at Kokop Village, home of the Kentiga Tribe.

The Mudmen of Papua New Guinea:
Visit the Highlands of Papua New Guinea to see the Mudmen of the Mat Tribe. While the proud Mudmen of Asaro now perform regularly for busloads of tourists, this is a narrative from some twenty years ago. No photos.

Tribal Tattoos of Papua New Guinea:
As far back as the old men and women can remember, tattooing has been a tribal custom of the coastal peoples of Papua New Guinea. Among the Motu, Waima, Aroma, Hula, Mekeo, Mailu and other related south-western groups, women were heavily tattooed from head to toe, while men displayed chest markings related to their exploits in the headhunt. By World War II, however, tattooing traditions largely disappeared in these areas and today only the Maisin and a few neighbouring peoples of Collingwood Bay, in south-eastern Papua, remain as the last coastal people to continue tattooing itself.

Papua New Guinea Travel Tips

There are many nice diving sites in Papua New Guinea as well as trips to the villages. However, please be careful in the capital town as there are problems with rascals and robbers, especially at night time. People living in the city are very security conscious of this.
Sent in by: PNG Business Directory.

Papua New Guinea Travel Guides

Books on Papua New Guinea Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Papua New Guinea.