Visit Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is found in Oceania - it is the western part of the island of New Guinea (the eastern section of the island forms part of Indonesia), in the south Pacific.

With almost eighty five percent of the land dominated by rain forest, Papua New Guinea is a rare wild and unspoiled land. The interior is mountainous and heavily forested, and traversed by several important rivers, the coast often backed by mangrove swamps, and there are numerous attractive beaches offering scuba diving and surfing opportunities.

The island is new to tourism, but there is a great deal to discover and enjoy, and a chance to gain a glimpse of a culture that is very different from our own. The island has more than 800 languages so communication may be strained at times, despite your best efforts!

Traditional markets are one of the big attractions in the region, with both local food and produce and arts and crafts available. Inevitably the more popular markets are now selling things focussed on the tourist market, and you will see lots of baskets and art work for sale at these.

For those seeking an adventure unlike any you’ve ever experienced, Papua New Guinea offers the thrill seeker world famous scuba diving and a land that has been kept virtually pristine of modern man. The island is gaining a great reputation for diving opportunities, with the clear seas and a coral reef to explore, as well as various wrecked WWII aircraft to discover.

Surfing is also gaining in popularity in Papua New Guinea, and some of the beaches offer very fine surfing possibilities.

Inland, Papua New Guinea is largely covered by mountains and forests, and the adventurous will enjoy setting off for one of the challenging hikes in the island. We recommend the dry season and plenty of experience if you are planning to do one of these hikes, and a guide will usually be required for the hikes that take several days!

The hikes provide a fantastic opportunity to enjoy unspoiled tropical landscapes, and also to see some quiet traditional New Guinea villages en route.

Inland activities also include exploring the caves, or canoeing along the rivers.

One other attraction is the local festivals that are held. Not all festivals are open to the public - one of the most popular is that of Port Moresby during September.

A tourist visa, valid for 60 days, is needed for your visit to Papua New Guinea. It is advised to get the visa before your visit to avoid possible complications.