Papua New Guinea · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Papua New Guinea
These are the places worth knowing in Papua New Guinea, from Port Moresby's museums and the Highland shows to Madang's reefs, Rabaul's volcanoes and the bays of Milne Bay. Opening hours and access change, so confirm locally before you go.
Places to Visit in Port Moresby
Arts and Culture
- National Museum and Art Gallery (Waigani)
Masks, canoe prows and spirit boards from every province, the best introduction to PNG's cultures. - Parliament House (Waigani)
The national parliament, built in the shape of a Sepik spirit house with a vast painted facade. - Hanuabada Village (Fairfax Harbour)
A large stilt village of the Motu Koita people, best visited with a local guide.
Nature and Outdoors
- Port Moresby Nature Park (University of PNG, Waigani)
A safe, shady park with tree kangaroos, cassowaries and birds of paradise. - Varirata National Park (Sogeri Plateau)
Forest trails, coastal lookouts and dawn displays of Raggiana birds of paradise. - Ela Beach (Town)
The city's seafront promenade, busy with families and picnics at weekends. - Rouna Falls (Sogeri Road)
A tall waterfall on the Laloki River seen from the road up to the plateau.
Things to Do
- Bomana War Cemetery (Bomana)
The largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the Pacific, a quiet and moving stop. - Owers' Corner (Sogeri)
The southern start of the Kokoda Track, with a memorial and views over the ranges.
Stays
- Loloata Island Resort (Bootless Bay)
An island escape a short boat ride from the city, with reef snorkelling and diving. - Hilton Port Moresby (Waigani)
A secure modern hotel beside the government district with several restaurants. - Crowne Plaza Port Moresby (Town)
A long established hotel in the centre with harbour views. - Airways Hotel (Jacksons Parade)
A hilltop hotel beside the airport, popular for overnight connections. - The Stanley Hotel and Suites (Waigani)
A large hotel next to Vision City with restaurants and a pool. - Grand Papua Hotel (Town)
A central hotel close to the harbour and the business district.
Restaurants
- Bacchus Restaurant (Airways Hotel, Jacksons Parade)
Fine dining with views over the airport hills and a long wine list.
Cafés
- Duffy Cafe (Gabaka Street, Gordons)
A busy cafe for PNG coffee, breakfasts and baked goods.
Bars and Nightlife
- Royal Papua Yacht Club (Town Harbour)
A harbourside club with a bar, restaurant and sunset views over the marina.
Shopping and Markets
- Vision City Mega Mall (Waigani)
The country's largest shopping centre, with supermarkets, food courts and a cinema. - Gordons Market (Gordons)
The city's biggest produce market, lively and crowded, best visited with a local.
Events
- Hiri Moale Festival (Ela Beach)
A September festival celebrating the trading voyages of the Motu people with lakatoi canoes. - Independence Day (Citywide)
Celebrations on 16 September with sing-sings, flags and family events.
Places to Visit in Mount Hagen
Events
- Mount Hagen Cultural Show (Kagamuga Showground)
PNG's most famous festival, with dozens of Highland groups in feathers, shells and paint.
Stays
- Rondon Ridge (Mount Hagen hills)
A hillside lodge with sweeping valley views, orchid gardens and birdwatching walks. - Highlander Hotel (Town centre)
A secure central hotel with gardens and a restaurant, a long time Hagen base.
Shopping and Markets
- Mount Hagen Market (Town centre)
One of the biggest markets in the country, piled with Highland vegetables and bilums.
Nature and Outdoors
- Wahgi Valley (Western Highlands)
The broad, fertile valley of coffee gardens and sweet potato mounds below Hagen. - Kumul Lodge (Tomba, Enga border)
A forest lodge famous for birds of paradise visiting its feeding tables. - Mount Giluwe (Southern Highlands border)
PNG's second highest peak, a remote climb through alpine grassland.
Arts and Culture
- Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Wahgi Valley)
A World Heritage site showing some of the oldest evidence of farming on earth. - Bilum stalls at the market (Mount Hagen Market)
Hand woven string bags in bright Highland patterns, made by local women.
Restaurants
- Highlander Hotel Restaurant (Town centre)
Reliable hotel dining with local vegetables, grills and Highland coffee.
Places to Visit in Goroka
Events
- Goroka Show (National Sports Institute grounds)
The September show around Independence Day, with groups from across the country.
Arts and Culture
- Asaro Mudmen (Asaro Valley)
Famous performers in clay masks, visited in their villages near Goroka. - J.K. McCarthy Museum (Goroka)
A small museum of Highland artefacts, photographs and wartime relics.
Stays
- Bird of Paradise Hotel (Goroka town)
The main hotel in Goroka, central and secure.
Shopping and Markets
- Goroka Market (Goroka town)
A busy market known for Highland produce and fresh strawberries.
Places to Visit in Mount Wilhelm
Nature and Outdoors
- Mount Wilhelm (Simbu Province)
PNG's highest mountain, climbed overnight from Kegsugl for sunrise views of both coasts.
Places to Visit in Madang
Stays
- Madang Resort (Kalibobo, Madang)
A waterfront resort with gardens, pools and an on site dive centre. - Jais Aben Resort (North of Madang)
A quiet resort on a lagoon with snorkelling straight from the shore.
Things to Do
- B25 Mitchell bomber wreck (Madang Harbour)
A well preserved wartime bomber in shallow water, a favourite dive.
Nature and Outdoors
- Magic Passage (Madang lagoon)
A channel dive with schooling fish, sharks and dense coral. - Krangket Island (Across Madang Harbour)
A short banana boat ride to a calm lagoon, village life and easy snorkelling. - Siar Island (Madang lagoon)
A friendly island with white sand and reef, an easy day trip. - Balek Wildlife Sanctuary (South of Madang)
A sulphur spring creek with eels and turtles in the forest. - Karkar Island (Bismarck Sea)
A volcanic island of plantations and villages north of Madang. - Flying fox colony (Town centre)
Fruit bats fill the rain trees in town and stream out at dusk. - Nobonob Hill lookout (Above Madang)
Wide views over the coast and islands from the hills behind town.
Arts and Culture
- Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse (Coronation Drive)
A waterfront memorial to the coastwatchers who reported Japanese movements in the war. - Bilbil Village (South of Madang)
A village known for its traditional clay pottery.
Shopping and Markets
- Madang Market (Town centre)
A lively market for fruit, betel nut, smoked fish and shell jewellery.
Restaurants
- Madang Resort Restaurant (Kalibobo)
Seafood and sunset dining beside the water. - Jais Aben Restaurant (North of Madang)
Lagoon side meals in a relaxed resort setting.
Places to Visit in Kokopo
Stays
- Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort (Kokopo waterfront)
Bungalows on the beach looking at the volcanoes across Blanche Bay. - Rapopo Plantation Resort (Rapopo)
A beachfront resort near the airport with a pool and gardens. - Gazelle International Hotel (Kokopo)
A modern hotel in town with sea views.
Arts and Culture
- Kokopo War Museum (Kokopo)
Aircraft, guns and vehicles from the Second World War on the Gazelle Peninsula. - Vunapope Catholic Mission (Vunapope)
A historic mission with an old cathedral and wartime story.
Shopping and Markets
- Kokopo Market (Town centre)
A busy Tolai market for smoked fish, greens, betel nut and shell money.
Things to Do
- Bita Paka War Cemetery (Bita Paka)
A peaceful Commonwealth cemetery in tropical gardens.
Events
- National Mask and Warwagira Festival (Kokopo)
Mask dancers from across PNG, including Baining fire dancers, usually in July.
Nature and Outdoors
- Duke of York Islands (St George's Channel)
Island villages, beaches and snorkelling a boat ride from Kokopo.
Restaurants
- Kokopo Beach Bungalow Restaurant (Kokopo waterfront)
Fresh seafood looking out to the volcanoes. - Kokopo Market food stalls (Town centre)
Smoked fish, aibika and coconut dishes from Tolai sellers.
Places to Visit in Rabaul
Nature and Outdoors
- Tavurvur Volcano (Rabaul)
An active volcano you can walk near across ash fields when it is quiet. - Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (Tavui caldera rim)
The best lookout over Simpson Harbour and its volcanoes. - Rabaul Hot Springs (Matupit, below Tavurvur)
Steaming water on the black sand shore near the volcano.
Arts and Culture
- Yamamoto's Bunker (Rabaul)
A wartime bunker with a painted map of the Pacific on its ceiling. - Japanese Barge Tunnels (Karavia Bay)
Hillside tunnels still holding rusting landing barges.
Stays
- Rabaul Hotel (Mango Avenue)
A family run hotel that survived the 1994 eruption.
Places to Visit in Kimbe
Nature and Outdoors
- Walindi Plantation Resort (Kimbe Bay, West New Britain)
A celebrated dive resort on Kimbe Bay's coral reefs.
Places to Visit in Alotau
Stays
- Alotau International Hotel (Alotau waterfront)
A central hotel on the bay with a restaurant and pool. - Driftwood Resort (Alotau)
Bungalows over the water a short walk from town.
Events
- Kenu and Kundu Festival (Alotau waterfront)
War canoe races and kundu drum performances, usually in early November.
Shopping and Markets
- Alotau Market (Town centre)
A waterside market for fruit, fish and betel nut.
Arts and Culture
- Battle of Milne Bay memorial (Alotau)
Remembers the first defeat of Japanese land forces in the war, in 1942.
Nature and Outdoors
- Samarai Island (China Strait)
A former trading port island with old buildings and clear water. - Tawali Resort (Hoyt's Bay, Milne Bay)
A remote dive resort known for muck diving and reef life. - Alotau waterfront walk (Town)
An easy daytime stroll along the bay.
Things to Do
- Dinah's Beach dive site (Milne Bay)
A famous muck diving site for rare small sea life.
Restaurants
- Alotau International Hotel Restaurant (Alotau waterfront)
Bay views and fresh seafood. - Driftwood Resort Restaurant (Alotau)
Over water dining in a relaxed setting.
Places to Visit in Trobriand Islands
Arts and Culture
- Trobriand Islands Yam Festival (Kiriwina)
Harvest celebrations with dancing and cricket played Trobriand style, usually mid year.
Shopping and Markets
- Trobriand carving villages (Kiriwina)
Ebony carvings and bowls made on the islands.
Places to Visit in Tufi
Stays
- Tufi Resort (Tufi, Oro Province)
A remote clifftop resort above deep fjords with reef diving.
Nature and Outdoors
- Tufi fjords (Oro Province)
Steep fjords of volcanic origin with village guesthouses and reefs.
Places to Visit in Kokoda
Things to Do
- Isurava Memorial (Kokoda Track)
Four granite pillars on the 1942 battlefield.
Places to Visit in Lae
Nature and Outdoors
- Lae War Cemetery (Lae Botanic Gardens)
A Commonwealth cemetery beside the old botanic gardens.
Stays
- Lae International Hotel (Lae)
A long established hotel in PNG's second city.
Places to Visit in Wewak
Nature and Outdoors
- Sepik River (East Sepik)
The great river, best explored by motor canoe with a local guide.
Arts and Culture
- Kanganaman Haus Tambaran (Middle Sepik)
One of the largest and oldest spirit houses on the river.
Events
- Sepik River Crocodile Festival (Ambunti)
Dances, canoe races and carving, usually in August.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Asia Aromas (Town, Port Moresby)
A long running Asian restaurant popular with locals for curries and noodle dishes. - Daikoku Restaurant (Town, Port Moresby)
A Japanese restaurant with teppanyaki and sushi, a city favourite for years. - Ela Beach Craft Market (Ela Beach, Port Moresby)
A regular craft market selling bilums, carvings and shell jewellery. - Paiya Cultural Show (Paiya Village, Mount Hagen)
A smaller village show near Hagen with a more intimate feel. - Kimininga Lodge (Town, Mount Hagen)
A simple town hotel used by visitors and business travellers. - Baiyer River Sanctuary (Baiyer Valley, Mount Hagen)
A former bird sanctuary in a warm valley north of Hagen. - Melpa sing-sing village visit (Western Highlands, Mount Hagen)
Lodges arrange visits to see Melpa dancers dress and perform outside show season. - Highland coffee gardens (Wahgi Valley, Mount Hagen)
Smallholder arabica gardens, best visited on a lodge tour. - Madang Lodge (Modilon Road, Madang)
A modest waterfront lodge with a relaxed feel and harbour views. - Coastwatchers Hotel (Coronation Drive, Madang)
A central hotel near the golf course and memorial lighthouse. - Niugini Diving Adventures (Madang Resort, Madang)
Dive trips to Madang's reefs, walls and wartime wrecks. - Madang Museum (Town, Madang)
A small cultural centre with local artefacts and history. - Madang Golf Club (Coronation Drive, Madang)
A seaside nine hole course with friendly club house. - Pigeon Island (Off Kokopo, Kokopo)
A small island for snorkelling and picnics. - Queen Emma's steps (Kokopo, Kokopo)
Remains of the plantation home of the famous colonial trader Queen Emma. - Baining fire dance (Gaulim, Baining Mountains, Kokopo)
A night ceremony where masked dancers leap through flames. - Ralum Country Club (Kokopo, Kokopo)
A clubhouse with a bar, golf course and sea breezes. - Rabaul Yacht Club (Rabaul harbour, Rabaul)
A harbourside bar with views over Simpson Harbour. - Masurina Lodge (Alotau, Alotau)
A simple, friendly lodge long used by travellers. - Muscoota wreck (Wagawaga, Milne Bay, Alotau)
A shallow wreck popular with snorkellers and divers. - Ahioma beach (East of Alotau, Alotau)
A sandy beach along the bay with village life nearby. - Dobu Island (D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Alotau)
A volcanic island with village culture and hot springs nearby. - Kokoda Museum (Kokoda Station, Kokoda)
A small museum at the northern end of the track.