Find places in Papua New Guinea

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hanuabada Village (Fairfax Harbour)
  A large stilt village of the Motu Koita people, best visited with a local guide.

Fun for Everyone

• Port Moresby Nature Park (University of PNG, Waigani)
  A safe, shady park with tree kangaroos, cassowaries and birds of paradise.

Must-Haves

• Varirata National Park (Sogeri Plateau)
  Forest trails, coastal lookouts and dawn displays of Raggiana birds of paradise.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ela Beach (Town)
  The city's seafront promenade, busy with families and picnics at weekends.

Off the Beaten Path

• Rouna Falls (Sogeri Road)
  A tall waterfall on the Laloki River seen from the road up to the plateau.

Must-Haves

• Bomana War Cemetery (Bomana)
  The largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the Pacific, a quiet and moving stop.

Off the Beaten Path

• Owers' Corner (Sogeri)
  The southern start of the Kokoda Track, with a memorial and views over the ranges.

Great for Date Night

• Loloata Island Resort (Bootless Bay)
  An island escape a short boat ride from the city, with reef snorkelling and diving.
• The Stanley Hotel and Suites (Waigani)
  A large hotel next to Vision City with restaurants and a pool.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Great for Date Night

• Bacchus Restaurant (Airways Hotel, Jacksons Parade)
  Fine dining with views over the airport hills and a long wine list.

Fun for Everyone

• Duffy Cafe (Gabaka Street, Gordons)
  A busy cafe for PNG coffee, breakfasts and baked goods.

Great for Date Night

• Royal Papua Yacht Club (Town Harbour)
  A harbourside club with a bar, restaurant and sunset views over the marina.

Must-Haves

• Vision City Mega Mall (Waigani)
  The country's largest shopping centre, with supermarkets, food courts and a cinema.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gordons Market (Gordons)
  The city's biggest produce market, lively and crowded, best visited with a local.

Must-Haves

• Hiri Moale Festival (Ela Beach)
  A September festival celebrating the trading voyages of the Motu people with lakatoi canoes.

Fun for Everyone

• Independence Day (Citywide)
  Celebrations on 16 September with sing-sings, flags and family events.

Must-Haves

• Mount Hagen Cultural Show (Kagamuga Showground)
  PNG's most famous festival, with dozens of Highland groups in feathers, shells and paint.

Must-Haves

• Rondon Ridge (Mount Hagen hills)
  A hillside lodge with sweeping valley views, orchid gardens and birdwatching walks.

Fun for Everyone

• Highlander Hotel (Town centre)
  A secure central hotel with gardens and a restaurant, a long time Hagen base.

Must-Haves

• Mount Hagen Market (Town centre)
  One of the biggest markets in the country, piled with Highland vegetables and bilums.

Must-Haves

• Wahgi Valley (Western Highlands)
  The broad, fertile valley of coffee gardens and sweet potato mounds below Hagen.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Wahgi Valley)
  A World Heritage site showing some of the oldest evidence of farming on earth.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bilum stalls at the market (Mount Hagen Market)
  Hand woven string bags in bright Highland patterns, made by local women.

Fun for Everyone

• Highlander Hotel Restaurant (Town centre)
  Reliable hotel dining with local vegetables, grills and Highland coffee.

Must-Haves

• Madang Resort (Kalibobo, Madang)
  A waterfront resort with gardens, pools and an on site dive centre.

Great for Date Night

• Jais Aben Resort (North of Madang)
  A quiet resort on a lagoon with snorkelling straight from the shore.

Must-Haves

• B25 Mitchell bomber wreck (Madang Harbour)
  A well preserved wartime bomber in shallow water, a favourite dive.

Must-Haves

• Magic Passage (Madang lagoon)
  A channel dive with schooling fish, sharks and dense coral.

Fun for Everyone

• Krangket Island (Across Madang Harbour)
  A short banana boat ride to a calm lagoon, village life and easy snorkelling.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Siar Island (Madang lagoon)
  A friendly island with white sand and reef, an easy day trip.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Coastwatchers Memorial Lighthouse (Coronation Drive)
  A waterfront memorial to the coastwatchers who reported Japanese movements in the war.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bilbil Village (South of Madang)
  A village known for its traditional clay pottery.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Madang Market (Town centre)
  A lively market for fruit, betel nut, smoked fish and shell jewellery.

Great for Date Night

• Madang Resort Restaurant (Kalibobo)
  Seafood and sunset dining beside the water.

Fun for Everyone

• Jais Aben Restaurant (North of Madang)
  Lagoon side meals in a relaxed resort setting.

Must-Haves

• Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort (Kokopo waterfront)
  Bungalows on the beach looking at the volcanoes across Blanche Bay.

Great for Date Night

• Rapopo Plantation Resort (Rapopo)
  A beachfront resort near the airport with a pool and gardens.

Fun for Everyone

• Gazelle International Hotel (Kokopo)
  A modern hotel in town with sea views.

Must-Haves

• Kokopo War Museum (Kokopo)
  Aircraft, guns and vehicles from the Second World War on the Gazelle Peninsula.

Off the Beaten Path

• Vunapope Catholic Mission (Vunapope)
  A historic mission with an old cathedral and wartime story.

Must-Haves

• Kokopo Market (Town centre)
  A busy Tolai market for smoked fish, greens, betel nut and shell money.

Must-Haves

• Bita Paka War Cemetery (Bita Paka)
  A peaceful Commonwealth cemetery in tropical gardens.

Must-Haves

• National Mask and Warwagira Festival (Kokopo)
  Mask dancers from across PNG, including Baining fire dancers, usually in July.

Fun for Everyone

• Duke of York Islands (St George's Channel)
  Island villages, beaches and snorkelling a boat ride from Kokopo.

Great for Date Night

• Kokopo Beach Bungalow Restaurant (Kokopo waterfront)
  Fresh seafood looking out to the volcanoes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kokopo Market food stalls (Town centre)
  Smoked fish, aibika and coconut dishes from Tolai sellers.

Must-Haves

• Alotau International Hotel (Alotau waterfront)
  A central hotel on the bay with a restaurant and pool.

Fun for Everyone

• Driftwood Resort (Alotau)
  Bungalows over the water a short walk from town.

Must-Haves

• Kenu and Kundu Festival (Alotau waterfront)
  War canoe races and kundu drum performances, usually in early November.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Alotau Market (Town centre)
  A waterside market for fruit, fish and betel nut.

Must-Haves

• Battle of Milne Bay memorial (Alotau)
  Remembers the first defeat of Japanese land forces in the war, in 1942.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Alotau waterfront walk (Town)
  An easy daytime stroll along the bay.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dinah's Beach dive site (Milne Bay)
  A famous muck diving site for rare small sea life.

Great for Date Night

• Alotau International Hotel Restaurant (Alotau waterfront)
  Bay views and fresh seafood.

Fun for Everyone

• Driftwood Resort Restaurant (Alotau)
  Over water dining in a relaxed setting.