Papua New Guinea

The Independent State of Papua New Guinea is one of the states in Oceania. It occupies the eastern part of the New Guinea Island, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Bougainville Island, the Buka Island, and the D’Entrecasteaux Island. It shares its border with Indonesia. It has a common maritime boundary with the Solomon Island, Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia and Nauru. The state is washed by the waters of the Coral Sea, the Solomon Sea, Arafura Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. The capital city is Port Moresby.

The climate of Papua New Guinea is tropical with a high level of humidity. The weather is predictable here. The average annual temperature is +30°C, so the tourists can come here throughout the year.

The official religion is the Christianity. The official languages are English, Motu, and Tok Pisin.

Go to Mount Hagen and Goroka to participate in the local festivals, carnivals and bright celebrations.

Those who prefer out-of-town holidays will like it on such islands as New Britain and New Ireland. The tourists will appreciate wonderful conditions for diving and snorkelling.

Port Moresby, Arava, Oro, and Sandtown are the best places for beach holidays.

The National Botanical Garden is a unique corner in Papua New Guinea. This park is a habitat for many plants and birds.

If you want to go shopping, stay in Daru and Bensbach.

Get in

The tourists from CIS and EU countries should be aware that their travel to Papua New Guinea is going to be a long one. There are no direct flights from these countries.

Air Niugini offers the flights with a transfer in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Airline of PNG offers flights with a stop in Cairo, Brisbane, Nadi, and Sydney.

The tourists will need a transit visa.

Visa

The citizens of CIS and the Russian Federation must obtain a visa beforehand to travel to Papua New Guinea. In Russia, there are no Embassies of this country so the tourists have to apply to the Australian Embassy.

It is convenient for the European tourists to apply for a visa to the Embassy of Papua New Guinea in Brussels or to the Consulate in the United Kingdom.

Customs

There are no restrictions concerning the import or export of national and foreign currency. The export of the national currency is limited to 200 PGK and foreign currency to 10.000 PGK.

One can bring in duty-free alcohol, tobacco and perfume and also new products the total cost of which does not exceed 200 PGK.

The travellers can import a radio set, a TV set and other gadgets one item per person.

It is prohibited to import antiquities, non-canned food stuff (fish and meat), and pork. Animals and plants are allowed to be brought only provided that there is a special permit. It is prohibited to bring in Papua New Guinea cats, dogs, and parrots.

The tourists are not allowed to export:

• antiquities (items with the artistic value which are over half a century old);
• any objects found on the bottom of the sea;
• exotic plants and animals.

Cuisine

The national cuisine of Papua New Guinea will seem unusual and exotic for the tourists from the European countries. Staple food here is meat and fish.

A usual side dish is stewed or fresh vegetables, root plants growing on the islands, rice and yum. Don’t be surprised when instead of bread you will see breadfruit. Don’t miss a chance to try Bully beef (roasted beef with rice), stewed game or poultry.

The foodies will be delighted with Kokoda fish. It gets its unusual taste because of the coconut water. Crab meat Hula will make your mouth water.

Small travellers will surely like tropical fruit lemonades. And adults will enjoy Australian and Philippine beer and strong alcoholic drinks.

Treat yourself to tropical fruits such as bananas, pawpaw, passion fruit, mango, and pineapples. Fruit desserts have a wonderful taste, especially Talautu.

The most favourite dish among the locals has a funny name Mumu. It is pork prepared with greens, herbs and many spices and served with rice, sweet potatoes.

You cannot leave the country without trying a local speciality from cane sugar, which often serves as a light appetiser. 

Money

The official currency in Papua New Guinea is the Kina (PGK). In circulation are the coins (5 toea — 1 kina) and banknotes (2-100 PGK).

The travellers can exchange the currency at banks, airports, and hotels. Private exchange offices offer good exchange rates without a commission.

International credit cards are accepted in large malls, restaurants, and hotels. If you go to the distant regions, make sure you have enough cash.

The travellers will not be able to withdraw money from their card issued by any foreign bank and to pay with the card in small towns.

One can cash traveller’s checks at banks, but this service is not available everywhere.

Details of interest

The brightest traditional event in Papua New Guinea is the Sing Sing Folk Dance Festival and the tourists can take part in it. The festival is annually held in the city of Goroka in September. Many neighbour tribes from the hundreds of Papua New Guinea islands come here. During this festival, anyone will feel a true culture of the Aborigines of Oceania.

Sightseeing in Papua New Guinea

On the territory of Papua New Guinea, the tourists can see a unique monument which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the Kuk Early Agricultural Site located in the high-mountain valley on the south-west of the New Guinea Island. This unique settlement will show thousands of years of history of agriculture in the conditions of island isolation.

In Madang, Port Moresby and Rumginey, anyone can have a wonderful diving in the reefs where there are sunken ships. The divers gather every year in Losuya and near the island New Britain.

In the Baiyer River Wildlife Sanctuary, you will see opossums, kangaroos, parrots, and cassowaries.

Go to Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul, and Gulf and go fishing. There are plenty of fish in these places.

Souvenirs in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is a country with a unique authentic culture so the tourists can buy many original souvenirs. Each tribe has its own traditions and in souvenir shops, you will be offered to buy masks carved from wood, slings and arrows. Beech wicker baskets and exotic jewellery from pigs’ teeth are also sold here.

A popular souvenir the tourists buy in Papua New Guinea is crocodile leather goods. Look for such gifts on the market and in Port Moresby shops.