Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery
The national museum, holding masks, carvings, canoes and objects from many of the country's hundreds of cultures. It is a useful introduction to the arts and traditions of Papua New Guinea.
Port Moresby
Besides serving as the main air gateway, the capital has Parliament House, a nature park for native wildlife and the National Museum.
Attractive locations
Varirata National Park
A forest park on the Sogeri plateau, east of the city, with walking trails, lookouts over the plains and rich birdlife. Birds of paradise live here, so it appeals to birdwatchers and those who like cooler air.
National Capital Botanical Gardens
A garden and nature park in the city with orchids, tropical plants and bird aviaries. It offers a green, quiet corner to see some of the plant life of the country.
National Parliament House
The seat of the national legislature, designed in the style of a traditional Sepik spirit house with a tall, steeply pitched roof and colourful decoration. Visitors usually admire it from outside.
Ela Beach
A sheltered city beach with a waterfront promenade, popular with local families for walking, sports and sunsets. It is the nearest stretch of sand to the centre of Port Moresby.
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery
A Commonwealth war cemetery on the city's outskirts with the graves of thousands of Allied soldiers who died in the New Guinea campaigns. It is a quiet, well-kept memorial.
Airports
Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport POM
It is about 9 km in a straight line from Port Moresby.
Tapini Airport TPI
It is about 126 km in a straight line from Port Moresby.
Girua Airport PNP
It is about 148 km in a straight line from Port Moresby.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Papua New Guinea page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan28.1 °C231 mm
- Feb27.9 °C186 mm
- Mar27.8 °C294 mm
- Apr27.8 °C147 mm
- May27.4 °C90 mm
- Jun26.6 °C69 mm
- Jul25.9 °C25 mm
- Aug25.7 °C35 mm
- Sep26.2 °C35 mm
- Oct27.0 °C44 mm
- Nov27.7 °C69 mm
- Dec28.4 °C112 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Mar.
Costs
Prices here are about 58% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Emergency numbers differ by city - ask your hotel or operator for the local police and ambulance numbers on arrival.
local government
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
Helps with: Papua New Guinea's national tourism body. Its contact page lists a phone, email and office address for tourist information.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Papua New Guinea or planning a trip there.
Phone: +675 325 0318
Email: info@papuanewguinea.travel
Address: 6th Floor, Kwalimu Haus, Somare Circuit, Waigani
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Papua New Guinea
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Papua New Guinea it works on complex emergencies, providing humanitarian relief and building government capacity.
Who qualifies: Migrants and people affected by emergencies. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +675 321 3655
Email: IOMPNG@iom.int
Address: Level 3, Cuthbertson House, Granville, PO Box 1876, Port Moresby, NCD
local government
Police emergency number 112
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112
local government
Ambulance emergency number 111
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 111
local government
Fire emergency number 110
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 110