Oceania
Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.
Prepare these before applying
I applied for the Papua New Guinea e-visa online through the ICA e-visa portal at <a href='https://evisa.ica.gov.pg/evisa/' target='_blank'>evisa.ica.gov.pg</a>. The process involves registering with an email address, filling in application details, uploading documents, and paying the visa fee online. Once paid, a receipt is emailed and the visa is granted electronically. My visa was granted on a Friday and my flight was on Sunday, so I had to follow up by email to expedite the process.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
| S.No | Date | Details (Notes) | Category | Unit | Cost / Unit | Amount | Currency | Amount (NPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 10, 2023 | Visa fee | Visa | 1.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 | USD | 6,534.00 |
| 2 | May 10, 2023 | Hotel 3 nights | Accommodation | 3.00 | 145.00 | 435.00 | AUD | 38,340.90 |
| 3 | May 10, 2023 | Gift | Shopping | 1.00 | 150.00 | 150.00 | PGK | 5,563.50 |
| 4 | May 10, 2023 | Port Moresby to Sydney return flight | Flight | 1.00 | 321.00 | 321.00 | AUD | 28,292.94 |
| 5 | May 10, 2023 | Flight Brisbane to Port Moresby | Flight | 1.00 | 342.00 | 342.00 | AUD | 30,143.88 |
| 6 | May 10, 2023 | SIM card | SIM Card | 1.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | PGK | 185.45 |
| 7 | May 10, 2023 | Taxi hotel to Vincent Mall | Transport | 1.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | PGK | 370.90 |
| 8 | May 10, 2023 | Museum entrance (weekend) | Activities | 1.00 | 10.00 | 10.00 | PGK | 370.90 |
| 9 | May 10, 2023 | 2 betel nuts | Food | 2.00 | 1.00 | 2.00 | PGK | 74.18 |
| 10 | May 10, 2023 | Taxi from museum to hotel | Transport | 1.00 | 15.00 | 15.00 | PGK | 556.35 |
| 11 | May 10, 2023 | Dinner | Food | 1.00 | 33.00 | 33.00 | PGK | 1,223.97 |
| Total | 111,656.97 |
Last updated 3 hours ago
Most tourists need to apply for an eVisa online via the PNG Immigration & Citizenship Authority portal before arrival. Your passport must have at least 6 months validity. Australian citizens can enter visa-free for tourism stays up to 60 days.
The U.S. State Department advises reconsidering travel to PNG due to crime, civil unrest, and piracy. Do not use local taxis or public buses (PMVs). Travel with guides from reputable tour companies. Avoid walking or driving at night. Use pre-arranged transport for all transfers.
The currency is the Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK). ATMs exist in Port Moresby and major towns but are scarce elsewhere. Bring sufficient cash for your trip, especially for remote areas. USD is accepted at some tourist establishments.
Malaria risk is high throughout PNG. Take antimalarial medication as prescribed by your doctor before, during, and after travel. Use insect repellent with DEET, wear long sleeves and pants at dusk, and sleep under treated mosquito nets.
Always use a local guide when exploring. They speak the tok ples (local language) and know which areas are safe to visit. PNG has over 800 languages and diverse tribal customs. A guide helps navigate cultural differences and ensures respectful interactions.
June to September is the dry season with cooler, more comfortable weather, making it the best time to visit most of PNG. The Lae region is an exception, being wet during these months. The Mount Hagen Cultural Show in August is a highlight for witnessing traditional sing-sing performances.
Last updated 5 days ago
📍 Port Moresby
Begin in the capital Port Moresby by visiting the National Museum and Art Gallery to see tribal artifacts, spirit boards, and traditional bilum bags. Explore the Parliament House with its stunning traditional-style architecture and the nearby National Botanical Gardens. Walk along Ela Beach and visit the Bomana War Cemetery honoring WWII soldiers.
📍 Kokoda
Travel to the start of the legendary Kokoda Track and hike the first section of this historic WWII trail through dense jungle. Visit the Kokoda Memorial and Isurava Memorial with its four granite pillars inscribed with the words Courage, Endurance, Mateship, and Sacrifice. Learn about the pivotal 1942 campaign from local guides whose grandparents served as carriers.
📍 Mount Hagen
Fly to Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands and visit a traditional village to witness sing-sing performances with elaborate feathered headdresses and body paint. Explore the local market where highland villagers trade sweet potatoes, coffee beans, and betel nut. Drive through the stunning Wahgi Valley with its terraced gardens and coffee plantations against a backdrop of misty mountains.
📍 Kokopo and Rabaul
Fly to Kokopo near the ruins of Rabaul, a town buried by the 1994 eruption of Mount Tavurvur volcano. Walk on the volcanic ash fields and visit the underground Japanese war tunnels and bunkers from WWII. Snorkel at the pristine reefs off Duke of York Islands and enjoy a traditional mumu feast of pork and root vegetables cooked on hot stones.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
Traditional earth oven feast with pork, sweet potatoes, greens, and bananas cooked on hot stones.
Roasted or boiled sweet potato, the most important staple food in the PNG highlands.
Starchy flour from sago palm processed into pancakes or porridge, a lowland staple.
Raw fish cured in lime and mixed with coconut cream, chili, and onions.
Fatty lamb belly strips barbecued over charcoal until crispy, a cheap and popular protein across the country.
Canned corned beef stewed with onions, tomatoes, and greens, a widely eaten convenience meal in PNG towns.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
A coastal town in East New Britain built near the ruins of old Rabaul, which was buried by the 1994 twin volcanic eruption of Tavurvur and Vulcan. Visit the still-steaming Tavurvur volcano, explore Japanese WWII tunnels and bunkers carved into the hillsides, and see the remains of buildings half-buried in volcanic ash. The surrounding area offers excellent snorkeling over coral reefs and WWII shipwrecks.
📍 Open in Google Maps →One of the great river systems of the world, flowing 1,126 kilometers through dense rainforest and swampland. The Sepik region is the artistic heartland of PNG — villages along the river produce some of the most striking tribal art in the Pacific, including carved spirit houses (haus tambaran), masks, and totems. Multi-day canoe trips with local guides offer deep immersion into communities largely unchanged by the modern world.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Home to the Huli Wigmen, one of Papua New Guinea's most iconic tribal groups, famous for their elaborate wigs made from their own hair, painted faces in vivid yellow and red, and traditional sing-sing ceremonies. The surrounding Southern Highlands feature pristine cloud forest, birds of paradise, and some of the most culturally intact communities in the world. A cultural guide is essential for respectful visits.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Dramatic fjord-like inlets carved into the northern coast of Oro Province, surrounded by steep jungle-covered cliffs plunging into deep blue water. Often called the 'Scandinavia of the tropics,' Tufi offers world-class diving over pristine coral walls, WWII wrecks, and underwater caves. The area is also a center for traditional tapa cloth making and tattoo culture among the local Korafe people.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Last updated 2 weeks ago
A glimpse into our favourite moments from Papua New Guinea.
Thousands of white headstones stand in perfect formation beneath towering green canopies and distant blue mountains, while coral and burgundy blooms frame this solemn memorial where history rests in paradise.
