The Botanical Gardens offer a pleasant stroll through a patch of rainforest and grassland in the centre of Lae. Butterflies flutter and reptiles scuttle as you amble beneath the huge, vine-cloaked trees hosting flocks of colourful birds. The gardens also feature an exotic orchid collection. Officially, it’s closed on weekdays but the guards at either the main northern gate (near the RAAF DC-3) or the southern gate (near Lae War Cemetery) usually let you in. Avoid coming here alone.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lae attractions

1. Lae War Cemetery

0.16 MILES

The Lae War Cemetery, just south of the Botanical Gardens, is meticulously maintained by the Australian government. There are 2808 graves here, 2363 of…

2. Mt Lunaman

1.24 MILES

To the southeast of town Mt Lunaman or, more correctly, Lo' Wamung (First Hill), was used by the Germans and Japanese as a lookout point. The Japanese…

3. Unitech

3.23 MILES

About 8km from the centre of town, Unitech has a number of notable buildings set in landscaped gardens, including Duncanson Hall with its 36 Sepik-style…

4. Rainforest Habitat

4.03 MILES

Most people come to see a microcosm of PNG’s marvellous flora and fauna, including birds of paradise, cassowaries and tree kangaroos; although the real…