Port Moresby
At the northern end of Waigani Dr, by the University of Papua New Guinea, this is an island of calm. More than 2km of walkways thread under and through…
Must-see attractions in Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands
Honiara
While Honiara won't be mistaken for Lagos, the country’s bubbling principal food market covers a whole block between Mendana Ave and the seafront. It has…
Port Moresby
This superb museum, beautifully remodelled for the country's 40th anniversary of independence, is the best introduction you can get to Papua New Guinea's…
Port Moresby
Right after the small store at Laloki River Gorge is the turn-off to Varirata National Park which, at 1000 hectares and over 800m high, is the highlight…
Honiara
This superb memorial is a five-minute taxi ride from the centre. The well-maintained compound has marble slabs bearing detailed descriptions of battles…
Solomon Islands
One of the star attractions in Honiara’s hinterlands is Mataniko Falls, which feature a spectacular thundering of water down a cliff straight into a…
Port Moresby
The main Parliament Haus building is in the style of a Maprik- or Sepik-style haus tambaran, while the attached, circular cafeteria follows Highland…
memorial to Christopher Robinson
Papua New Guinea
The main thing to do on Samarai is just wander around soaking up the faded-glory. From the wharf, head toward the hill and, at the northeast corner of the…
New Britain
For a picnic spot, nothing can beat the Submarine Base at Tavui Point. The Japanese used to provision submarines here during the war. There are tunnel and…
Papua New Guinea
The most easily accessible of the islands near the southern mouth of the passage is Sohano, a few minutes by boat (K2) from Buka. It was the provincial…
New Britain
The 1994 eruption should have destroyed little Matupit Island but the prevailing winds brought Tavurvur’s load over Rabaul and left this connected island…
New Britain
From the Historical & Cultural Centre it's a short walk to the site of Queen Emma's house, Gunantambu, now occupied by of the Gazelle International Hotel…
New Britain
Kimbe is the provincial headquarters and a major centre for palm-oil production. Although it has a seafront, it's a fairly unassuming town with no real…
Papua New Guinea
Halfway between Losuia and Kaibola, Omarakana is where the island's paramount chief resides. You'll know you're there by the large, intricate, painted yam…
Kamiali Wildlife Management Area
Papua New Guinea
This 69,000-hectare reserve comprises forests, mangroves, sandy beaches, coral reefs, waterfalls, rivers and lakes, and includes the steep David Suzuki…
Papua New Guinea
At Kaibola village, at the northern tip of Kiriwina, you can swim and snorkel at the picture-postcard beach, though much coral has died recently. About 1½…
New Britain
The buzzing Kokopo market is also well worth a stroll. It’s best on Saturday. Buai (betel nut) and its condiments, daka (mustard stick) and cumbung …
Port Moresby
A turnoff near Fourteen Mile takes you to the large and carefully tended Bomana War Cemetery, where 4000 unknown PNG and Australian WWII soldiers are…
Port Moresby
Past the docks to the north lies Hanuabada, the original Motu village. Although it is still built over the sea on stilts, the original wood and thatched…
Port Moresby
The Old Parliament Building was never an architectural wonder, but its opening as the House of Assembly in 1964 was a significant milestone on PNG's road…
Port Moresby
Some kilometres down the rough Kokoda Track road (barely navigable in a 2WD in the dry season only) is a turn-off left (west) back towards Port Moresby…
Papua New Guinea
The Ohu Butterfly Habitat, 15km southwest of Madang, is a community conservation and research project where butterflies, including PNG’s famous birdwing…
New Britain
This poignant war cemetery contains the graves of over 1000 Allied war dead, many of them Indian slaves. The gardens are lovely. It’s 8km off the main…
Papua New Guinea
This wildlife management area is 10km south of Madang. It’s featured in scenes from the 1996 film production of Robinson Crusoe with Pierce Brosnan. There…
Port Moresby
The picturesque stilt village of Koki, at the eastern end of Ela Beach, is worth visiting if you can find a local to take you. The best way to do that is…
Port Moresby
Around Fourteen Mile, next door to the humdrum Adventure Park PNG (look out for the Ferris wheel) are the excellent National Orchid Gardens. Apart from…
Papua New Guinea
In the same building as the Madang Visitors & Cultural Bureau, this small but fascinating museum is worth visiting. Learn about the 1660 eruption of Long…
Peter ToRot’s Cemetery & Memorial Church
New Britain
As the Burma Rd begins to dip towards the coast, it passes through the Rakunai site of Peter ToRot’s Cemetery and Memorial Church. Peter ToRot was a…
Port Moresby
On the rough Kokoda Track road you can drive past McDonald's Corner where there's a small memorial that marks the start of the Kokoda Track. It was here…
Papua New Guinea
A half-hour's walk from Butia Lodge, this village is notable for its particularly splendid yam house – the tallest on the island, painted in the…
New Britain
Tunnels built to hold the barges out of sight from the Allies. They were hauled to the water along rails by Indian slaves, now buried at Bita Paka War…
New Britain
In the same area at Matupit Island, there’s quite a smattering of Japanese aircraft wreckage scattered among the palm trees and now semi-buried in earth,…
Coastwatchers’ Memorial Beacon
Papua New Guinea
The 30m-high Coastwatchers Memorial Beacon, visible 25km out to sea, is a reminder of those who stayed behind enemy lines during WWII to report on…
New Britain
The two rocky pinnacles rising from the centre of Simpson Harbour are called the Beehives and are said to be the hard core of the original old volcano…
Papua New Guinea
At Kaibola village, at the northern tip of Kiriwina, you can swim and snorkel at the picture-postcard white-sand beach (bring your own snorkelling gear)…
Papua New Guinea
There's a good, fairly demanding hike to a waterfall from Treetops Lodge (three hours round trip). It's a beautiful jungle walk, with steep ups and downs…
Papua New Guinea
Trobriands Islanders believe in the power of certain individuals to bring rain. This power is passed on from father to son, and during periods of drought…
Papua New Guinea
A particular highlight in Buka is the passage, which refers to the channel that separates Buka Island from Bougainville Island. The water runs at about 6…
Honiara
This modest museum – there is only one room – features interesting displays and old photographs on traditional dance, body ornamentation, currency,…
Papua New Guinea
The Australian War Memorial has a detailed description of the Battle of Milne Bay in which joint Australian and Papuan forces pushed back and defeated the…
