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Blue crater lakes amid green mountains

Papua New Guinea travel guide

Remote islands, highlands and reefs for travellers who want adventure far off the usual route

Best: Apr, May

Photo: lloydphotography / Pixabay

Capital
Port Moresby
Languages
English, Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin
Currency
Papua New Guinean kina
Time zone
UTC+10:00
Plugs
Type I · 240 V
Driving
On the left
Emergency
112 / 111

Why visit Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea suits travellers who want real adventure: trekking in the highlands, diving around islands like Kavieng and Rabaul, or exploring the culture of Mount Hagen. April and May bring the best weather for travel. Getting around is hard and slow, with few roads linking regions, so most trips need internal flights or boats, and careful planning well ahead of time.

  • Vast, varied geography

    Papua New Guinea covers 462,840 square kilometres, from coastal towns like Port Moresby and Kavieng to the highland town of Mount Hagen. That range gives visitors everything from reef diving to mountain trekking in one country.

  • Deep linguistic diversity

    English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin are the official languages, but they sit alongside hundreds of local tongues. Travelling between regions means hearing different languages and seeing different customs within short distances.

  • Coastal towns with history

    Rabaul, on the coast, has a population of just 7,024, while Kavieng counts 19,849 people. Both are small, low-key bases for exploring World War II history and surrounding dive sites.

  • A highland base away from the coast

    Mount Hagen, home to about 29,765 people, is one of the few major towns not on the coast. It gives access to Papua New Guinea's highland culture, a contrast to the coastal life found in Port Moresby or Alotau.

  • A clearer weather window

    April and May are marked as the best months to visit Papua New Guinea. Planning a trip around these months can mean steadier conditions for moving between coastal and highland regions.

Is Papua New Guinea right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who dislike heat: highs stay around 22–23°C and lows around 18°C all year
  • English speakers, since English is an official language alongside Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu
  • Mid-year visitors: July has the least rain at 235 mm, and August and September average 9.9 sun hours
  • Coastal trips based in small towns like Kavieng, Rabaul and Alotau

Less ideal for

  • Anyone wanting dry days: rain falls on about 23 to 31 days every month
  • Trips from December to February, when monthly rain reaches 732 to 827 mm
  • Travellers after hot beach weather, as highs rarely go above 23°C
  • Fans of big-city life: the capital, Port Moresby, has about 317,374 people

Papua New Guinea right now: November

7.0/10
Avg high
23°C
Avg low
18°C
Rain days
29

Averages for Papua New Guinea.

Weather by month

This climate data is for Papua New Guinea, with temperatures staying near 22°C all year. June to September bring the least rain, just 235 to 309mm a month with up to 9.9 hours of sun, making this the driest and sunniest stretch, while February and December are wettest, with 827mm and 740mm of rain over roughly 28 to 30 rain days each.

Average highs and lows in Papua New Guinea by month January: high 23°C, low 18°C , 31 rain days . February: high 22°C, low 18°C , 28 rain days . March: high 22°C, low 18°C , 31 rain days . April: high 22°C, low 18°C , 29 rain days . May: high 23°C, low 18°C , 28 rain days . June: high 22°C, low 18°C , 24 rain days . July: high 22°C, low 18°C , 23 rain days . August: high 23°C, low 18°C , 26 rain days . September: high 23°C, low 18°C , 25 rain days . October: high 23°C, low 18°C , 29 rain days . November: high 23°C, low 18°C , 29 rain days . December: high 23°C, low 18°C , 30 rain days . 23°C 18°C JAN 31d 22°C 18°C FEB 28d 22°C 18°C MAR 31d 22°C 18°C APR 29d 23°C 18°C MAY 28d 22°C 18°C JUN 24d 22°C 18°C JUL 23d 23°C 18°C AUG 26d 23°C 18°C SEP 25d 23°C 18°C OCT 29d 23°C 18°C NOV 29d 23°C 18°C DEC 30d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Papua New Guinea (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Papua New Guinea: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Coast, Highlands and Volcanoes in a Week

  1. Day 1–2

    Port Moresby

    Start in the coastal capital, home to about 317374 people. Use these two days to settle in and explore the harbour area before heading inland.

  2. Day 3–4

    Mount Hagen

    Fly to this highland town of around 29765 people. The cooler inland air and mountain surroundings make a sharp contrast to the coast.

  3. Day 5–7

    Rabaul

    End the trip on the coast at Rabaul, a small town of about 7024 people set among active volcanic landscapes. Spend your last days exploring the bay area at a relaxed pace.

10 days

Port Moresby to the Islands in Ten Days

  1. Day 1–2

    Port Moresby

    Begin in the capital, a coastal city of about 317374 people, to get oriented before moving on to the rest of the country.

  2. Day 3–4

    Mount Hagen

    Head inland to this highland town of roughly 29765 people. The cooler climate here is a good break from the coastal humidity.

  3. Day 5–6

    Alotau

    Travel to this coastal town for two days by the water, a quieter stop with a different pace from the highlands.

  4. Day 7–8

    Rabaul

    Continue to Rabaul, a coastal town of about 7024 people, known for its volcanic surroundings and bay setting.

  5. Day 9–10

    Kavieng

    Finish in Kavieng, a coastal town of about 19849 people, for your last two days by the sea before the trip ends.

Food to try in Papua New Guinea

Mumu

This is a whole meal of meat, sweet potato and greens cooked together in a pit oven with hot stones. It's a traditional method used across Papua New Guinea for feasts and special occasions.

Kaukau (sweet potato)

Kaukau is the local name for sweet potato, a staple crop grown in the highlands. It's often boiled, roasted or added to mumu, and eaten daily as a main source of carbohydrates.

Sago

Sago comes from the pith of the sago palm and is a staple in the lowland and coastal regions. It's processed into a starchy paste or pancake and often paired with fish or greens.

Saksak

Saksak is a sago-based pudding or dumpling, sometimes wrapped in leaves and cooked over a fire. It's a common dish in coastal and Sepik river communities.

Fresh seafood

With a long coastline, Papua New Guinea offers fresh fish, crab and prawns, often grilled or cooked in coconut milk. Coastal markets and villages are the best places to try it.

Kokoda

Kokoda is a dish of raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice and mixed with coconut cream, similar to ceviche. It's popular along the coast and at gatherings.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Papua New Guinea runs on 240 V with type I plugs, the same three-pin flat type used in Australia. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug shape.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the left in Papua New Guinea. If you plan to self-drive, check that any rental car has the steering wheel on the right side.
  • Emergency number: The emergency number is 112 or 111. Save both numbers before you travel, since coverage and response can vary across the country's islands and highlands.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Papua New Guinean kina. Carry cash outside Port Moresby and larger towns, since card payments are not always available.
  • Language: English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin are the official languages. English is used in business and government, while Tok Pisin is widely spoken day to day across the country.
  • Calling code: The international calling code for Papua New Guinea is +675. Check with your provider about roaming, since coverage can be patchy outside main towns.
  • Tap water: Tap water quality varies a lot by region. In Port Moresby and major towns it is often treated, but in rural areas and outer islands it is safer to drink bottled or filtered water.

Papua New Guinea: frequently asked questions

Is Papua New Guinea good to visit in August?

Yes. August is one of the drier months, with 251 mm of rain spread over about 26 rain days. Highs sit around 22.5°C and sun hours average 9.9, among the sunniest of the year, so conditions are generally pleasant for travel.

What is the best month to visit Papua New Guinea?

April and May are rated the best months. May has 419 mm of rain over 28 rain days, 9 hours of sun, and a high of 22.6°C. April is similar, with 625 mm of rain, 7.8 sun hours, and a high of 22.4°C, marking the shift from the wetter to the drier season.

When is the rainy season in Papua New Guinea?

The wettest months are December through March. February gets the most rain, at 827 mm, followed by January at 732 mm and December at 740 mm. Rain days also peak in this stretch, around 28 to 31 days a month, so expect frequent showers if you travel then.

Is Papua New Guinea hot all year?

Temperatures stay steady year-round. Highs range narrowly between 22.3°C and 22.7°C across all twelve months, and lows sit between 17.9°C and 18.4°C. There is no real hot or cold season; what changes month to month is rainfall and sunshine, not temperature.

Which month has the least rain in Papua New Guinea?

July is the driest month, with 235 mm of rain over 22.8 rain days. June and August are close behind, at 292 mm and 251 mm respectively. These mid-year months also bring more sunshine, with July averaging 9.3 hours of sun a day.

What is the emergency number in Papua New Guinea?

The emergency number is 112 or 111. The country uses 240 V electricity with type I plugs, the kina as currency, and English, Hiri Motu and Tok Pisin are the official languages. Driving is on the left, and the calling code is +675.

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