The Top Things To Do And See In Papua New Guinea

While Papua New Guinea (PNG) may still have a reputation for being a dangerous place to visit, the tourism industry is growing. Adventure travellers are drawn to beautiful nature hikes, fishing, kayaking and scuba diving opportunities. There’s little tourism infrastructure, so at times it can be difficult to get the right information and advice, but the country offers incredible sights and activities for those wishing to explore.

Port Moresby Nature Park

The Port Moresby National Park is an idyllic break from the rest of PNG’s capital city. The botanical gardens and zoological park is home to over 150 animals, including kangaroos and reptiles, and it’s the only rainforest track in the city. Walk through the boardwalk and enjoy some of the native plants and 11,000 orchids planted in the park.

Kokoda Trail

Bomana War Cemetery

The Bomana War Cemetery is the final resting place for hundreds of servicemen from World War II, killed in action in Papua and Bougainville. There are over 3,200 burials, and this is the only cemetery in PNG to contain white marble headstones and a Stone of Remembrance. Among those buried are 700 unidentified servicemen. The ANZAC Day memorial service (the April 25th memorial day for New Zealanders and Australians killed at war) is held at this site.

Scuba diving

Papua New Guinea is famous for its scuba diving, as the islands offer incredible marine diversity. There are over 600 volcanic islands which make up the nation and act as a playground for divers, with barrier reefs and coral walls, as well as a number of wreck dive sites containing ships, aircraft and submarines from World War II.

National Museum and Gallery

One of the best ways to delve into the history and culture of Papua New Guinea is with a visit to the National Museum and Gallery. The museum has over 25,000 archaeological collections and over 20,000 war relics. Some of the . The museum also has a small collection of contemporary art from PNG such as drawings, paintings and sculptures.

Asaro Mudmen

The Asaro Mudmen, the warriors in Papua New Guinea who cover themselves in mud and wear grey mud masks are a famous sight. It’s thought that the origins of the mudmen came from an enemy tribe which had been defeated. The men retreated into the Asaro River, and when they came out of the banks they were covered in grey mud. When the enemy tribesman saw them, they were terrified of these ghost-like figures and believed them to have special powers. Today there are tours to the village where the scene is recreated for tourists.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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