Port Moresby & Central
City comforts and wild encounters 🏙️🐊
⚠️ SAFETY WARNING: Due to high rates of urban crime, including carjacking and armed robbery, government agencies (including the US, UK, and Australia) advise travelers to Reconsider Travel to Port Moresby. The security situation requires high vigilance. Families are strongly urged to consult their own government's official travel advisory before considering a trip, as circumstances and risk assessments vary.
Despite its reputation, Port Moresby contains some of the country's best family-friendly facilities, provided you stay within secure areas and use organized transport. The absolute highlight is the award-winning Port Moresby Nature Park. This world-class zoological and botanical garden allows families to walk through safe rainforest boardwalks and see Papua New Guinea's unique animals—including the elusive Bird of Paradise, cassowaries, and tree kangaroos—up close. It is widely regarded as the safest and most well-maintained public space in the city.
For a day of pure fun, the Adventure Park PNG at 14 Mile is a favourite with local and expat families. It features the only Ferris wheel in the country, water slides for cooling off, and a lake filled with fish. The park's main attraction is the crocodile feeding show, where handlers interact with massive saltwater crocs—a thrill that kids love to watch from behind the safety fences.
Culture is also accessible here without the need for rugged travel. The National Museum and Art Gallery offers a cool, air-conditioned environment to see totem poles, outrigger canoes, and masks from every province. Nearby, the Parliament House is architecturally stunning, designed in the style of a Sepik spirit house with a mosaic facade that tells the story of the nation's heritage.
Click a region to explore
Activities & Best Times
Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
As the gateway to the legendary Kokoda Track and Varirata National Park, the region offers world-class trekking and birdwatching in pristine rainforests. Peak months (Jun-Aug) provide the lowest rainfall and manageable humidity for rugged exploration, while the monsoon season (Dec-Apr) makes trails dangerously slippery and mud-clogged.
Sport tourism, fitness activities, active recreation
Home to the elite challenge of the Kokoda Track and professional-grade golf facilities, attracting serious athletes and adventurers. The dry winter months provide the necessary safety and stamina-friendly conditions for high-intensity physical activity in a tropical environment.
Beach resorts, marine activities: diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, wind surfing, sailing
Offers world-class wreck diving and marine biodiversity at sites like Loloata Island and Bootless Bay. Peak dry months ensure optimal underwater visibility exceeding 20m; the wet season (Jan-Mar) brings high turbidity and rougher seas that limit boat access and diving quality.
Urban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture
Features authentic cultural landmarks like the National Museum and Art Gallery and the Hanuabada stilt village, offering a raw and sophisticated look at Pacific heritage. Drier months are ideal for urban navigation, whereas heavy tropical downpours and high humidity in the wet season significantly detract from the experience.
Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
A high-value destination for military history (WWII) and ethnographic study, with museums and memorials providing deep educational insights. The dry season facilitates travel to remote historical sites; extreme precipitation in the early year can cause road closures and infrastructure issues.
Events, celebrations, seasonal attractions
The Hiri Moale Festival in September is a world-class cultural event featuring traditional lakatoi canoes and tribal dances. September is the peak month specifically for this unique event; other months offer fewer major international-scale celebrations.
Scenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel
The drive to the Sogeri Plateau offers spectacular Owen Stanley Range views, though road quality is variable and requires local expertise. July and August offer the best visibility and driest road surfaces; the wet season creates high risks of landslides and poor driving conditions.
Attractions (22 total)
Castle / Palace / Historic Site
Bomana War Cemetery
Port Moresby
The largest and most significant WWII cemetery in the South Pacific, featuring thousands of white marble headstones in a beautifully maintained and peaceful garden setting.
Visit website →National Museum and Art Gallery
Port Moresby
This museum offers families a deep dive into Papua New Guinea's heritage through its extensive collection of traditional masks, shields, and natural history exhibits.
Visit website →National Parliament House
Port Moresby
Known as the 'Haus Tambaran' of the nation, this striking building features incredible indigenous architecture and grand mosaics representing PNG's diverse provinces.
Visit website →Beach / Coastal Recreation Area
Ela Beach
Port Moresby
The city's primary urban waterfront featuring a wide white-sand beach, a scenic promenade, and recreational facilities suitable for family outings.
Daugo Island (Fisherman's Island)
Port Moresby
A popular day-trip destination known for its expansive white sandbanks and coral reefs, perfect for swimming and snorkeling in clear turquoise waters.
Manubada Island
Port Moresby
An uninhabited rocky island near the coast that offers clear swimming spots and serves as a picturesque landmark for boat excursions.
Hiking & Cycling Routes
Kokoda Track
Owers' Corner
96km expert-level multi-day trek, typically 6-10 days, with approximately 6,500m of cumulative elevation gain. This world-renowned historic WWII trail traverses the rugged Owen Stanley Range through dense rainforest and mountain ridges. Hiking equipment and porters are essential and can be organized through licensed operators such as Kokoda Spirit (kokodaspirit.com.au) or Adventure Kokoda (adventurekokoda.com.au).
Visit website →Scarr Trail
Sogeri
3.1km moderate loop trail, typically taking 1.5-2 hours to complete, with an elevation gain of approximately 150m. Located within Varirata National Park on the Sogeri Plateau, this well-maintained trail leads to a spectacular lookout point offering panoramic views of the Port Moresby coastline and Fairfax Harbour. The park provides an excellent introduction to PNG's unique flora and fauna.
Visit website →Science Museum / Natural History Museum / Discovery Centre
Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery
Port Moresby
This premier cultural and scientific institution features extensive natural history displays, archaeological finds, and traditional ethnographic artifacts.
Visit website →Botanical Garden / Formal Gardens
Port Moresby Nature Park
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea's leading botanical and wildlife park, featuring over 150 species of animals and vast collections of tropical plants and orchids.
Visit website →Adventure Park PNG
Port Moresby
A family-oriented destination home to the National Orchid Garden, featuring thousands of orchid species alongside wildlife exhibits and recreational facilities.
Road Trips & Scenic Drives
Sogeri Road & Varirata Plateau Drive
Port Moresby
50km route consisting of paved and well-maintained gravel road (2-3 hours) ascending from the capital into the Owen Stanley Range foothills. Key highlights include the Rouna Falls lookout, the Laloki River gorge, Varirata National Park vistas, and the historic Owers' Corner gateway to the Kokoda Track.
Visit website →Paga Hill Ring Road
Circular
5km paved coastal loop (20 minutes) circling the Paga Hill peninsula in downtown Port Moresby. It is the city's most iconic scenic drive, providing panoramic 360-degree views of Fairfax Harbour, the APEC Haus, the Royal Papua Yacht Club, and the offshore islands.
Visit website →Magi Highway Coastal Route
Port Moresby
Approximately 110km paved highway (3 hours) traveling east along the Central Province coastline. This scenic drive offers views of the Coral Sea, Loloata Island, and diverse ecosystems ranging from mangrove forests to savannah, passing through traditional Motu stilt villages like Tubusereia and Barakau.
Visit website →Adventure Park / Outdoor Activity Center
Varirata National Park
Sogeri
The country's premier national park offers a variety of hiking trails and scenic lookout points with panoramic views of the Owen Stanley Ranges.
Crystal Rapids
Sogeri
A popular outdoor recreation spot near the Laloki River, offering freshwater swimming holes and picnic areas surrounded by dense tropical forest.
Water Park / Splash Park / Aquatic Centre
Ela Beach Splash Park
Port Moresby
A modern public waterfront development featuring a dedicated children's splash pad, sandy beaches, and a scenic boardwalk.
Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre
Port Moresby
A world-class Olympic-standard aquatic facility offering large public swimming pools and high-performance training environments.
Visit website →Landmark / Monument / Iconic Urban Attraction
Owers' Corner
Sogeri
A historic monument marking the start of the Kokoda Track, offering breathtaking views of the Owen Stanley Ranges and the Goldie River valley.
Visit website →APEC Haus
Port Moresby
An iconic modern landmark on the waterfront, designed to resemble a traditional Lakatoi sail, symbolizing the city's maritime heritage.
Natural Feature / Scenic Site
Paga Hill Lookout
Port Moresby
This easily accessible scenic point provides a 360-degree view of Fairfax Harbour, the city skyline, and the Coral Sea.
Historic Town / Village / Cultural Area
Hanuabada Village
Port Moresby
A historic and iconic Motu village featuring traditional wooden houses built on stilts over the waters of Fairfax Harbour.
