Attractions in Port Moresby & Central
The gateway to culture and wildlife 🏙️🦜
Showing 19 attractions · Sorted by importance
Bomana War Cemetery
📍 Port Moresby
🏰 CastleThe largest and most significant WWII cemetery in the South Pacific, featuring thousands of white marble headstones in a beautifully maintained and peaceful garden setting.
Ela Beach
📍 Port Moresby
⛱ BeachThe city's primary urban waterfront featuring a wide white-sand beach, a scenic promenade, and recreational facilities suitable for family outings.
Kokoda Track
📍 Owers' Corner
🥾 Hiking & Cycling96km 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).
National Museum and Art Gallery
📍 Port Moresby
🔬 ScienceThis museum offers families a deep dive into Papua New Guinea's heritage through its extensive collection of traditional masks, shields, and natural history exhibits.
National Parliament House
📍 Port Moresby
🏰 CastleKnown as the 'Haus Tambaran' of the nation, this striking building features incredible indigenous architecture and grand mosaics representing PNG's diverse provinces.
Sogeri Road & Varirata Plateau Drive
📍 Port Moresby
🚗 Road Trip50km 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.
Varirata National Park
📍 Sogeri
🧗 AdventureThe country's premier national park offers a variety of hiking trails and scenic lookout points with panoramic views of the Owen Stanley Ranges.
Hanuabada Village
📍 Port Moresby
🏘 Town / VillageA historic and iconic Motu village featuring traditional wooden houses built on stilts over the waters of Fairfax Harbour.
Adventure Park PNG
📍 Port Moresby
🌿 GardenA family-oriented destination home to the National Orchid Garden, featuring thousands of orchid species alongside wildlife exhibits and recreational facilities.
APEC Haus
📍 Port Moresby
🏛 LandmarkAn iconic modern landmark on the waterfront, designed to resemble a traditional Lakatoi sail, symbolizing the city's maritime heritage.
Magi Highway Coastal Route
📍 Port Moresby
🚗 Road TripApproximately 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.
Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre
📍 Port Moresby
🌊 Water ParkA world-class Olympic-standard aquatic facility offering large public swimming pools and high-performance training environments.
Crystal Rapids
📍 Sogeri
🧗 AdventureA popular outdoor recreation spot near the Laloki River, offering freshwater swimming holes and picnic areas surrounded by dense tropical forest.
Daugo Island (Fisherman's Island)
📍 Port Moresby
⛱ BeachA 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
⛱ BeachAn uninhabited rocky island near the coast that offers clear swimming spots and serves as a picturesque landmark for boat excursions.
Owers' Corner
📍 Sogeri
🏛 LandmarkA historic monument marking the start of the Kokoda Track, offering breathtaking views of the Owen Stanley Ranges and the Goldie River valley.
Paga Hill Lookout
📍 Port Moresby
🏔 Scenic ViewThis easily accessible scenic point provides a 360-degree view of Fairfax Harbour, the city skyline, and the Coral Sea.
Paga Hill Ring Road
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip5km 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.