Things to Do in Papua New Guinea

From the wartime history of the Kokoda Track to the tribal gatherings of Mount Hagen - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries on Earth, with over 800 languages spoken across its highlands and islands - many communities remain relatively isolated by the country's mountainous terrain and limited road network, which has kept traditional practices genuinely intact rather than performed for tourists. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Kokoda Track

A challenging multi-day trek through dense jungle along the route of a pivotal WWII campaign between Australian and Japanese forces, still walked today largely by Australian visitors connecting with that history.

📍 Owen Stanley Range

🚉 The track begins at Owers Corner, an hour and a half by 4x4 from Port Moresby, and ends at Kokoda village, which is served by light aircraft - trekkers must go with a licensed operator.

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Mount Hagen Sing-sing

One of Papua New Guinea's largest cultural festivals, where highland tribes gather in elaborate traditional dress, face paint and headdresses for competitive dance and music performances.

📍 Mount Hagen, Western Highlands

🚉 Mount Hagen has an airport with flights from Port Moresby; the show ground is a short drive from town, and the August festival is when the highlands tribes gather in full dress.

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Kimbe Bay Diving

Part of the Coral Triangle, with reef biodiversity considered among the richest in the world - a serious draw for divers specifically, if less known to general travelers.

📍 Kimbe Bay, West New Britain

🚉 Fly to Hoskins airport on New Britain, then a 45-minute road transfer to Walindi - the reefs are dived from resort boats, and there is no other access.

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Sepik River

Papua New Guinea's longest river, lined with traditional villages known for elaborate spirit houses (haus tambaran) and wood carving traditions, explored by riverboat.

📍 East & West Sepik Provinces

🚉 Wewak is the coastal gateway, reached by air, then a road transfer to Pagwi or Angoram on the river, where motorised canoes take over for the village journeys.

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Rabaul & Tavurvur Volcano

A town largely buried by a 1994 eruption and rebuilt nearby, with the still-active Tavurvur volcano visible smoking across the harbor - a stark, direct look at the region's volcanic activity.

📍 Rabaul, East New Britain

🚉 Flights land at Tokua airport, 45 minutes from Rabaul by road; the volcano is reached by boat across Simpson Harbour or by 4x4 across the ash plain, always with a guide.

Mark Papua New Guinea, get the stamp

🇵🇬PAPUA NEW GUINEAVISITED

🇵🇬PAPUA NEW GUINEALIVED

🇵🇬PAPUA NEW GUINEAWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

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Planning questions

How many days do you need in Papua New Guinea?

The Kokoda Track alone takes 4-8 days depending on the route and pace. A broader trip combining the highlands and a diving region typically needs two weeks or more given internal flight logistics.

What's the best time to visit Papua New Guinea?

June-September (dry season) is the most comfortable time for trekking the Kokoda Track and visiting the highlands. The Mount Hagen Sing-sing is usually held in August.

Is Papua New Guinea good for a first-time visit?

It rewards significant preparation - infrastructure is limited outside a few hubs, internal travel largely depends on small aircraft, and an organized tour or trekking company is strongly recommended for a first visit.

Do I need a visa to visit Papua New Guinea?

Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa online in advance for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.ica.gov.pg.

What are some things to do in Papua New Guinea on a tight budget?

Joining a scheduled group trek along the Kokoda Track is cheaper than a private arrangement, village homestays along the Sepik River are inexpensive relative to lodges, and local markets sell fresh produce cheaply compared to hotel dining.

Can I rent a car in Papua New Guinea, and what licence do I need?

Check your government's travel advice first, as crime warnings apply to Port Moresby, Lae and parts of the highlands. Self-drive is uncommon: there is no road network linking the main centres - travel between them is by air - and visitors normally use hotel transfers or vehicles arranged by tour operators. Where rental exists, a foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for visits and the minimum age is generally 25. Traffic drives on the left, and the Highlands Highway is demanding in both road condition and security terms. Official visitor information is published by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority at papuanewguinea.travel.