Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# brief PNG trip Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea
intrepid_trav 06:34 UTC 15 May 2007 | I have an opportunity to take a trip to PNG rather spontaneously next week. I'm reading up on the LP PNG Guidebook but am interested in some other practical advice from other travellers. At the moment my window for PNG is just 1 week but as flights become available I will try to extend. I am not a diver but do enjoy the coast. I'm prepared and comfortable getting off the beaten track. I fly in and out of Moresby. Late May is within what is generally considered to be the beginning of the Dry Season (although I understand it varies with the region). Assuming I can't extend my stay - -if you had just 1 week in PNG what would you recommend? -if you had just 2 weeks in PNG what would you recommend? Your input would be appreciated. thanks Mike - Text |
northmelbournedn 07:57 UTC 15 May 2007 | What you are able to do and how you do it will depend on your budget as most travel in PNG requires air travel. Anyway, for 1 week you could fly from Port Moresby to Tari in the Highlands to experience the Huli culture and then fly from Tari to Madang or Tufi on the coast. This would depend on air line schedules - flights to some of these centres are irregluar. You can check the schedules online - Air Niugini and Airlines PNG If you didn't have enough budget for these flights you could still see the highlands by flying to Goroka, catching a PMV to Madang and then flying from Madang to POM. For 2 weeks you could also go to Goroka, catch a PMV to Kundiawa then to Kergusul at the base of Mt Wilhelm, do the three day trek down towards Madang, staying in villages along the way, spend a few days in Madang, checking out the islands and do some snorkelling, before coming back to POM. The scenery on the road from Kundiawa to Kergusul is breath taking. I am sure there will be other suggestions. | 1
nomadtales 08:41 UTC 15 May 2007 | depends on what you want to see. one week you could fly to Tufi and spend a nice time there, or go to Madang instead, where there would be more to do. in two weeks you could, as said above, mix it up with the highlands and then the coast. walking to madang is pretty hardcore, but not impossible - only recommended if you enjoy long distance treks. | 2
Laszlo 10:56 UTC 15 May 2007 | My first thought was also the Highlands. But depending on how much cash you have to blow on flights and what your main interests are, there are 2 more regions to consider. If you prefer coastal/island areas, New Ireland would be MUCH nicer than Madang, possibly combined with the Rabaul area of New Britain for volcanoes and WWII stuff even in 1 week. If you like exotic cultures, flying to Wewak and doing a quick tour of the Middle Sepik could rival the Highlands, offering ready access to traditional villages, and absolutely stunning, unique art/architecture. Also doable in a week. With more time/money you can start thinking about combinging the above. | 3