Tari weather & shops

I am heading to work in Tari in the Southern Highlands for 9 months and trying to pack my bags - the inevitable dilemma of wanting to take everything but only having 20kg of airline baggage...

Just wondering if anyone could give me an indication of climate and clothing? Work info says t-shirts during the day but cooler at night. By that do they mean long sleeved shirts/ thin jumpers or cold like a fleece jumper? Tried to find weather details online but to no avail.

Work also says nothing much is available in town - just wondering what is there in terms of shops? Any chance of mobile phone coverage?

Cheers

if you are staying in the valley around town,spring like conditions...20degrees daytime/nites down to 8 degrees/you willhave more problems with the big rains that often come in afternoon/digicell mobile coverage in and around tari.very basic trade stores in mendi...if you are out in the mountains much colder at nites...grab yourself a mobile and hook up to digicell...the coverage across png is vast now.

Great, thanks! I will be working/living right in the town itself. Sounds like it will be quite cool then so will pack some warmer clothes.

Re: digicell - I guess I can buy a sim card quite easily in Port Moresby. How reliable are they? Their website says they also have mobile internet which has got my hopes up (work says there is no internet in Tari so was mentally preparing for 9 months without it...)

yes as much as mobile coverage is expanding,the internet coverage is either non existant or so slow you will go nuts,it is now just moving to mobile broadband only in areas of port moresby though.if you get some time off try and get down to lake kutubu for a visit....stay with norman and penny at the tubo eco lodge on an island on kutubu.there are basic trade stores in tari town....a lot of people travel to mendi or mt hagen to go to bigger supermarkets.

Hi there,
You will only be able to by very basic stuff in Tari....don't plan on being able to buy clothes/electronic stuff etc there.

Basic food (softdrink, cans etc), toilettries and digicel pre-pay cards are available.

Regarding clothes:
- A few pairs of jeans, and some fairly strong shirts that you will be comfortable in (not sure what sort of work you're doing).
- One light coat in case you're outside in the evening, perhaps a bit waterproof.
- Some shorts/t-shirt for exercise, or around your accom.
- Pack a decent camera,and perhaps an IPOD to pass the travel time.

Regarding Digicel:
- The terminal at the airport in POM is the easiest place to buy a phone. Handset, already charged with SIM card is about 49PGK. Prepay is the only option, and you will find topup cards in Tari.
- The 'wireless modem internet' is now done through Online South Pacific. Port Moresby is the only place i know of where you can reliably buy these. Get one in Port Moresby, and perhaps call/email them for their outlets. They do not stock these at the airport. Speak to them about the best options for bandwidth/quota and an account. online.net.pg

Get cash in Port Moresby. The ATM in the airport (next to Digicel Desk) is easy, and safer than elsewhere. There is an ATM in Mt Hagen, but I don't think there is one in Tari.

Have fun... you will find Tari interesting.

Cheers
Kruegs