what to do in 5 days?

Hi. Im flying to PNG later today and I really dont have a clue what to do there. Ive tried to find a PNG guidebook all over SE Asia, but cannot find one. Any suggestions are welcome. I guess 5 days isnt much, but Im just stopping on the way to Cairns. Flying to Port Moresby. Budget.

Thank you.

Budget travel in PNG is difficult as to get around you have to fly, particularly if your time is limited. If you are prepared to spend some money on airfares you could fly to Goroka in the Eastern Highlands (stay at Goroka Lodge), then catch a PMV to Madang on the northern coast (stay at CWA Guesthouse) and then fly back to Port Moresby. That would take 5 days and give you a feel for both the highlands and the coast. The flights would cost about K800 - approx $AUD300.

In Port Moresby you could travel out to Sogeri and Varirata National Park. There are nice views and walks, but you would need a vehicle. Not a lot else to do in Port Moresby without a vehicle. If you are lucky enough to hook up with a local with a vehclie you might get taken to one of the many coastal villages just outside Port Moresby.

Probably not much help, but maybe a couple of ideas to start with. Good luck.

If you go to the yacht club on Wednesday at around 5 and hang out near the outside bar you could go crew on a sailboat. Price is to bring a few beers which can be bought right there.

In Moresby you could go to the botanical gardens, but not exactly great, but something to do.

Otherwise, fly somewhere, as Moresby is not the most happening place.

I would get out of Port Moresby. As the others said you really need to fly if you want to get anywhere, so if you can afford it that's the best way to see something in 5 days. Madang is lovely, try to get there. Madang and Goroka are probably all you could try to fit in in that time. Or just stay in Madang and do trips out to the islands like siar island and krangket. You can snorkel and just chill out. I saw a lonely planet in a shop in PNG - could have been the airport in Moresby - the shop upstairs by the departure gates in the international terminal, I think.

Dear Tourist,
Dear All,

Be carefully !!!!! Don’t trust !!!!!

Don’t book a trip with every kind of Papua New Guinea Travel Agency.
PNG Tourist Promotion Authority and other Travel Agency are involved on fraudulent cases.
PNG Tourist Promotion Authority promote and publicized some Travel Agency, like PNG Holidays Ltd of Mr.Benjamin Nikints.
Mr. Benjamin Nikints and his team take your money and after disappear..
I’m writing from Italy , since last June 2006 we’re waiting to recover our money (5000$) but there isn’t developments about this case.
Other tourist from America and Holland had loosen a lot of money….
Try you to understand…..
The PNG community is shared from clan….
What does it means….
It means that every clan do it possible to cover every kind of matter happened to his component..
Papua New Guinea is much corrupted and dangerous.

Hi

Thanks for your answers. I ended up rebooking my flight to Cairns the same morning as I arrived Port Moresby. I think it was for the better, as buying domestic flight for only 5 days would be pricy. I guess the whole thing was a bit bad planned, but who said Im good at planning? Id love to return once as the locals I met on the airport was really nice. In a few hours I was invited to two different villages by airport staff! Well, in Cairns now and it is for sure different :)