Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

what would you do with two weeks in Papua New Guinea in January?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea

Hello and a big thank you to the regular posters providing information on this fascinating country,

I am arriving in Papua New Guinea on the 7th of January for two weeks and I wonder if anyone has any advice for an itinerary of sorts for a solo traveller?

I am a 32 year old male arriving from New Zealand with limited funds (I am aware that PNG can be a very expensive place to travel so I am looking to tailor my itinerary accordingly). I like to be on the move and am hoping on finding some kind of circuitous route to experience a little of the country before returning to Port Moresby (which I have heard is a friendly and cheap tourist paradise- ha ha ok perhaps not...). I very much enjoy meeting local people and although some relaxing on a beach would be welcome- I'd like to be moving and seeing some of PNG for the most part if at all possible.

If anyone who has some experience can offer me some advice I would be very appreciative-

Also If you are planning to be in PNG around the same time and would possibly like to team up for any travel I would be only too happy to hear from you!

Safe travels everyone-

I'd do something like this:

Flying to Kavieng at the start, few days on the beach.
Then fly or boat to Lae or Madang - if it is Lae, take bus from there to Madang.
A day or 2 in Madang, then a bus to Goroka, then a few days around the Highlands.
Fly back to Moresby from Hagen.

Another tempting alternative would be flying to Wewak, then splitting the time between visiting its offshore islands and a trip to the Sepik River via Maprik.
Then back to Wewak to fly to Moresby.

1

Laszlo- you are amazing!

Very much appreciated- I'll have a good look into your suggestions...

Many thanks-

2

If you're in Port Moresby, you could go to Loloata Island Resort just minutes out of Port Moresby for a day tour, visit the Parliament House which is uniquely designed, go to a nearby village, visit the botanical gardens now called Nature Park. There's a lot you can do.

3