Overview

Located in Oceania, Papua New Guinea is a country that easily dominates the eastern half of the craggy tropical island of New Guinea as well as a number of other offshore islands. The city of Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea. The country is one of the most diverse countries in the world with more than 850 indigenous languages and at least as many, if not more, traditional societies constituting a total population of around six million. The mid-portion of the island is comprised of an extensive ridge of mountain ranges, more commonly known as the Highlands. The impenetrable forests and hostile topography have played a significant role in isolating the native people of this region from one another.

Activities & Attractions

Papua New Guinea's coastline is famous for its coral reefs which in turn has given the country a world-wide reputation for scuba diving. The locale is rich in culture and oozes with natural beauty. The country is an ideal hang-out for a serious adventure traveler who is interested in outdoor activities.

Papua New Guinea is an abode of natural wonders and this is one of the main reasons which spark the interest of visitors to the place. The Sepik Region tops the list because it is perceived as the Amazon of the New Guinea region. It is a dream destination for anthropology buffs as they can spot more than 60,000 inhabitants that line the river, each with a unique look, showcasing a myriad of different cultures. Papua New Guinea offers the tourists a greatly varied style of cultural expression, including carving, singing, dancing, ornamentation, and architecture. There are a large number of public festivals the country hosts including the Coffee Festival in Goroka, the National Mask Festival in Rabaul, the Mt. Hagen Show, the Goroka Show, the Hiri Moale Festival in Port Moresby, and the Kundu and Canoe Festival in Alotau. These festivals are a great way to witness the rich culture of the country.

Lodging

Papua New Guinea offers a wide selection of accommodation opportunities for vacationers. To avail a choice of international hotels, Port Moresby is the ideal place. In addition to Airways International and Crown Plaza, tourists can also look for mid-range hotels such as Lamana and a number of guest houses. The regional areas in the country, depending on the town's size, offer international and budget hotels. Some provinces have only guest houses. One of the most popular options for lodging in Papua New Guinea includes the Ulumani Treetops Lodge and a brand new eco-tourist lodge overlooking the Milne Bay in Alotau.

Transportation

Transportation within Papua New Guinea is unfortunately limited, owing to the country's extremely mountainous terrain. Even the country's largest city, Port Moresby, is not linked by road to any other major town. Many of the other remote villages in Papua New Guinea are accessible only by foot or light aircraft. Light aircrafts are a common means of transportation throughout Papua New Guinea and there are a total of 578 airstrips to serve this purpose. Visitors can even consider traveling through the place via motor vehicle or boat but they are not quite a popular mode of transportation in the region.