Papua New Guinea Travel Guide

Papua New Guinea Travel Guide

Huge tracts of Papua New Guinea are wild and undeveloped, with magnificent scenery that ranges from pristine coral atolls to volcanic mountains and dense tropical rainforest. The mainland is divided by the Owen Stanley Range, a massive central spike with peaks towering over 4000m. Great rivers begin their journey to the sea from these mountains, among them the mighty Sepik River, one of the world's longest waterways

Lying just south of the equator, 160km north of Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is part of a great arc of mountains stretching from Asia, through Indonesia and into the South Pacific. Visitors will discover a wealth of tropical scenery, from jungle-clad mountains and mighty rivers to the sandy white beaches and atolls of the coastal and island provinces. This diverse land has more than 600 islands and 800 indigenous languages, one of the largest areas of intact rainforest outside of the Amazon. 

The country's pristine rainforest is home to many rare species of birds, butterflies and insects, and there are more than 1000ha of land dedicated to national parks. Rugged mountain terrain and deep cave systems offer wonderful opportunities for walkers, cavers and climbers, and there is canoeing, kayaking and fishing on the vast river and delta system. Papua New Guinea enjoys some of the world's best diving around its warm coastal waters, and there are military relics dating back to the allied battles with Japan during World War II.

The country is divided into four main regions: Mamose/Mainland, Southern, New Guinea Islands and the Highlands. These regions consist of 19 provinces and the National Capital District.