Papua New Guinea General Information

Quick Facts

Region: South East Asia

Population:
5,940,775

Religion:

Christianity is enshrined in the country’s constitution as the official religion and all the denominations are well represented. About 28% of people are Catholics, 23% are Evangelical Lutherans, and the rest are spread out over various different groups. However, many people retain their traditional animist beliefs that revolve around such things as spirit-worship.

Language:

Although English is very widely spoken and is indeed the most common language in the country, there are over 770 languages in the country - which is about one-third of the world’s indigenous languages! Pidgin, which is primarily derived from English, is the major second language.

Area (sq. km):
462,840 square meters

Time:

GMT +10

When to Travel

The climate is generally hot and humid all year round with a high rate of rainfall. The capital, Port Moresby, is one of the driest areas in the country. In most places, the very wet season is between December and March. During this time, it is virtually impossible to go trekking due to hazardous conditions. May to October is considered the dry season although it is not unusual to encounter rain during this period. The months of April and October see unpredictable weather, but the humidity remains extremely high. The temperature is significantly cooler in the highlands, especially in the night.

In general, the wet season is between December and March whist the dry season is between May and October. The in-between months see variable weather, but the climate is generally humid all year round. Due to the rough nature of The Kokoda Track, it is only possible to run this tour during the dry season.

Useful Travel Facts

Telephone:

The international dialling code for Papua New Guinea is +61.

Telephone calls, especially international calls, made from hotels, often attract significant service charges, even when the number dialled is not available. Where possible, endeavour to make calls from local telephone offices, which are usually situated in or near the post offices. It is always advisable to confirm the rates you will be paying before you make your call. Should any extra assistance be required when you are on tour, please contact our local offices first. If you have a mobile phone it should be a relatively simple procedure to arrange ‘global roaming’ with your service provider; however, charges are generally very high so be sure to check this option thoroughly. You should also check with your service provider to see if your mobile phone is compatible with the networks used in Papua New Guinea.

Food:

Sago, which is similar to taro or yam, is the staple diet of much of the country. There is good seafood along the coasts and the food is generally tastier there than in the highlands. The most famous local cooking style is the use of a traditional underground oven, known as a ‘mumu’.

Shopping:

Artefacts, such as woodcarvings, weaved baskets and pottery, are popular souvenirs for tourists. Generally, the prices are relatively high due to high cost of transportation and storage in the country. Remember that bargaining is not a custom in Papua New Guinea.

Visa: All visitors to PNG including tourists are required to have a visa to enter. Currently a 30-day tourist visa is available upon arrival for nationals of many countries including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, UK, USA and most western European countries at Port Moresby’s Jackson’s International Airport. This visa is non-extendable and the fee is currently K25. To acquire a visa upon arrival, you will need a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds for your stay, an onward airline ticket with confirmed bookings and Kina cash. Alternatively, you may acquire your visa prior to leaving your home country with either the nearest PNG Embassy or in some cases at the Australian Embassy in your country. Always check with these embassies for current visa requirements prior to leaving home. It’s now normal practice for airport departure taxes to be built into the price of your international air ticket. On top of this, and upon departure from PNG, you will be required to pay a further K30 as airport facilities tax. Remember, this is a separate tax.

Further Reading

A Fact Book on Modern
Papua New Guinea - Jackson Rannells
Do-it-Yourself Trekking
- Kokoda Trail-Clive Baker
Rascal Rain - A Year in PNG-Inez Baranay
Papua New Guinea-Lonely Planet
Bloody Buna-Lida Mayo