Papua New Guinea Abundant with natural beauty, unspoiled beaches, unique flora and fauna, soaring jagged mountain peaks, pristine jungle and indigenous people with a fascinating history and rich culture.

While hiking the Kokoda Track is possibly the country’s biggest tourism drawcard, Papua New Guinea has so much more to offer than just this respectful pilgrimage.

In a country where more than 800 local languages exist, Papua New Guinea is made up of over 600 islands with more than a third of the population living in the highlands. Papua New Guinea’s people are largely descendants of the Papuans and keep their culture alive with rituals, ceremonies and initiation rites. It is this strong tribal heritage, with a fascinating history of headhunting and cannibalism that can be both intriguing and intimidating to visitors. Experiencing the many vibrant and colourful festivals and cultural shows is a highlight of a visit here.

On the island’s capital of Port Moresby, visit the Port Moresby Nature Park for some spectacular displays of exotic wildlife and flora including a stunning collection of orchids or the impressive Parliament Haus.

Further afield, Papua New Guinea has a lot to offer lovers of action and adventure and plenty of solemn reminders of the country’s involvement in World War II, for those interested in history or with family connections to the Kokoda Track. Pay your respects at the Australian War Memorial in the sleepy little town of Alotau on the shore of Milne Bay. A walk along the Kokoda Track not only provides the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of some of Australia’s heroes, you will also pass through villages where you can interact with the locals, learning more about their customs, languages and traditions.

Get into the rugged, jungle-clad volcanic mountains of the highlands to explore pristine rainforests, fertile valleys, cascading waterfalls, coffee plantations, beautiful wild orchids where 3,000 known species can be found, rare animals, insects and plenty of bright and colourful birds to look out for. Make the most of luke-warm waters that are perfect for surfing, kayaking, kite-surfing, snorkelling, diving, fishing, sailing and cruising or take a leisurely trip down the Sepik or Karawari Rivers on a deluxe floating lodge.