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Province · Momase Region
Morobe
Morobe has Lae, the country’s second city and largest port, the Huon Gulf, the Huon Peninsula and the old gold towns of Wau and Bulolo.
In the photo: Salamaua Peninsula
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Morobe
Morobe Province lies on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, around the Huon Gulf. It is the most populous province in the country, and its capital, Lae, is the second largest city and the main port, at the point where the Highlands Highway begins, the road up to the Highlands.
In Lae, the Rainforest Habitat, on the University of Technology campus, displays birds, reptiles and plants of New Guinea’s forest in a covered enclosure. The Lae War Cemetery, beside the Botanic Gardens, holds graves of soldiers from the Second World War.
The Huon Peninsula, to the east, rises from the sea to the Saruwaged and Finisterre mountains. The peninsula’s forests are home to the Matschie’s tree-kangaroo, protected in the YUS Conservation Area, managed by local communities. Finschhafen and Salamaua on the coast have remains from the colonial era and the war.
Inland, Wau and Bulolo grew during the 1920s–1930s gold rush, when aircraft transported equipment to the mines. The Morobe Show in Lae is one of the country’s major fairs, showcasing culture, agriculture and rodeo, usually between September and October.
When to go
Lae has a different rainfall pattern from the rest of the country: the months of June to September, which are dry elsewhere, are usually the wettest there. The city is warm and humid year-round, while Wau and Bulolo inland are cooler. The Morobe Show usually takes place between September and October: check the dates before you go.
Getting there
Nadzab Airport (LAE), about 40 km from Lae, has flights from Port Moresby and other domestic cities. Lae has no road connection to Port Moresby, but it is the start of the Highlands Highway, which goes up to Goroka and Mount Hagen. Boats and small aircraft serve the Huon Peninsula and the coast.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Morobe
What to see in Lae?
The Rainforest Habitat, with birds, reptiles and forest plants, on the University of Technology campus; the Botanic Gardens and the Lae War Cemetery next to them; and the city market. Confirm opening hours before you go.
When is the Morobe Show?
It usually takes place in Lae between September and October, with cultural performances, agricultural displays and rodeo. In 2025 it was in September, and in 2026 it was announced for 24 and 25 October: check the dates before you go.
What is the YUS Conservation Area?
It is a protected area on the Huon Peninsula, created by local communities with support from conservation programs, to protect Matschie’s tree-kangaroo and the forests where it lives. Visits depend on arrangements with the communities.
How to go from Nadzab Airport to Lae?
The airport is about 40 km from the city by road. The trip is usually made using hotel transport or a hired driver: arrange the transfer before arrival.