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1 city
Province · Papua Region
National Capital District
Port Moresby, the capital, is the gateway to Papua New Guinea: Fairfax Harbour, the National Museum, the Parliament and the stilt villages of Hanuabada.
In the photo: Bomana War Cemetery
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 National Capital District
The National Capital District corresponds to the city of Port Moresby, on the southern coast of the island of New Guinea, facing the Coral Sea. It is not a province: it has its own administration and receives most of the international flights that arrive in the country at Jacksons International Airport.
The city spreads across dry hills and inlets around Fairfax Harbour. The Motu and the Koitabu are the original peoples of the area, and Hanuabada, the stilt village by the harbour, preserves the layout of the old Motu communities.
In Waigani are the National Museum and Art Gallery, with masks, canoes and sculptures from the country’s different regions, and the National Parliament, opened in 1984, with a façade inspired by Sepik ceremonial houses. Port Moresby Nature Park brings together plants and animals of New Guinea, such as birds-of-paradise and tree kangaroos.
The Hiri Moale Festival celebrates the hiri voyages, when the Motu sailed in large sailing canoes, the lakatoi, to trade pottery for sago with the peoples of the Gulf. Dances, canoe races and the selection of the festival queen take place along the waterfront.
The city is also the starting point for the Kokoda Track, which begins at Owers’ Corner in Central Province, and for Varirata National Park on the Sogeri plateau. Flights to the islands, the Sepik and the Highlands depart from the airport.
Destinations
1 destination in National Capital District
When to go
Port Moresby is drier than most of the country. May to November are usually the driest months, with frequent hot days and clear skies; December to April is the rainy season, bringing heavier showers, heat and humidity. Temperatures change little through the year, and the Hiri Moale Festival does not have fixed dates: check the calendar before you go.
Getting there
Jacksons International Airport (POM), a few kilometres from the city centre, is the country’s main gateway, with nonstop flights to Australia, to Asian cities such as Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong, and to Pacific islands. It is also the hub for domestic flights to Lae, Goroka, Madang, Wewak, Alotau, Kokopo and Kavieng. Port Moresby has no road connection to Lae or the Highlands: travel across the country is generally by plane.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about National Capital District
How many days to allow for Port Moresby?
One or two days are usually enough for the National Museum, the Parliament, Port Moresby Nature Park and a visit to Varirata National Park. Many travellers use the capital as an overnight stop on arrival and departure, between international and domestic flights.
What to see at the National Museum of Papua New Guinea?
The National Museum and Art Gallery in Waigani gathers masks, shields, canoes, pottery and sculptures from the different provinces, as well as specimens of New Guinea’s natural history. It’s a good introduction to the variety of cultures found in the rest of the country. Confirm opening days and hours before you go.
How to get from the airport to central Port Moresby?
The trip is short and is usually done with hotel transport or a hired driver. Many accommodations offer transfers: arrange it before arrival.
Where does the Kokoda Track start?
The southern trailhead is at Owers’ Corner in Central Province, east of Port Moresby, reachable by road. The northern end is Kokoda station in Oro, from where you return by plane or by road to Popondetta. Permission from the Kokoda Track Authority is mandatory, and most travellers go with licensed operators.