Things to Do in Papua New Guinea: Top Attractions, Tours & Tickets

#1Kokoda TrackMustSouthern Papua New Guinea

The trek is Papua New Guinea’s defining historical journey: physically demanding, logistically involved and inseparable from the wartime story and the communities along the route. Treat it as the centerpiece of a dedicated trip with a vetted operator, not an add-on to a Port Moresby itinerary.

192h Sells out — book weeks aheadDepartures in the drier trekking season are most sought-after, so secure dates before booking international flights.

Book a licensed trek operator well ahead; trek permits, flights and guides are normally arranged as one package.

Pairs with: Bomana War Cemetery · Kokopo War Museum

#2Milne Bay ProvinceMustMilne Bay

Milne Bay is one of the country’s great marine and island regions, valued for diving, sailing, village stays and a slower coastal rhythm. It needs purposeful planning around Alotau and outer-island transport, rather than a quick stop on a conventional circuit.

Book aheadTravel plans are easier outside the wetter months, when sea conditions and flight disruptions can complicate connections.

Arrange boats, dive stays and outer-island accommodation in advance through a local lodge or operator.

Pairs with: Kiriwina · Kitava Island

#3Kimbe BayMustNew Britain4.5(13)

Kimbe Bay combines exceptional marine scenery with access to rainforest, volcano country and community-based wildlife experiences. Base at a reputable lodge and let it organize boat trips and local guides; independent transport is not the practical way to use the area.

Book aheadMorning boat outings are usually calmer and better for wildlife viewing.

Reserve a Kimbe-area lodge and its excursions ahead, particularly for the best wildlife and diving programs.

Pairs with: Tavurvur · Baining Fire Dance

#4TavurvurMustNew Britain4.4(47)

The active volcano above Rabaul is the essential visual shorthand for East New Britain and gives the town’s wartime ruins and harbor their dramatic setting. Visit with a local guide or tour from Kokopo, respecting access restrictions and changing volcanic conditions.

2h Book aheadGo early, before heat and cloud obscure the crater views.

Use a Kokopo or Rabaul-based guide, as road access and safe viewing areas can change.

Pairs with: Kokopo War Museum · Rabaul

#5Sepik RiverMustSepik4.2(17)

The Sepik is Papua New Guinea’s foremost river-cultural journey, known for powerful ceremonial art, spirit houses and village life rather than conventional sightseeing. It rewards travelers who can accept basic conditions and build in flexibility for river transport and local arrangements.

Book aheadPlan around local festival calendars only after confirming village access with your operator.

Book a specialist river itinerary with reputable local partnerships; transport and village access should not be improvised.

Pairs with: Karawari River · Mount Hagen Market

#6RabaulMustNew Britain

Rabaul’s flooded caldera, wartime relics and volcanic landscape create the country’s most atmospheric historic townscape. Use Kokopo as a practical base and take a guided day trip that connects the harbor, tunnels, market and volcano viewpoints.

5h Book aheadLeave Kokopo early for clearer views and cooler conditions.

Arrange a Kokopo-based guide or driver ahead, particularly if including volcano and tunnel sites.

Pairs with: Tavurvur · Kokopo War Museum · Bitapaka War Cemetery

#7Port Moresby Nature ParkShouldSouthern Papua New Guinea4.3(1,200)

This is the capital’s most useful introduction to Papua New Guinea’s native wildlife, gardens and cultural plantings, especially for travelers with limited time in Port Moresby. Use it as a low-logistics first stop before flying onward rather than as a reason to stay in the city.

2h Walk upGo early on a weekday, when school groups are less likely.

Pairs with: National Museum and Art Gallery · Koki Fish Market

#8Mount WilhelmShouldHighlands4.3(129)

Papua New Guinea’s best-known high-altitude trek offers a serious Highlands expedition rather than a casual viewpoint hike. Go only with experienced local support, realistic weather contingency and time to acclimatize in the surrounding region.

72h Book aheadSet out for summit attempts before dawn, when cloud and rain are generally less disruptive.

Book guides, transport and village accommodation through an established Highlands operator before arriving.

Pairs with: Mount Hagen Market · Goroka Show

#9Bomana War CemeteryShouldSouthern Papua New Guinea4.7(55)

The cemetery is a quiet, carefully maintained place to understand the human cost behind the Kokoda campaign and the wider New Guinea war. It is most meaningful before or after a Kokoda trek, but remains a worthwhile short visit from Port Moresby.

45m FreeVisit in the cooler early morning or late afternoon.

Pairs with: Kokoda Track · Varirata National Park

#10KiriwinaShouldMilne Bay4.4(9)

Kiriwina is the cultural heart of the Trobriand Islands, where village life, gardening traditions and island exchanges are more significant than a checklist of monuments. Stay through a locally connected guesthouse or lodge and treat village visits as hosted encounters, not drop-in tourism.

Book aheadAvoid arriving without confirmed onward transport, as island schedules can be irregular.

Arrange accommodation, domestic flights and village introductions well ahead through a local host or operator.

Pairs with: Kitava Island · Milne Bay Province

#11Kokopo War MuseumShouldNew Britain4(53)

This compact museum makes sense of the Japanese occupation, Allied campaign and military remains scattered around Rabaul and Kokopo. Use it as orientation before touring the tunnels, harbor and volcano landscape rather than expecting a large museum experience.

1.3h Walk upVisit early in the day, then continue to Rabaul before afternoon weather builds.

Pairs with: Tavurvur · Bitapaka War Cemetery · Rabaul

#12Mount Hagen MarketShouldHighlands3.9(529)

Mount Hagen’s market is a vivid working market where Highlands produce, clothing and regional trade converge. It is best visited with a trusted local guide, both for interpretation and to navigate practical security considerations.

1.5h FreeGo in the morning with a local guide; avoid displaying valuables.

Pairs with: Mount Wilhelm · Goroka Show

#13National Museum and Art GalleryShouldSouthern Papua New Guinea

The national collection is the most efficient primer on the country’s extraordinary artistic traditions, from masks and carvings to ceremonial objects. Visit early in a Papua New Guinea trip, because it gives useful context for later time in Sepik, Highlands and island communities.

2h Walk upWeekday mornings tend to be the calmest time to visit.

Confirm opening hours locally, as public access can occasionally be limited.

Pairs with: Port Moresby Nature Park · Ela Beach

#14Baining Fire DanceShouldNew Britain

This powerful Baining cultural performance is among Papua New Guinea’s most memorable ceremonial experiences, but it should be approached as an invited, locally hosted event rather than a guaranteed nightly show. Arrange it through a responsible East New Britain operator that works directly with the community.

3h Book aheadConfirm the performance shortly before travel, as weather and community commitments can change plans.

Book through a reputable Kokopo-area operator; performances depend on community schedules and are not available on demand everywhere.

Pairs with: Kimbe Bay · Rabaul

#15Tufi FjordsShouldMadang-Morobe

The dramatic drowned valleys around Tufi offer a rare combination of rainforest scenery, diving and village-based cultural experiences. It is a destination for a dedicated lodge stay, with local flights and activities arranged as a single, flexible package.

Book aheadAllow buffer time around flights, which can be affected by weather and operational changes.

Reserve flights and a Tufi-area lodge in advance, as accommodation and connections are limited.

Pairs with: Milne Bay Province · Port Moresby Nature Park

#16Goroka ShowShouldHighlands

When it is running, the Goroka Show is the most accessible concentration of Highlands sing-sing traditions, bringing groups from across the region together in one place. It is event-based rather than an everyday attraction, so build the trip around confirmed dates and spend time in Goroka beyond the arena.

8h Sells out — book weeks aheadArrive at opening for the best viewing positions and cooler conditions.

Confirm event dates and book flights, lodging and entry arrangements well ahead, as Goroka capacity tightens around the show.

Pairs with: JK McCarthy Museum · Mount Hagen Market

#17Varirata National ParkIf timeSouthern Papua New Guinea4.6(32)

Varirata gives visitors near Port Moresby a credible rainforest-and-birding escape, with broad views over the surrounding country. It works best with a driver or organized day trip, particularly for travelers who do not have time for a longer wilderness expedition.

3h Walk upStart in the morning for cooler walking and more active birdlife.

Arrange transport in advance; access and any gate payment are usually handled locally.

Pairs with: Port Moresby Nature Park · Bomana War Cemetery

#18Ela BeachIf timeSouthern Papua New Guinea4.2(249)

Ela Beach is Port Moresby’s accessible waterfront promenade and a useful place to see everyday urban life rather than a destination beach. Pair it with nearby museums or dining, and follow local advice about where and when to walk.

45m FreeGo in daylight, ideally near sunset, and avoid isolated stretches.

Pairs with: National Museum and Art Gallery · Koki Fish Market

#19Kitava IslandIf timeMilne Bay4.6(16)

Kitava is a remote Trobriand island for travelers looking for quiet beaches and extended village-based stays, not resort infrastructure. It is best considered an extension of a Kiriwina trip once local transport and hosting are firmly arranged.

Book aheadBuild spare time into the itinerary because weather and transport can alter plans.

Confirm boat or small-aircraft connections and a local host before leaving the mainland.

Pairs with: Kiriwina · Milne Bay Province

#20Koki Fish MarketIf timeSouthern Papua New Guinea3.9(490)

Koki is an energetic local market, more useful as a glimpse of Port Moresby’s daily food economy than as a standalone attraction. Go with a local guide or driver, keep the visit brief and pair it with nearby waterfront stops.

45m FreeMorning is best for activity and seafood selection; use normal city safety precautions.

Pairs with: Ela Beach · Port Moresby Nature Park

#21JK McCarthy MuseumIf timeHighlands4.1(25)

This small Goroka museum provides useful context on Highlands material culture and the region’s complex colonial-era history. It is a worthwhile orientation stop, especially if your itinerary includes a cultural show or village-based stay.

1h Walk upCheck opening arrangements locally, as hours can be inconsistent.

Pairs with: Goroka Show · Mount Hagen Market

#22Bitapaka War CemeteryIf timeNew Britain4.7(24)

Set among tropical vegetation outside Kokopo, Bitapaka is a moving and less crowded complement to the area’s war museum and battle sites. It adds human context to East New Britain’s broader volcanic and military-history itinerary.

45m FreeGo in the morning, when it is cooler and easy to combine with Kokopo.

Pairs with: Kokopo War Museum · Tavurvur

#23Karawari RiverIf timeSepik

The Karawari is a more lodge-based route into Sepik-region landscapes and communities, suited to travelers who want cultural depth without organizing a full main-river expedition. It works particularly well as part of a specialist itinerary that prioritizes local hosts and flexible logistics.

Book aheadKeep the schedule flexible for weather-related changes to air and river transport.

Book through a specialist lodge or operator that can coordinate charter flights, guides and village permissions.

Pairs with: Sepik River · Mount Hagen Market

#24Adventure Park PNGNicheSouthern Papua New Guinea4.3(205)

This is a family-oriented leisure stop outside Port Moresby, useful for travelers seeking a relaxed activity between flights or meetings. It is not a defining Papua New Guinea experience and should not displace cultural or nature-focused time.

4h Walk upWeekday mornings are quieter than weekends and school holidays.

Pairs with: Port Moresby Nature Park · National Museum and Art Gallery