Port Moresby
Usage
Capital of Papua New Guinea, in the National Capital District. Tok Pisin also calls it "Mosbi" or "Pot Mosbi", but signs and airport displays use the English spelling. No road links it to Lae or the Highlands, so domestic travel is by air from Jacksons International Airport. Check current local advice on safety
Boroko
Usage
Commercial district southeast of central Port Moresby, with banks, shops and PMV (public motor vehicle) stops. A destination name taxis and PMVs recognise
Waigani
Usage
Government district of Port Moresby, holding the National Parliament, government offices, the National Museum and many embassies
Hanuabada
Usage
Motu stilt village built over the water on Port Moresby harbour, right beside the town. Ask locally about visiting and about arranging a guide
Ela Beach
Usage
Waterfront beach and promenade in central Port Moresby, within walking distance of downtown
Lae
Usage
Capital of Morobe Province and PNG's second city. It has the country's main cargo port and is the start of the Highlands Highway. Its airport, Nadzab, is about 40 km inland from town. Check current local advice on safety
Madang
Usage
Capital of Madang Province, a north-coast port town and a diving base. Linked to Lae by road via the Ramu Highway; its airport is in town
Mount Hagen
Usage
Capital of Western Highlands Province and the largest Highlands town, at about 1,700 m on the Highlands Highway. Its airport is Kagamuga. Check current local advice on safety
Goroka
Usage
Capital of Eastern Highlands Province at about 1,600 m, on the Highlands Highway. Its airport is in the town centre
Kainantu
Usage
Eastern Highlands town, the first major Highlands town reached on the Highlands Highway coming up from Lae
Kundiawa
Usage
Capital of Simbu (Chimbu) Province, a gorge town on the Highlands Highway and the turn-off for the road up towards Mount Wilhelm
Mendi
Usage
Capital of Southern Highlands Province, reached by road from Mount Hagen; it also has an airport. Check current local advice before travelling
Tari
Usage
Capital of Hela Province, in the Huli area. It has an airport with scheduled flights. Check current local advice before travelling
Wabag
Usage
Capital of Enga Province, linked by road running west from Mount Hagen
Wewak
Usage
Capital of East Sepik Province, a north-coast port town and the gateway to the Sepik River region. Domestic flights use Wewak (Boram) Airport
Angoram
Usage
The largest town on the lower Sepik River, in East Sepik Province. Reached by road from Wewak and used as the starting point for boat trips upriver
Vanimo
Usage
Capital of Sandaun (West Sepik) Province, a port town in PNG's far northwest reached mainly by air or sea. A road runs to the Indonesian border crossing at Wutung
Rabaul
Usage
Port town at the northeast tip of New Britain, in East New Britain Province. Most of the town was buried by ash in the 1994 eruption and the provincial capital moved to Kokopo. Its airport is Tokua
Kokopo
Usage
Capital of East New Britain Province, about 20 km from Rabaul and close to Tokua Airport. Hotels and government offices are concentrated here
Kimbe
Usage
Capital of West New Britain Province, a port town on New Britain's north coast and a diving base. Its airport is Hoskins
Kavieng
Usage
Capital of New Ireland Province at the north end of New Ireland, reachable only by air or sea. The Boluminski Highway runs down the east coast from here
Namatanai
Usage
Town in the middle of New Ireland, reached from Kavieng by driving southeast along the Boluminski Highway
Lorengau
Usage
Capital of Manus Province on Manus Island, reachable only by air or sea. Its airport, Momote, is on neighbouring Los Negros Island, linked by a bridge
Alotau
Usage
Capital of Milne Bay Province at the southeastern tip of the mainland. No road links it to other main centres, so access is by air or sea. It is the base for reaching the Milne Bay islands and a cruise-ship port. Its airport is Gurney
Popondetta
Usage
Capital of Oro (Northern) Province. Roads run to Kokoda and to Oro Bay, but there is no road to Port Moresby, so access is by air. Its airport is Girua
Kerema
Usage
Capital of Gulf Province. Reached overland from Port Moresby on the Hiritano Highway, or by air or sea. Check road conditions before travelling
Daru
Usage
Capital of Western Province, an island town near the Torres Strait, reachable only by air or boat
Kiunga
Usage
River port on the upper Fly River in Western Province. A road runs to Tabubil; otherwise the links to the outside are by air and by river barge
Tabubil
Usage
Mountain town in Western Province serving the Ok Tedi mine. Reached by road from Kiunga or by air
Buka
Usage
Administrative centre of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, on Buka Island, with an airport. Crossing to Bougainville Island itself is by small boat across Buka Passage
Arawa
Usage
The main town in central Bougainville, linked by road running down the east coast from Buka Passage. Check current local advice before travelling
National Capital District
Usage
The administrative district made up of Port Moresby and its surroundings. It is a special district rather than a province, and is abbreviated "NCD" on addresses and forms
Morobe Province
Usage
Its capital is Lae. A north-coast province holding the start of the Highlands Highway and Nadzab Airport
Madang Province
Usage
Its capital is Madang. A north-coast province with a road link to Lae, known for its coastal reefs and volcanic islands
Eastern Highlands Province
Usage
Its capital is Goroka. The first Highlands province reached on the Highlands Highway coming from Lae
Simbu Province
Usage
Its capital is Kundiawa. Also spelled "Chimbu". A mountain province containing Mount Wilhelm, PNG's highest peak
Western Highlands Province
Usage
Its capital is Mount Hagen. It holds the largest Highlands town and Kagamuga Airport, and is the hub of Highlands transport
Enga Province
Usage
Its capital is Wabag. A highland province west of Mount Hagen, the highest-lying province in PNG
Southern Highlands Province
Usage
Its capital is Mendi. It contains Lake Kutubu and Mount Giluwe. Check current local advice before travelling
Hela Province
Usage
Its capital is Tari. The province was split off from Southern Highlands in 2012. Check current local advice before travelling
East Sepik Province
Usage
Its capital is Wewak. It covers the middle and lower Sepik River and is known for its wood carving and spirit houses (haus tambaran)
Sandaun Province
Usage
Its capital is Vanimo. PNG's northwestern-most province, also called West Sepik. It borders Indonesian Papua
Milne Bay Province
Usage
Its capital is Alotau. It covers the southeastern tip of the mainland plus many islands; travel between the islands is only by boat or light aircraft
Oro Province
Usage
Its capital is Popondetta. Also called Northern Province. It holds the northern end of the Kokoda Track and the Tufi fjords
Western Province
Usage
Its capital is Daru. PNG's largest province by area, containing the Fly River and the Ok Tedi mine. Almost no roads connect its towns, so travel is by air or river boat
Gulf Province
Usage
Its capital is Kerema. A province of swamps and river deltas on the Gulf of Papua, where travel between settlements is mostly by boat
East New Britain Province
Usage
Its capital is Kokopo. It holds the Rabaul volcanoes and Tokua Airport. From the mainland it is reached only by air or sea
West New Britain Province
Usage
Its capital is Kimbe. It covers the western half of New Britain, with Hoskins Airport as its gateway, and is known for diving and oil-palm plantations
New Ireland Province
Usage
Its capital is Kavieng. Made up of the long, narrow island of New Ireland and nearby islands, reachable only by air or sea
Manus Province
Usage
Its capital is Lorengau. PNG's northernmost province, made up of the Admiralty Islands and reachable only by air or sea
Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Usage
Its administrative centre is Buka. An autonomous region made up of Bougainville Island, Buka Island and others, reachable from mainland PNG only by air or sea. Check current local advice before travelling
Highlands
Usage
The general name for PNG's inland highland belt. Tok Pisin says "Hailans". It covers the Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Western Highlands, Enga, Southern Highlands, Hela and Jiwaka provinces, linked by the Highlands Highway from Lae and by local airports
Jacksons International Airport
Usage
Port Moresby's airport (code POM). PNG's only full international gateway, and the hub through which almost every domestic flight routes. The international and domestic terminals are separate buildings
Nadzab Airport
Usage
Lae's airport (code LAE), officially Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport. It sits in the Markham Valley about 40 km inland from the city, with a road transfer into town
Kagamuga Airport
Usage
Mount Hagen's airport (code HGU). The largest airport in the Highlands and the connecting point for Southern Highlands, Enga and Hela
Madang Airport
Usage
Madang's airport (code MAG), right beside the town, served by domestic flights from Port Moresby and Lae
Tokua Airport
Usage
The airport for Rabaul and Kokopo (code RAB). It replaced the old airfield lost in the 1994 eruption and lies about 30 km from Kokopo
Goroka Airport
Usage
Goroka's airport (code GKA), next to the town centre and within walking distance of it
Wewak Airport
Usage
Wewak's airport (code WWK), also called Boram Airport. The gateway for travellers heading into the Sepik River region
Gurney Airport
Usage
Alotau's airport (code GUR), about a dozen kilometres from town by road. It is the air gateway to Milne Bay
Kavieng Airport
Usage
Kavieng's airport (code KVG), the main way into New Ireland, served by flights from Port Moresby
Hoskins Airport
Usage
The airport for West New Britain (code HKN). Kimbe town is about 45 km away by road
Momote Airport
Usage
The airport for Manus Province (code MAS), on Los Negros Island. A bridge road leads on to Lorengau town
Buka Airport
Usage
The airport for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (code BUA), right beside Buka town and the main air link into the region
Girua Airport
Usage
Popondetta's airport (code PNP). The gateway to Oro Province and the usual way out for walkers finishing the Kokoda Track at the northern end
Tari Airport
Usage
The airport at Tari in Hela Province (code TIZ), served by flights from Port Moresby and Mount Hagen
Vanimo Airport
Usage
The airport at Vanimo in Sandaun Province (code VAI), the main way into PNG's far northwest
Highlands Highway
Usage
The trunk road from the port of Lae up the Markham Valley through Kainantu, Goroka, Kundiawa and Mount Hagen on to Mendi and Tari. It is the Highlands' only overland link and is served by PMVs. Road conditions vary a lot by section, so check current information before setting out
Lae Port
Usage
PNG's largest cargo port. Goods for the Highlands are landed here and trucked up the Highlands Highway, and coastal passenger-cargo ships also sail from here
Buka Passage
Usage
The narrow channel separating Buka Island from Bougainville Island. There is no bridge; the crossing is by small boat, and it is the only way through to the main island
Kokoda Track
Usage
A roughly 96 km mountain trail across the Owen Stanley Range, linking Owers' Corner in Central Province with Kokoda in Oro Province. A major WWII battleground; walking it end to end usually takes 8-10 days and requires a Kokoda Track Authority trekking permit plus guides and porters
Kokoda
Usage
Village in Oro Province at the northern end of the Kokoda Track. It has a small airstrip and is also reachable by road from Popondetta
Owers' Corner
Usage
The southern trailhead of the Kokoda Track, in Central Province. It is reached by road from Port Moresby via the Sogeri plateau
Varirata National Park
Usage
PNG's first national park, on the Sogeri plateau east of Port Moresby. A day trip from the city, with walking tracks, a lookout over the coast and well-known birdwatching
Bomana War Cemetery
Usage
Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery on the Sogeri road outside Port Moresby. It is the largest war cemetery in PNG and holds the dead of the Kokoda campaign
National Parliament House
Usage
PNG's parliament building in the Waigani district of Port Moresby, known for a façade modelled on a Sepik spirit house (haus tambaran). Whether you can go inside depends on the sitting schedule that day
Port Moresby Nature Park
Usage
Wildlife and botanic park next to the university in Waigani, formerly the National Capital Botanical Gardens. It has birds of paradise, cassowaries and orchids, and is a short trip from the city centre
Mount Wilhelm
Usage
PNG's highest peak at 4,509 m, in Simbu Province. The trailhead is Keglsugl, reached by road up from Kundiawa. Temperatures near the summit drop below freezing
Mount Giluwe
Usage
PNG's second-highest mountain at 4,368 m, an ancient shield volcano in Southern Highlands Province and the highest volcano in Oceania
Owen Stanley Range
Usage
The mountain range running through southeastern mainland PNG. It separates Port Moresby from the Oro Province side, and the Kokoda Track crosses it
Tavurvur
Usage
Active volcano on the rim of the Rabaul caldera. Its 1994 eruption buried the town in ash, and it erupted again in 2014. Whether you can approach depends on the current alert level, so check locally
Sepik River
Usage
A river of over 1,000 km flowing through northern PNG; Tok Pisin says "Sepik Riba". Known for its carving and spirit houses. Most villages along it have no road and are reachable only by river boat, usually starting from Wewak and Angoram
Lake Kutubu
Usage
PNG's second-largest lake, in Southern Highlands Province. A Ramsar wetland with many fish found nowhere else; travel between the lakeside villages is mostly by boat
Tufi
Usage
An area of deep inlets at Cape Nelson in Oro Province, where drowned volcanic valleys form fjord-like arms of sea. There is no road in; access is only by light aircraft or boat. Known for diving
Milne Bay
Usage
The large bay at the southeastern tip of mainland PNG, with the town of Alotau on its north shore. A WWII battlefield, and a wreck-diving area
Trobriand Islands
Usage
Coral islands north of the Milne Bay mainland. The main island is Kiriwina, whose airstrip is at Losuia. They are reachable only by air or boat, and are known for their yam ceremonies and distinctive culture
New Britain
Usage
PNG's largest island; Tok Pisin says "Niu Briten". It is divided into East New Britain (Kokopo, Rabaul) and West New Britain (Kimbe) and has a chain of active volcanoes. From the mainland it is reachable only by air or sea
New Ireland
Usage
The long, narrow island northeast of New Britain; Tok Pisin says "Niu Ailan". Kavieng sits at its northern tip and the Boluminski Highway runs down the east coast. Reachable only by air or sea
Bougainville Island
Usage
A large island geographically part of the Solomons chain but administratively the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in PNG. Flights arrive mainly at Buka, and reaching the main island means a boat across Buka Passage. Check current local advice before travelling
Manus Island
Usage
The main island of the Admiralty Islands and one of PNG's northernmost inhabited areas. Its town is Lorengau, and it is reachable only by air or sea
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