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Getting
There
Papua New Guinea has one international airport in Port
Moresby, Jacksons International Airport. Jacksons International
Airport provides air connections from all of the world's
major cities, with direct flights from Australia, the
Solomon Islands, Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Cairns and Brisbane are accessed by both Air Niugini and
Airlines PNG, while Sydney, Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong,
Honiara and Nadi have direct flight by Air Niugini only.
In
Port Moresby you can easily connect onto other destination
within Papua New Guinea.
 Air
Services
Air
Niugini is the National Airline of Papua New Guinea
and operates a modern fleet of aircraft consisting of
Boeing 767 & 757 jets serving Brisbane, Sydney, Singapore,
Manila, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur; the Fokker
100 jets & Dash 8 aircraft mainly serving their domestic
network with the exception being Cairns, Honiara and Nadi
served by the Fokker 100.
Air
Niugini have offices in PNG, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney,
Singapore, Manila, Tokyo and GSA representation in Honiara,
Nadi & Suva, Auckland, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, London,
Milan & Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong
Kong & Seoul.
Airlines
PNG is one of this country's two major International
and Domestic airline servicing more than 120 aerodromes,
often in remote locations without any alternative means
of transport, with over 400 scheduled and charter flights
per week.
 Pacific
Blue, the international airline of Virgin Blue, offer
direct services to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from
Brisbane with connecting services from across Australia.
You can arrive to the idyllic island location with 4 direct
flights per week.
Entry Requirements
A 60-day Tourist Visa is available on arrival in Port
Moresby at a fee of K100.00. To obtain a visa before you
enter the country costs K75.00. You will need travel documents,
sufficient funds for your stay in the country and airline
ticket with confirmed outbound flights before expiry date
of your Visa. As some restrictions apply to several Asian,
Eastern European and African countries; please check with
the nearest Papua New Guinea Mission or the nearest Australian
mission, which is allocated in each country for visa requirements
before travelling to the country.
Customs
& Quarantine
Adults over 18 have a general allowance of new goods to
the value of K250 and are allowed duty free:
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco
- 2 litres of alcohol.
- A reasonable amount of perfume.
Drugs,
pornographic literature or video tapes, firearms and weapons
are prohibited. Food items, seeds, spices, live or dry
plants, animals, animal products and biological specimens
such as cultures and blood need special import approval.
For
more information on Customs Procedures and Services visit
the PNG Customs website www.customs.gov.pg
Getting Around
Transportation is mostly by air across PNG. A good network
of roads connects the Northern zone and the Highlands
region. Hire and rental cars, local boats and ferries,
taxis in larger towns, plus local buses. There is no road
link between the northern zone and the capital, Port Moresby
because of the rugged nature of the terrain.
Visitor
Information
Currency
Papua New Guinea's unit of currency is the Kina which
is divided into 100 toea. There are K100, K50, K20, K10,
K5 and K2 notes and a K1 coin. Daily exchange rates are
listed in banks, newspapers and hotels. You can exchange
your money at Jackson's Airport or in banks, which are
open from 9.00am to 3.00pm Monday - Thursdays and 9.00
- 4.00pm on Fridays.
Credit Cards
Hotels, restaurants, shops, rental car companies, cruise
operators and travel agents accept most major credit cards
including Amex, Diners, Master cards and Visa Cards.
Value Added Tax (Vat)
All transactions within hotels, restaurants and bars are
subject to 10% tax which is included in published prices.
Business Hours
Commercial Firms: Monday to Friday - 8.00am - 4:30 or
5.00pm. Saturday 8.00am - 12.00 noon.
Government Hours: Monday to Friday - 7.45am - 4.06pm.
Activities (besides diving of course)
While
Papua New Guinea offers incredible diving not found anywhere
else in the world, there is so much more to explore across
this ruggedly beautiful land that will add to your vacation
experience.
* Exotic and diverse cultures
* Traditional people living a subsistence lifestyle
* Incredible natural beauty including extensive rainforest
* Several areas producing high quality primitive art
* A unique and accessible fauna
Trekking
and harder adventurous activities are an excellent way
for the fit and those who are not afraid to "rough
it", to meet with the local people and experience
the way they live in their own environment. And coupled
with your dive adventures, you will have a lifetime of
memories to take home. Included here are some of the trekking
trips available and their itineraries.
Some
of the popular treks include Sea Kayaking on the North
Coast, Mount Wilhelm Trek, Simbu Trek, Tari Trek.
There
are markets in all the provincial capitals. The market
is a focal point of local life and provides a meeting
place for traders from all over the province. You’ll
find many exotic varieties of fruit and vegetables, as
well as birds, animals and handcrafts. The main markets
open for business from 7am to 5pm every day except for
Sunday. East New Britain boasts some of the most colourful
and bustling markets in the country, with a wide selection
of fruit and vegetables, and an interesting collection
of shell jewellery, wicker baskets and bamboo combs.
Most
of the nightlife is limited to the capital of Port Moresby
and the larger provincial centres. The larger hotels will
generally have a weekend disco and there will often be
a live band as well. Check the entertainment listings
of the local paper for other options, but take care when
you are visiting venues outside the hotel premises.
PNG has some of the best surfing locations in the world?
You only have to come and see PNG to experience the rough
seas and waves. Some of the best surfing locations in
PNG are located in the New Ireland Province - Kavieng
and the Sandaun Province - Vanimo.
Helpful Information
Electrical Voltage
Electrical current on the national grid is 240 volts.
The type of plug that electrical appliance use in PNG,
is TYPE I. Some hotels provide 110 volt outlets in guest
rooms for shavers and hair dryers.
Health Regulations
Certification or vaccination against yellow fever or cholera
is requiring for travelers over one year of age coming
from or through infected areas. Malaria is the only serious
health risk. Visitors are strongly advised to consult
your local doctor or tropical disease clinic to commence
anti-malarial preparations before arrival. Water quality
is within World Health Organization standards in most
towns. Bottled water is available. In rural areas it is
advisable to boil water at all times.
Medical Services
Dental, doctors and hospital services are available in
all major centers. Medical clinics and aid posts are found
in remote areas and several hospitals are privately owned.
Public Holidays
New Year's Day - 1st January, Good Friday, Easter Monday,
Queens Birthday - 13th June, Rememberance Day - 21st July,
Independence Day - 16th September, Christmas Day - 25th
December, Boxing Day - 26th December.
Religion
Local traditional beliefs and ceremonies are maintained
in remote areas; however, Christian influence is predominant.
Telecommunication
Papua New Guinea has modern satellite communications,
which have brought the world closer at the touch of a
few buttons. ISD and STD dialing are available in most
parts of the country. Telex and Facsimile services are
also readily available except in very remote areas where
high frequency radios are in use.
Time Zone
PNG is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
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Forget
technology, fax machines, telephones, or laptop computers. Many
of the best services and resorts of PNG are remote and not "hooked
up" to the rest of the world.
Remote
pristine reefs offer underwater vistas ranging from volcanic
sea mounts, drift dive passages and dramatic drop-offs draped
with vibrantly colored corals and sponges. Reefs rising up from
the deep blue to just below the surface host a wealth of exotic
marine life. Divers will be enthralled by large schools of pelagics:
Barracuda, Trevally, Dogtooth Tuna and Mackerel. Adding to the
profusion of life are Manta Rays, Turtles and Reef Sharks. Closer
inspection of the reef reveals an amazing array of smaller inhabitants
such as colourful nudibranchs and curious clown fish. In all,
a wonderland of diverse reef ecosystems.