Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea's capital and main port of entry, where the National Museum, Parliament House and the Nature Park showcase Melanesian culture; outside the city lie the start of the WWII Kokoda Track and Varirata National Park.

Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea, on the southeast coast of the island of New Guinea beside the Coral Sea. With about 400,000 residents, it is the main gateway for international flights into PNG. The city spreads across bays and hills: the old center, known as 'Town', has the port, Ela Beach and Paga Hill; Waigani is the government district, home to Parliament House and the National Museum; and the Nature Park sits on the University of Papua New Guinea campus in the north. About 40–50 km northeast of the city are the Sogeri Plateau, Varirata National Park and Owers' Corner, the start of the legendary WWII Kokoda Track, with the Bomana War Cemetery along the way; to the southeast, Bootless Bay is home to the Loloata Island resort, good for diving. The climate is hot: May–October is the dry season and the best time for travel and trekking the Kokoda Track, while November–April is the rainy season, muggy with frequent showers. The Hiri Moale Festival in September features traditional canoes and dancing. Getting there: Jacksons International Airport is about 8 km from the city center, with flights to Brisbane, Cairns, Singapore, Manila and elsewhere, and domestic routes to every province. There is no safe, reliable public transport, so visitors should arrange transfers through their hotel or hire a car with driver, and avoid walking and going out at night. Crime is a serious concern: keep valuables out of sight and don't go out alone. Allow 2–3 days; the city is often a stopover en route to the Highlands, the Sepik River or the islands.

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