Passport & Visa Information
All visas must be applied for online prior to entering PNG. There is no visa arrival facility.
All visas must be applied for online prior to entering PNG. There is no visa arrival facility.
Fees
There is a fee. US$75. This cost does change. A tourist visa is for 90 days.
Please contact us prior to applying for your visa. You will need off us an itinerary and a sponsorship letter.
Passports must be valid for 6 months from the date of intended travel.
Australians travelling to Papua New Guinea are advised to register on line Smarttraveller.gov.au
​Accommodation Address in Port Moresby for PNG Trekking Adventures clients.
The Hilton Hotel
Wards Road
Port Moresby
Welcome
Airport
Jackson's International Airport is the gateway of Papua New Guinea, situated about 8km away from the main town center of Port Moresby. Mt Hagen Provincial Airport has been declared an International Port of entry because of the mining activities around the Highland provinces.
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
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 once through customs this is preferable as banks and ATM's are too hard to access when you are only over nighting in Moresby. 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.
Climate
Warm to hot and humid throughout the year. There is a rainy season, which varies from province to province, however, in general, it's driest from May to December. The air is clean; watch out for sunburn, particularly in the Highlands, even on overcast days. Up in the Highlands it is a lot cooler and wetter.
Dress
Informal and casual with shorts and open neck shirts worn throughout the year along with traditional items and apparel: ramis. sulus, laplaps and kolos. Thongs, sneakers and sand shoes are not allowed in some bars and restaurants. In the Highlands, sturdy walking shoes are recommended, as is a sweater or jacket for cool evenings. Female dress should always be modest.
Tipping
Visitors to the country are guests and hospitality is an honor in our Melanesian culture. Tips are neither expected nor encouraged.
Transportation
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.
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 required 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. Advised to drink bottled water to be on the safe side. In rural areas it is advisable to boil water at all times or use purification tablets. Please go to your Dr and request recommended inoculations prior to visiting PNG.
Medical Services/Requirements
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. New Year's Day - 1st January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Queens Birthday - 13th June, Remembrance 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.
Time Zone
PNG is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Media
Papua New Guinea has two daily English Language newspapers - the Post Courier and the National Newspaper.
Travel/Medical Insurance
Do not come to Papua New Guinea without insurance, this is very important.
Trekkers:
Final Gear Check
Use our equipment list to check off everything that you need. Maybe get someone to check it for you as well. For Kokoda trekkers only we will check your gear when you get to Port Moresby.
You will need casual clothes and footwear for in Moresby. Make sure you bring another lockable bag, can be a soft bag so you can leave your "City/Travel Clothes" and valuables in it if this is required for any of our expeditions.
Make sure when you are booking in at the airport that your back pack is strapped up or is in a tote bag. Airlines tend to be tough on anything that is hanging lose. You do not want the straps of your back pack torn off.
Trekking poles need to be in your pack.
Declare all food coming into PNG.
Flight time to Port Moresby from Brisbane is 3 hours and from Cairns 1 1/2 hours.
If unfamiliar with Brisbane Airport please go onto: http://bne.com.au/terminal-guide/terminal-maps
Please wear your boots on the plane. If trekkers are unfortunate enough to have their luggage go missing which happens occasionally we can pretty much deck out a trekker in gear except for their boots. This is not an ideal situation for any trekker to be in.
Flight Home
After the trek has finished, the afternoon before you connect with your international flight home please:
Airport Transfer: Please book your airport transfer with the Hotel the day before you are flying out. Follow up before you go to bed that evening. Hotels are all within 10-15 minutes drive from the International/Domestic terminals.
PNG International Terminal: Like any other international terminal throughout the world your luggage will be scanned. The Boarding Lounge at Jacksons Airport has cafeteria's, bars, duty free shopping. There is also a Qantas Club Lounge if a member.
On arrival in Australia: It is a given that customs will most likely want to inspect your boots and poles for dirt. Please make sure you clean them the day before traveling. You will be charged a fee if Australian Customs have to clean any of your gear.
Any Artifacts that you may have purchased in PNG will have to be declared.
Try to avoid having any Kina to change back to Australian dollars. The exchange rate will certainly not be in your favour.