Port Moresby

Port Moresby (Tok Pisin: Pot Mosbi) is the capital of Papua New Guinea. It is the gateway to PNG, and almost all visitors to the country pass through the city. While it has a daunting reputation due to high crime rates and is considered one of the least livable cities anywhere, almost all of the locals are welcoming and there are some interesting sights.

Understand

Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. The city is on the shores of the Gulf of Papua. Its population is around 365,000 (2011) and growing quickly. The indigenous people of the area are the Motu-Koitabu. Moresby, as it is commonly known, got its name from Captain John Moresby who arrived in 1873 as the first European visitor.

The city is quite spread out. The original colonial settlement was by the sea and this is still the port area, as well as the main business and banking district. On the hills above are upmarket residences. Closer to the airport, separated from the original town by hills, is Waigani, a 1970s development built to provide facilities for the PNG Government, which were needed for independence in 1975. Nearby are the housing areas of Boroko and Gordons, which also contain most of the large shops.

Get in

Port Moresby is the main point of entry into Papua New Guinea for air-traffic and most of the boat-traffic.

By plane
  • 🌍 Jacksons International Airport (POM  IATA also known as Port Moresby Airport) (8 km (5.0 mi) outside Port Moresby). Jacksons International Airport is PNG's main international airport, and virtually all visitors to PNG will pass through it. Its IATA code, POM, is often used as an abbreviation for the city as a whole. The airport has two terminals: one domestic and one international, but for an international airport, it is quite small, with only four gates in the international terminal. The domestic terminal has a few, but not many services, and it can get hot in there because there is no air conditioning. The international terminal is a lot nicer and has more modern services that the domestic terminal does not have, including air conditioning. There are shops selling PNG items and trinkets, a small cafe, a restaurant, the Air Niugini and Qantas lounge, the World War II history hall, a duty free shop, and some other services. (updated Mar 2017)
  • Air Niugini flies from Cairns, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia; Fiji, Honiara, Palau, Solomon Islands; Manila, Philippines; Tokyo (Narita), Japan; Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong
  • Citilink flies from Denpasar
  • Philippine Airlines flies from Manila
  • PNG Air flies from Cairns
  • Qantas flies from Brisbane, Australia
  • Solomon Airlines flies from Honiara

Airfares from Australia can be quite cheap. From other countries fares are fairly expensive and it may be cheaper to fly to Brisbane or Cairns and fly to Port Moresby from there.

The airport is modern, and immigration and customs are relatively smooth (as long as you have the correct visa), especially as the staff are extremely friendly; however, delays are common when multiple flights arrive at once. There is an ATM next to the baggage carousel and another one in the main hall, along with a money changer, phone shops, and a café. If you are transferring to a domestic flight you might have to rush as you have to exit the international terminal, turn right and walk 300 m to the domestic terminal. If you are flying Air Niugini domestically, you can check in at their transfer desk next to the other check-in desks in the international terminal, then walk over to the domestic terminal.

All major hotels will provide airport transfers - make sure they know your arrival time and whether you will be at the international or domestic terminal. In addition, a bus connects the airport with downtown Port Moresby, taking 30 minutes. Taxis are outside the terminals and can transport you to downtown Port Moresby in around 20 minutes and 80 PGK.

Get around

For a tourist, the attractions in Moresby can be spread out. There is little 'attraction' in the CBD and walking around will not get you very far. It is nice to walk along Ela Beach and around market areas but otherwise you will be reliant on motorised transport. There is the odd push-bike around the place, though finding one for hire may be a challenge.

By PMV

The locals rely on mini-buses (known as Public Motor Vehicles) that service all parts of the city. Whilst cheap, some drivers do not mind over-loading their vans. All PMVs have their route number and destination printed on - it is easy to ask locals where the buses go, they'll be happy to help and warn you.

By car

Car rental agencies are available close to Jacksons International airport but driving in Port Moresby might not be what most people are used to. In some areas of POM the locals throw stones at the car, usually just for amusement but in some cases they manage to crack your windshield. There are cases of people standing in the middle of a stretch of road they have mended and demanding compensation from people driving by, and as soon as you get outside of the city the roads deteriorate to muddy trails that only a 4x4 with an experienced driver should attempt. If you want to see the sights near Moresby such as Crystal Rapids near Sogeri or the start of the Kokoda, a 4x4 is highly recommended.

By taxi

There are numerous taxis (some 'teksis' too) around Moresby and calling one from your hotel will bring one promptly. You can try your luck hailing one but if you want to feel safe arrange a friend or your hotel to call a reliable driver - there is a genuine risk of robbery that can be avoided if the hotel knows exactly who you went with. When you get a good driver, take their phone number down for future trips. Taxis often have meters but they are rarely used, so agree on a price as you get in. Short trips might cost K10-20, trips from Waigani to Ela Beach might be K40-50 and to the airport anything from K50-100. Taxis might be willing to wait for you at shops and can agree on an hourly rate.

Through your hotel

The easiest and safest way to get around is by organising transport through your hotel. Most will offer transport to the main attractions in town, such as the Port Moresby Nature Park or Papua New Guinea National Museum & Art Gallery. Get the phone number of the driver and call them once you've finished to be picked up.

See
  • 🌍 Port Moresby Nature Park (formerly National Capital Botanical Gardens). A must for the visitor. Has some amazing examples of PNG wildlife such as birds of paradise, a couple of casowaris, and several other native birds. If you are lucky you might catch a wedding while you are there as some locals like to conduct the ceremony in the gardens. On the same road is the National Orchid Garden which is also well worth a look - it is planned to encompass a zoological garden in the future. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Papua New Guinea National Museum & Art Gallery, Independence Drive, Waigani (Next to the National Parliament House), ☏ +675 325 2405, . M-Sa 9AM-3PM, Su 1-3PM. PNG's national museum has a relatively small but fascinating collection which includes wonderful sculptures, beads, traditional boats and cultural objects. The exhibits are well displayed and housed in an architecturally interesting building. Photography is not permitted inside the museum but there are newer objects outside, along with some remains from World War II in varying states of decay, including planes and tanks. Free during the week, K10 at weekends. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Bomana War Cemetery, 9 Mile (19 kilometres north of Port Moresby on the road to Nine Mile, approached from the main road by a short side road called Pilgrims Way). 9AM-4PM. A beautifully maintained cemetery, home to 3,824 Commonwealth burials from World War II. It is the resting place of many Australian soldiers from the Kokoda Trail, plus some of the Papuan Battalion in the last two rows. A nurse in the third to last row is the only woman in the cemetery. Free. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Parliament Haus is one of the most impressive buildings in Port Moresby, built in the style of a Maprik Haus Tambaran (house of spirits from East Sepik Province). Dating from 1984, it is usually open to visitors. Free. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Touaguba Hill. Perhaps not so much to see, but this is where the ambassadorial residences are located and is also where many of the well-to-do expats and locals live. There is a nice view from the top of the hill overlooking the centre of the city and the ocean. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Moitaka Wildlife Sanctuary, Sir Hubert Murray Highway. Numerous crocodiles, some very large, as well as birds and other animals. 
  • 🌍 Port Moresby Golf Club. A nice golf course located right across from the government buildings. The prices are quite acceptable for visitors. Be careful: crocodiles inhabit the water holes of the golf course. The main building has a nice restaurant where one can have lunch and have a few SP beers (South Pacific beers) after a round of golf. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Ela Beach Craft Market. Run by the Ela Murray International School and held on the last Saturday of each month, this market brings together local artifacts from all over Papua New Guinea. An easy way to get some beautiful carvings, handwoven baskets, or any of a number of other things to bring home as souvenirs. (updated Mar 2017)

Do
  • Scuba diving – A number of reefs and wrecks are within close proximity to Port Moresby and diving can be arranged through day vessels or on nearby Loloata Island (which has its own dive shop). There are a variety of sites and depths for all experience levels.
  • Swimming – A popular spot with the locals, the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre is a modern sports complex opened in 2015, home to two outdoor pools (25 m and 50 m long) and six Olympic standard volleyball and basketball courts.
  • 🌍 Hiking (Atama Beach, Taurama Road.), Atama Beach, Pari. Open 24 hours. Free. (updated Aug 2023)

Events
  • Hiri Moale Festival. This takes place on the weekend of PNG's Independence Day in mid-September. The centrepiece is a race of up to 100 traditional Lakatoi canoes, recalling the sea voyages undertaken by the Motuan people from the Port Moresby area who exchanged sago and clay pots with the people of neighbouring Gulf Province. The departure of the canoes from Port Moresby's Ela Beach is really spectacular. The festival is the city's main cultural show with traditional performances, as well as the canoes. (updated Mar 2023)

Eat

Groceries

There are basically four stores to buy groceries if you are a foreigner in Port Moresby: Andersons Foodland, now called SVS Harbour City, Stop and Shop in Hohola, and Boroko Foodworld in Boroko and Gordons. Andersons is next to the Royal Papua Yacht club and usually suffices. Otherwise there is Foodworld which is larger and located over the hill in Boroko. An even larger and newer Boroko Foodworld is further east in Gordons. Port Moresby's shopping mall is Vision City in Waigani. There is a large hypermarket called RH selling anything from household furniture to baked beans. Their supply is abundant and the quality is good and prices are competitive. Imported goods might not always be there. Often if you see something you like you have to buy a lot of it because there is no telling when the next shipment is coming. This doesn't apply to basic foodstuffs but rather to things that might not be in high demand such as herring. RH has basically closed this gap.

🌍 Vision City Mega Mall, Lot 7, 8 & 9, Section 429, 131 National Capital District, Waigani. Biggest mall in Port Moresby, with a large supermarket, range of restaurants, and many other shops and services, and a cinema. Be careful of aggressive customers. Plenty of taxis available but best to call a known driver if you have one. (updated Mar 2017)

🌍 Harbour Side, Stanley Esplanade. Collection of businesses, restaurants and a supermarket (updated Mar 2017)

🌍 Waterfront Shopping Mall, Champion Parade. Small but clean and upmarket shopping centre with an excellent Foodworld supermarket. (updated Mar 2017)

Restaurants
  • 🌍 Asia Aromas (Inside the Steamships Plaza on Champion Parade in the downtown area), ☏ +675 321 4780. Chinese Restaurant serving great food. Is popular with the local expatriate community. 
  • 🌍 Daikoku (Located inside the Andersons Foodland area). It offers great Japanese cuisine cooked directly at your table (teppanyaki). Don't forget to try the "Puk Puk" which is Tok Pisin for crocodile. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Royal Papua Yacht Club. Serves good Australian cuisine with some Papua New Guinean touches. Has à la carte menu and a buffet that varies according to the day of the week. An invitation from a member might be required to enter. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Crowne Plaza. Has a wonderful Mediterranean restaurant which is probably the most expensive on the island. But if you feel like splurging this is definitely the place to go, it'll still be a good bargain. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Port Moresby Golf Club. Has a nice little lunch restaurant which serves à la carte or a buffet during lunch hours. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Seoul House (Next to 5-Mile service station). Decent Korean food. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Fu Gui (In Gordon's, down the road form RH and Brian Bell). Assortment of Asian style cuisine. Try the Nasi Lemak chicken. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 🌍 Lamana Hotel. A nice place for a quick lunch buffet with friendly staff and a happening casino at night. The food is good and the only place where you get Indian food. 25k. 
  • 🌍 Tasty Bite, Hunter St. Premiere South Indian restaurant in Port Moresby. K30-60. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Tandoor On The Harbour, Harbour Side complex. Another highly regarded Indian restaurant. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Beachside Brasserie, Ela Beach Road (in the Ela Beach Hotel). The hotel restaurant is well-appointed and has an extensive menu, especially grills and seafood. Also great for breakfast. K30-100. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Buffalo Burgers, Waigani Road (in the Mity Meat Haus). Top burger place in town. K20. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Hosi Ramen, Vision City Mega Mall. First ramen joint in PNG K20-30. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Poolside at Airways. Rooftop complex in the upmarket Airways Hotel. Buffets, a la carte, and sandwiches from KC Deli, all overlooking the airport. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Jacksons Bar and Restaurant, Gateway Hotel. A complex in the Gateway Hotel, overlooking the airport. Their best thing is crispy-base pizzas. (updated Mar 2017)

Drink

The drink of choice in Port Moresby as in the rest of Papua New Guinea is South Pacific lager: "SP beer". However, once that cultural experience is done, you will probably prefer to move on to the more refined 'SP Export' lager, or 'Niugini Ice' beer. To buy alcohol you have to go to one of the characteristic yellow and green coloured shops that are usually integrated into the supermarkets. You don't want to go to the ones that aren't. They have a relatively limited selection of wines, mostly Australian or New Zealand brands. The prices are higher than you would expect because of the taxation of alcohol. The locals tend to get quite rowdy when they drink (as everywhere else) so it's best to avoid anyone that seems to be under the influence. Typically most expats drink at hotel bars or sports club bars, which have a more relaxed atmosphere.

  • 🌍 Duffy Cafe, Harbour Side complex. PNG's premiere cafe, making great use of the local beans and also serving good food. Main location is in Harbour Side but there are other branches, including in the international terminal departure lounge. (updated Mar 2017)

Sleep

Hotels are generally quite expensive in Port Moresby, and the quality of accommodation can be disappointing. Research hotel options before you book to check current standards and arrangements for airport transfers. Due to the security situation it's likely that you won't leave your hotel after dark, so choose one with good dining and recreation options.

  • 🌍 Airways Hotel, Jacksons Parade (Located close to the airport), ☏ +675 324 5200, fax: +675 324 5300, . Has both hotel rooms and apartments for long-stay guests. Has a nice pool with a view down the hill to the airport, and a great breakfast buffet. PNG's only delicatessen and an Indonesian spa are also located on the premises. K550-K800. 
  • 🌍 The Crowne Plaza (In the centre of the business district of Port Moresby and close to Tugubaga Hill.), ☏ +675 309 3000, fax: +675 309 3333. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. Amenities include a nice pool, an international class restaurant, a fitness centre, and a business lounge 
  • 🌍 Gateway Hotel, Jackson Parade (close to the airport). Somewhat cheaper airport alternative to the Airways Hotel. PGK500+. (updated Dec 2015)
  • 🌍 Grand Papua Hotel, Mary Street, Port Moresby 121 National Capital District (In the centre of Port Moresby), ☏ +675 304 0000, fax: +675 304 1000. A hotel that describes itself as the first "deluxe hotel" to open in Port Moresby. Rooms are expensive but modern and clean. Contains a Spa & Beauty Salon as well as a gymnasium and sauna. 
  • 🌍 Holiday Inn (Waigani Road & Wards Road), ☏ +675 303 2000, fax: +675 325 0837, . Located a bit off from the centre this hotel has very nice rooms, some sports facilities, and a great pizza restaurant (with live music at times). 
  • 🌍 Holiday Inn Express, Waigani Rd & Wards Rd (next to Holiday Inn). Check-in: 2pm, check-out: 11am. A counterpart to the Holiday Inn: cheaper but maybe better due to newer rooms. Free breakfast. K520. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Ela Beach Hotel, Ela Beach Road. Renovated rooms overlook Ela Beach - perhaps the best of the Coral Sea chain's hotels. K550+. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 The Stanley Hotel & Suites, Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby, ☏ +675 3028888, . This large upmarket hotel is directly connected to the Vision City Mall (updated Jan 2019)
  • 🌍 Loloata Island Resort, Portion 1069, Bootless Bay, ☏ +675 7108 8000, fax: +675 325 8933, . Little lorries to get you to and from the island, rooms over the water, rattan-type chairs around the pool. Doubles: $225. 
  • 🌍 Hilton Port Moresby, Wards Road, ☏ +67579018000. Check-in: 2pm, check-out: 11am. $$. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 🌍 The Stanley Hotel & Suites, Sir John Guise Drive, ☏ +6752077888. Check-in: 2pm, check-out: 11am. $$$$. (updated Aug 2023)

Stay safe

Port Moresby is well known for its crime. Carjackings, muggings and worse are common. Women are particularly at risk. Foreigners are sometimes specifically targeted. As such, it has been rated as one of the least livable cities in the world.

There is a great deal of concern about the level of crime and civil disorder and about the ability and willingness of the police to cope. Police officers have been found to be complicit in major crime. Police brutality against minor offenders, complainants and witnesses has been the subject of criticism from the international group Human Rights Watch.

It is possible to minimise the chances of becoming a victim of crime by being aware of your surroundings, avoiding places where large groups are gathered and avoiding places where offences are prevalent. The Waigani area, particularly the area around the traffic lights and the Port Moresby Golf Club, has experienced numerous carjackings. The Morata district is well known by locals for its riots during the weekends. It's best to not walk between locations in Port Moresby, or travel at night.

Still, the local people are mainly friendly and peaceful. The main risks are from idle young people, mostly having fun and struggling for money. But traditionally, a wrong or bad or negative behaviour often has the other side of the mirror, which is known as "pay back", also called in some cases compensation, but always wild and violent.

It is always wise to seek the advice of a person familiar with Port Moresby before venturing into unknown areas.

Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) are still common throughout all of Papua New Guinea. However, you are extremely unlikely to run into one.

Cope

Embassies & consulates

A listing of the embassies and consulates in Port Moresby is available on embassypages.com. These include:

Go next

With relatively few attractions, Moresby is usually just a stopping off point for tourists heading to other parts of PNG. The whole country could be listed under Go next. For major locations see Papua New Guinea. Possible day trips from Port Moresby include:

  • Sogeri Plateau. 50 km from Port Moresby and, at 800m, an escape from the heat. Sogeri marks the end of the Kokoda Trail, which was the route through the jungle taken by Japanese soldiers in 1942 in an attempt to capture Port Moresby. You may encounter some attacks by young people hiding in the park. The main opportunity is to visit this very pleasant place by groups of at least 20 people.
  • Yule Island. A small island just off the coast of Central Province, a two-hour drive west of Port Moresby. This was one of the first areas of PNG to have European contact. Catholic missionaries settled in 1885. They were joined by Filipino catechists and, as a result, the people of the area often have distinct Filipino features. It is a popular spot for a relaxing getaway and for good seafood.
  • The Kokoda Track. Walked by over 4,000 people a year, you'll be able to recognise them on the flight to Port Moresby by their wearing of hiking boots on the plane. The 96-km track is usually walked in guided groups over 6-12 days, largely following the paths used by Japanese and Australian troops who fought here in 1942. Along the way are numerous small villages, providing one of the best ways to see traditional Papua New Guinea life in a safe environment. The track starts and ends at Owen's Corner, an hour by bus from Port Moresby, and finishes and starts at Kokoda on the other side of the Owen Stanley Ranges, a 45-minute flight from Port Moresby. The only way to travel between the two is by foot, under and down endless muddy hillsides.
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