Papua New Guinea (PNG) is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and is 160   kilometers north of Australia. PNG comprises both the mainland and some 600 offshore islands. It   has a total land area of 470,000 square kilometers.

  PNG has a moderate tropical climate with high levels of seasonal rainfall. In the highlands,   temperatures can range from a low of   four degrees Celsius to a high of 32 degrees Celsius. The   lowland, coastal and island areas have an average daily temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.   There are two seasons in PNG. It’s either wet or dry all throughout the country at different times   of the year. PNG does not experience devastating cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes. The wet   season is normally from November to March although different areas will see a variation.

PNG's population is about four million people. Around 15 percent of the population live in the   ten major urban areas. The major city   and capital of the country is Port Moresby with a population of just over 220,000. Other important towns and cities include Lae, (population around 90,000), Madang (30,000), Mt Hagen (45,000), Wewak (23,000) and Goroka (25,000)

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 traveling to the country.

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 International Port of entry because of the mining activities in Highlands 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 liters 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.

  Security
  PNG has its share of security issues. This is a third world country, and therefore crime is a   problem. The best advice to everyone everywhere is to apply commonsense in everything that   you do and do not render yourself into a vulnerable situation that could cause your distress. Take   precautions at all times and always ask your guide for advice. On the whole PNG can be a safe   place, but only if you exercise general commonsense precaution. Don't wonder around cities at   night; don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself. And always know where you are going. If you   are unsure there are plenty of friendly people to assist. PNG has plenty of exciting things to see   and do. Don’t miss out on them by locking yourself in a room. Experience them, but do it   sensibly.

  Currency
  PNG Kina. The unit of currency is the Kina, pronounced "kee-nah", and sub-units of 100 are called Toea, pronounced "toy-ya". Daily exchange rates are listed in banks, newspapers and hotels. Papua New Guinea's unit of currency is the Kina which is divided into 100 toea. 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 are accepted in leading hotels and shops.

There are K50, K20, K10, K5 and K2 notes and a K1 coin. Traveler's’s cheques and most major international credit cards are accepted   in major hotels and restaurants.

Geography
Papua New Guinea lies entirely within the tropics, just south of the Equator and 160km to the north of Australia. With a total land mass of about 473.189sq.km, the country encompasses the eastern part of New Guinea Island - the second largest island in the world, plus some 600 other islands, atolls and coral reefs. A central core of mountains, the Owen Stanley Range, runs east to west rising steeply from the coastal plains. From its highest peaks, 4500 meter high Mt Wilhelm and from downs of other peaks, great rivers like the Sepik and Fly River begin their journey to the sea. Below the mountain chain, fertile coastal plains, flooded delta regions and mangrove swamps exist alongside broad sandy beaches, colorful sheltered bays and dense rainforest.

  Language
  There are more than 800 distinct languages. Melanesian Pidgin and Hiri Motu are the two most   widely used, but English is the official language in education, businesses and government circles.   Most guides will speak English apart from Motu and one other local language. Always ask if you do   no understand what’s being said.

  Airlines
  International - Air Niugini and Qantas.
  Domestic - Air Niugini, Airlink, Airlines of PNG, Islands Nationair, Trans Niugini Airways, MAF,   Regional Air.

Business Hours
Commercial Firms: Monday to Friday - 8.00am - 4:30 or 5.00pm. Saturday 8.00 am - 12.00   noon.

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 sandshoes 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.

Electrical Voltage
Electrical current on the national grid is 240 volts. AG 50 hzs. Some hotels provide 110 volt outlets in guest rooms for shavers and   hair dryers. Power supply is reasonably reliable. Most major cities have backup power supplies in case of black-outs.

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. Malaria medications are strongly recommended. Also, it is advisable to keep your tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis, and polio inoculations current. Diarrhea and dysentery are not severe in PNG as is the case in Asian countries. 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.

You are strongly advised to purchase travelers Insurance in your home country to cover for   unexpected trip cancellation and delays, loss and damage to baggage, and for illness, accident and medical evacuation. Government and church-run aid posts are not found along the trek and trekkers are recommended to pack their own basic first aid medical kit. In case of emergencies, HF radio telephones are situated along some villages along the trail for emergencies.

Food/Restaurants
You won't go hungry in Papua New Guinea. Western cuisine is available in hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, lodges and village resorts. Port Moresby has many Asian and European restaurants. For something different try a traditional 'mumu' of roast pork, sweet potatoes, rice and greens.

Shopping
From modern department complexes to quaint little stores there are plenty of places to spend your money. In artifact shops you may try your hand at bargaining but be gentle! Remember that Saturday is a half-day for most shops and virtually every shop is closed on Sunday.

  Public Holidays
  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.

  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. A digital mobile phone network is in operation, however is not   compatible with Global Roaming network phones. Internet/email capability is available at most   major hotels.

Time Zone
PNG is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Tipping
Visitors to the country are guest 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.

Water Supply
All towns have reticulated water, and all remote areas offer good drinking water.

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