PG, Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea's Sepik River carving its way out of the central highlands, the Kokoda Track's WWII-era 96km traverse, and the Goroka Show's tribal sing-sing display 100+ groups in painted dress.

Highlights

When to Visit

Apr-Oct

Dry season the best window for highlands trekking, Goroka Show in mid-September the country's biggest cultural display, and Mount Hagen Show in August.

Aug-Sep

Highlands cultural shows peak with Goroka and Hagen, and the Sepik mask festivals across the river villages reach their most active calendar moment.

Nov-Mar

Wet season with afternoon storms, Sepik villages reachable by river, and Rabaul's Mask Festival in mid-July aside, the rates drop across coastal lodges.

Jul

National Mask Festival in Rabaul brings duk-duk dancers from across East New Britain in one of the country's most photogenic small-scale festivals.