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.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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.
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. 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.
1 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) 2 Papua New Guinea National Museum & Art Gallery, Independence Drive, Waigani (Next to the National Parliament House), ☏ +675 325 2405, nationalmuseum@museumpng.gov.pg. M-Sa 9AM-3PM, Su 1-3PM.
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. 1 Hiking (Atama Beach, Taurama Road.), Atama Beach, Pari. Open 24 hours. Free. (updated Aug 2023) Hiri Moale Festival. This takes place on the weekend of PNG's Independence Day in mid-September.
1 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. 2 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) 3 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) 4 Crowne Plaza.
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.
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.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Aug, Port Moresby typically sees ~29°C daytime highs and 10 rainy days.
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