Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is situated a short distance from the northern tip of Queensland. It is located entirely within the tropics and much of the country is covered by tropical rainforests, towering mountain peaks and wild serpentine rivers. There is, however, another side to this spectacular country - an undersea world of great beauty and adventure.

Papua New Guinea offers world class diving with a staggering choice of unspoiled dive sites. This unique destination includes vibrant coral reefs, World War II ship and aircraft wrecks, sunken live volcanoes and a massive array of marine life in crystal clear waters. Wherever you dive in Papua New Guinea, there is something new to see. Many of the bays and islands have never been dived before so each journey can become a personal journey of discovery.

The main international gateway to this area is Port Moresby with direct services available with Air Niugini from Brisbane, Cairns, and Sydney. Visitors from North America and Europe should fly to Cairns as this is the closest point to Papua New Guinea.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

CLIMATE: The country is equatorial and has a year round warm, humid climate with average temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius (85F). The driest season is from May through December.

CURRENCY: The Kina is the unit of currency. One Australian Dollar is worth approximately 2.30 Kina and one US Dollar is worth approximately 2.70 Kina.

DRESS: As the climate is tropical, light cotton casual clothing is recommended. Women should dress moderately in public places. Please note that some bars and restaurants will not allow thongs, sneakers or sandshoes.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: All visitors require a visa. In Australia visas are available from their consular offices in Canberra or Brisbane. Visas can also be obtained on arrival. The current visa fee is $35 AUD.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Refer to your doctor for the latest health and inoculations required for this destination.

LANGUAGE: English and Pidgin are the official languages. However, there are hundreds of dialects spoken in the provinces.

SHOPPING: For collectors of arts and artifacts, Papua New Guinea offers a wealth of opportunities. Bilums (decorative string bags), masks, wooden bowls, baskets, trays, drums, storey boards, spirit boards and carvings are very popular. Items made prior to 1960 are restricted exports and need National Museum clearance.

TIME ZONE: Papua New Guinea is 10 hours ahead of GMT.

TIPPING: Tipping is not expected or encouraged.