- Duration: 1 Day (approx.)
- Product code: PNG3
Port Moresby Day Tour
The bustling city of Port Moresby is the largest city of Papua New Guinea and home to almost 400,000 people of all races and walks of life, majority being the local people., located on the South Western Coast of the Gulf of Papua, it is 2 degrees south of the equator, this makes the sun set about the same time every night at 6:00pm – 6:30pm. The local dialect in Port Moresby and across PNG is “pisin” or pidgin in English, however most people speak English and it is easy to converse and find your way around.
Your Port Moresby city tour can start right off your flight or layover, but if you have to be in town, at 9:30am start time is good to avoid traffic and is estimated to end around 14:00 - 15:00pm
Itinerary:
Today, your tour will depart from your accommodation in Port Moresby or from the hotel. We will take you on a tour of our home Port Moresby, with our first stop at the Koki fish market. From here, we take the Ela beach road and enjoy the sea and the beach as we take the ring road around the township of Port Moresby, We drive up to the top of Daugo and enjoy a panoramic view of Fisherman Islands and the town areas before heading back down onto Airvos road, on the drive we enjoy another panoramic view of Fairfax harbor towards Tatana and Hanuabada village on slits.
We continue on to our next stop at the Port Moresby Nature Park, a 2km of walkways thread under and through the canopy of a small jungle forest setup with a well maintain garden. A variety of wildlife is kept here, and is home to crocodiles, Cassowaries, Cuscus, New Guinea Pigeon, Tree Kangaroo’s, fruit bats, and our National Bird of Paradise
Our final stop is at the National Museum and Art gallery for the best overview of PNGs rich indigenous culture, where on display is a selection of of local artifacts including masks, shields, totems, war relics and some contemporary art. We find located on the grounds of the National Museum a Koiari tree house. On Saturday’s we have the chance to visit the local handicraft markets.
Our tour ends from here and we return to your hotel, Our guides are trained, and are security conscious, we use clean air conditioned reliable transport and a patient, friendly driver who with the guide ensure your tour of Port Moresby a memorable one.
Included:
- Day Tour Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Experienced English-speaking Guide
- Entry Fees where required
- Water
Excluded:
- Visas
- Tips
- Meals and drinks
- Travel/medical/cancellation insurance
- Day 1: I am warmly greeted by David Kima, who recounts the story and conservation movement of Hogave. We arrive in the middle of the local village mourning of a recently deceased member, a very rare and local experience, totally unplanned. After 3 hours of very rocky road driving, I arrive at the Hogave Conservation Centre welcomed by two villagers who performed a traditional wind instrument that very few locals can play, and incredibly, I become only the second (or third) tourist ever to stay here.
- Day 2: I trek through a truly "virgin" rain forest, one of very few remaining in the world (Congo, Amazon, and PNG), guided by three locals bushwhacking the way with machetes, climb a very wild and steep mountain side equivalent of 200 floors (according to my iPhone) to become the first tourist to reach the top of Mt. Michael. (The way down in the pouring rain was our least favorite moment.) As someone who has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, I can truthfully say this was a much more challenging level of difficulty - There the most I've climbed in one day was 134 floors, 3-4 hours max, with a different day dedicated to a descent, but in Michael, it was 200 floor, up and down in one day, for 10-12 hours, with far steeper and unpaved paths without camps. This hike/trek is only for the fittest of the fit!
- Day 3: I become the first tourist to visit and stay overnight at Hogave Village, an isolated and remote hour-and-a-half walk from HCC, and join the villagers in peeling potatoes and taro, preparing, and eating mumu. I stay overnight with David (another David) and his family.
- Day 4: I join the villagers gathered to enjoy a traditional hunting performance
- Day 5: I get cellular reception for the first time since I arrive in PNG and get to upload and share my first batch of photos with my friends. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837672754956.1073741876.3501655&type=3
- Day 1: I ride a local bus (!) with my guide Pauline Puipui to Ratavul where I visit to stay with her family. I visit the local beach, listen to the stories of Pauline's parents, and join them for dinner which is mumu with the biggest giant claims I've ever seen in my life! I stay overnight at an authentic hut and bed made of woven coconut leaves.
- Day 2: I try weaving coconut leaves, scraping coconuts, etc. in preparing mumu that we enjoy with the family and neighbors, then string together local currency of shells. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.836154502546.1073741875.3501655&type=3
- Day 3: I am amazed by the first day of Mask Festival with the early morning Kinavai and nighttime Baining Fire Dance. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837870833006.1073741880.3501655&type=3 In between during the day, I snorkel and sail with dolphins on the way to/from Duke of York Islands where I explore and picnic at the beach. https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.836148634306.1073741874.3501655&type=3
- Days 4-5: More amazing moments at the Festival
- Day 6: I climb to the top Mt Tavurvur volcano and explore Rabaul, including the Japanese bunker and barge tunnels, and Rabaul Museum/Rabaul Hotel. What a history! https://www.facebook.com/grace.forker.7/media_set?set=a.837875388876.1073741881.3501655&type=3
-Grace Forker, Comprehensive Multi-Destination PNG Expedition
