PAPUA NEW GUINEA

National Capital: Port Moresby
Area: 771,900km2
Population: 4.2 million

Papua New Guinea (PNG) lies south of the equator, about 150 kms north of Australia. The country consists of a mainland, which is part of the island of New Guinea (the second largest island in the world), and a collection of over 600 islands of varying sizes.

PNG has been independent since 1975. It is part of the British Commonwealth and governed by a democratically elected Parliament.

Banking, currency: The unit of currency is the Kina, divided into 100 toea. Highest Kina note is the K50. Most hotels and restaurants accept travellers’ cheques and international credit cards. Bank hours: Monday to Thursday 0900-1500. Friday 0900-1700. Money can be changed at the international terminal inside Jackson’s airport.

Climate: The climate is generally warm with a "wet" and "dry" season, the timings of which vary from one part of the country to another. The wettest months for most regions are November to March but rain falls mainly in the evenings and rarely disrupts daily activities. Temperatures around the coastal areas are reasonably stable and vary between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. The Highlands are cooler and temperatures can fall dramatically at night.

Customs: Imports: Usual restrictions apply. Check with travel agents for prohibited and special approval lists. Exports: Items made pre-1960, Bird of Paradise plumes and stone artefacts (except axes) are restricted. Special permits are issued by authorities in PNG.

Duty Free: Adults over 18: general goods up to K250; 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco; one litre of spirits; reasonable amount of perfume.

Departure Tax: From Papua New Guinea and Australia is now collected prior to departure and inclued on your Airline ticket

Dress: Informal – Women: dress should always be modest. Men – shorts, open neck shirts or ramis, sulus, laplaps throughout the year. Thongs, sneakers and sandshoes not allowed in some bars and restaurants. Sturdy walking shoes for the Highlands with sweaters or jackets for cool evenings there.

Electricity: The electric current on the National Grid is 240 volts AC 50hz, 3 prong slanted points for electrical appliances. Voltage converters to operate domestic appliances are available in most hotels.

Health: Certification against yellow fever or cholera required for travellers over one year of age coming from or through infected areas. Malaria is the only serious health risk. You should consult your doctor about anti-malarial preparations before arrival. Use insect repellent and cover your body in the evenings.

Insurance: It is strongly recommended that travel insurance is taken out at the time of booking to cover cancellation fees, medical evacuation, loss of baggage, expenses attributed to delay of services due to industrial action or severe inclement weather conditions etc. Please note that Niugini Holidays can only issue Travel Insurance on line for participants who are residents of Australia.

Language: There are over 800 distinct languages spoken, (45% of all the languages spoken in the world). The official language is English, with Pidgin and Police Motu being the other 2 (two) common languages.

Medical Services: Available in all major centres. Trained health workers man medical clinics and aid posts in remote areas. Some hospitals are privately owned.

Time: Ten hours ahead of GMT. Same as Australian EST (no daylight saving in PNG).

Tipping/Gratuities: Neither expected or encouraged.

Water: Most towns have reticulated supply within WHO standards. Bottled water is available. In rural areas it is always advisable to boil water.

Visa Requirements: All visitors to Papua New Guinea require a Tourist Visa which is valid for 30 days. It is recommended that you acquire a visa prior to arrival to ensure quick clearance through immigration. If you arrive without a visa and without PNG currency, immigration will direct you to the airport bank to change money. Immigration will only accept PNG currency for the issue of a visa on arrival. The charge for a Visa on arrival is K100.00 per adult.

Note - For non Australian passport holders intending to return to Australia Please check that your Australian Visa allows for re-entry into Australia after travel to Papua New Guinea.