Advice, where to eat, hotels, city maps
A quick guide to Papua New Guinea, from catching a taxi to making a phone call.
CLI MATE
With the exception of the Highlands, Papua New Guinea has a warm tropical climate. The wet season in Port Moresby is from December to April.
COMMUNI CATIONS
Internet: Web access in Port Moresby has improved immensely in recent years. In other urban centres, you may still be relying on dial-up. For those staying longer, wireless internet, via a USB modem, is available. Complimentary Wi-Fi is becoming more common at hotels, and is also available at Jacksons International Airport.
Phone: International mobile phone roaming is possible in PNG but it can be costly. A cheaper option is to buy a local SIM card and pre-paid credit (including data packs for smartphones).
ELECTRICITY
The current in PNG is 240V AC 50Hz, using Australian-style plugs.
GETTING AROUND
Airport transfers: For arrival/ departure in Port Moresby, any of the hotels listed in this guide will provide a complimentary transfer.
Car hire: Deal with one of the international names and ask them to provide a driver (PGK450+ per day). With the poor state of roads, especially in Lae, 4WDs/SUVs are recommended.
Taxis: Recommended firms are City Loop (1800 000), Comfort (325 3046) and Scarlet (7220 7000).
Domestic flights: Travelling within PNG often means taking an internal flight (for instance, you cannot drive between Port Moresby and Lae). Air Niugini offers passengers the chance to book (and for some flights, also to check in) online, but make sure you print out a copy of your receipt to show at check-in. Aircraft and helicopter charters are available for travel to remote locations.
HEALTH
Serious medical conditions can be treated in Port Moresby at Pacific International Hospital and the Government Hospital, which have 24-hour emergency and critical care services. Some conditions may require treatment outside the country. Travellers should ensure they have adequate health cover (the cost of medical evacuation can reach $US30,000). Visitors should also note that malaria is prevalent in PNG and there have been cases of measles and tuberculosis.
MEDI CAL EMERGENCY
For St John Ambulance phone 111 or 7111 1234. St John provides 24-hour ambulance service in Port Moresby.
MONE Y
PNG’s currency is the kina (PGK). ANZ and Bank of South Pacific (BSP) have branches at Port Moresby’s international airport. ATMs are located around Port Moresby, Lae and other urban centres.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
PNG observes a number of public holidays unique to the country. In 2019, they include National Remembrance Day on
Tuesday, July 23; National Repentance Day on Monday, August 26; and Independence Day on Monday, September 16.
SA FETY
While the situation is not as bad as portrayed by some international media, you should always take precautions, especially at night.
TIME ZONE
PNG has a single time zone, 10 hours ahead of UTC/GMT.
EATING OUT
PORT MORESBY
Airways Hotel: Port Moresby’s ritziest hotel has several places to eat. If you’re after fine dining, Bacchus is the place to go. For something more casual, go poolside to Deli KC. The Vue Restaurant, which has a buffet each morning and evening, as well as an a la carte menu, has stunning views. See airways.com. pg.
Asia Aromas: Offering Chinese and Thai food by the water at Harbourside, this eatery has consistently good reviews on social media. Outdoor seating is available. A good spot for sunset drinks. Tel. +675 321 4780.
Aviat Club: The club is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Home-style meals include stirfries, toasted sandwiches and salt-and-pepper prawns. This is a great spot to sit at lunchtime under the shady mango trees, or in the air-conditioned bar.
See facebook.com/pages/AviatClub/141553252563094.
Bel Cibo: A casual and affordable family style restaurant serving Italian-American at Vision City. See belcibopng.com.
Crown Hotel: There are multiple eating options at Crown. The inhouse restaurant includes a buffet for breakfast (eggs cooked to order), as well as lunch and dinner. It’s one of the few restaurants in Port Moresby with gluten-free choices. The hotel also has fine dining at the Rapala restaurant. See ihg.com.
Daikoku: The extensive Japanese menu has teppanyaki, donburi bowls and a large range of sushi. Tucked away above the Stop n Shop shopping centre in Harbour City, chefs will whip up your meal at your table. See daikokupng.com.
Duffy Cafe: Known for excellent coffee and homemade cafe-style food and bakery items, Duffy has three locations – at Harbourside, Gordons and Jacksons International Airport. See duffypng.com.
Dynasty at Vision City: This may be the biggest restaurant in Port Moresby. Its size, its chandeliers and its gold decor make it a favourite for balls, dinners and parties. The menu is huge, too, with pages of Asian dishes. See facebook.com/pages/ Dynasty-Restaurant-VisionCity/148278471918956.
Edge by the Sea: The ‘Edge’ cafe was renovated in 2017 and has alfresco dining with a wonderful marina outlook from the ground floor at the Edge Apartments in Harbour City. Eggs benedict, burrito bowls, pork burgers and grilled snapper are among the breakfast and lunch menu favourites. There’s a mist water system in the alfresco area that can reduce the ambient air temperature by up to 10 degrees … perfect for those blistering-hot days. Tel. +675 7995 5263.
Ela Beach Hotel: The Beachside Brasserie aims to be one of Port Moresby’s best value-for-money restaurants, offering seafood and other dishes from the Pacific Rim, curry, pastas, and a classic grill menu. It’s located next to the pool, set in Italian gardens. See coralseahotels.com.pg. Element Bar and Restaurant: One of Port Moresby’s newest restaurants, Element offers Asian fusion with excellent service. On Champion Parade, on the first level of MRDC Haus, it has modern decor and a huge balcony. Tel. +675 7252 8778. Fusion: This is one of the city’s busiest restaurants. It’s a fusion of flavours from China, Thailand and Vietnam. Takeaway available. There’s also a sister restaurant, Fusion 2, in the far corner of the ANZ Bank Compound in Waigani. Tel. +675 7196 6666.
Gateway Hotel: The hotel’s dining options include Jackson’s Gaming– Restaurant– Bar, which has a rooftop bar with views of the airport, as well as claims to the best lamb rack in town. Sizzler’s Family Restaurant offers value dining, while Enzo’s Express does quick lunches, coffee and pizza. The hotel’s Departure
Bar, next to the hotel lobby, is a comfortable and air-conditioned space to while away some transit hours in between flights. See coralseahotels.com.pg.
Grand Papua Hotel: The elegant Grand Brasserie has an a la carte menu of modern European cuisine, as well as buffet options. The Grand Cafe, on Douglas Street, has barista-made Goroka coffee, fruit juices, freshly made salads and sandwiches. The Grand
Bar – with stylish marble, high ceilings, timber floors and window shutters – has a light menu and is a popular place to wind down after work. See grandpapuahotel. com.pg.
Hilton Port Moresby: The hotel has five eating areas including Mumu, which is named after the traditional earthen oven of PNG and serves traditionally inspired dishes. There’s also a top-floor lounge bar called Summit, cafe-style dining in Copper on the lobby level, all-day dining and a breakfast buffet at Feast, and quick bites, such as sandwiches and coffee, at Halo in the convention centre foyer. See www3.hilton.com. Tel. +675 750 1800.
Hosi Ramen: As the name suggests, this Japanese restaurant at Vision City specialises in ramen (noodles served in broth with meat and vegetables). See facebook.com/pages/ HosiRamen/ 565779996932557.
Korean Garden: An affordable menu at Vision City that includes a do-it-yourself barbecue, as well as traditional favourites such as kimchi and gimbap. See facebook.com/pages/ KoreanGarden/ 595454767289525.
Lamana Hotel: You’re spoilt for choice here with Spices (Indian), the Italian Restaurant, Rio’s at the Temple (Brazilian), Cafe Palazzo, Lanes Ten Pin Bowling, and PNG’s biggest nightclub, The Gold Club. See lamanahotel.com.pg.
Magi Seafood Restaurant: A local secret on Spring Garden Road (same side as SP Brewery) with excellent Asian food, but specifically the best mud crab in town, which needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance.
Tel. +675 323 3918.
Mojo Social: This casual Mediterranean-inspired bar and restaurant is on the ground floor of PWC Haus at Harbour City. Tapas-style dishes, risotto and pizza are among the offerings. See mojosocialpng.com.
Naked Fish: A seafood and steak restaurant at Harbourside. Great spot for sunsets and the water views. Tel. +675 320 2293.
Royal Papua Yacht Club: Relaxed, spacious and open to non-members. Comfort food, draught beer and an open-plan bar area showing sport on large screens. See rpyc.com.pg.
Seoul House: This restaurant specialises in Korean and Thai food, cooked on the hot plate right in front of you. Seoul House is tucked away in a garden oasis compound in Five Mile. Tel. +675 325 2231.
Shady Rest Hotel: The Indian dishes at the hotel’s Cellar Restaurant draw high praise from reviewers on TripAdvisor, which has awarded the restaurant a certificate of excellence for five years in a row. There’s an all-you-can-eat buffet on Tuesday and Friday nights. The restaurant also prides itself in its steaks. Mr Mike’s Pizza Company is a takeaway located at the hotel
Gourmet offering... a Mr Mike’s Pizza at Shady Rest Hotel. and has classic pizzas, such as Hawaiian and margarita, as well as gourmet pizzas such as the Mediterranean, which is packed with feta, olives, mushrooms and more. See shadyrest.com.pg. Tel +675 323 0000.
Sogno: This is a traditional Italian restaurant with pastas, risottos and pizzas served out of a stone oven at Harbourside. Tel. +675 320 0001.
Stanley Hotel and Suites: This Waigani hotel has several restaurant choices, including the fine-dining Silver Leaf and the chic tapas-style Monsoon Lounge. Green Haus restaurant has all-day dining, including buffet dinners with live cooking stations. See thestanleypng.com.
Tandoor on the Harbour: Come here for a curry with great bay views. See facebook.com/ tandoorontheharbour.
Tasty Bites: This Indian restaurant is tucked away in the town centre in Hunter Street near Crowne Plaza. Bookings recommended. Tel. +675 321 2222.
Vision City: PNG’s first major shopping mall houses an increasing array of eateries. The cavernous Dynasty (Chinese) and the Ten (Japanese) are standouts. See visioncity.com.pg.
LAE
Bunga Raya: This local favourite, serving Malaysian-style Chinese, is located next door to the Lae Golf Club. Be sure to try the stuffed lettuce cups, laksa and claypot tofu. Tel. +675 472 7177.
Cafe 411: There’s a cosy atmosphere at this casual cafe next to Hotel Morobe on Coronation Drive. The Westernstyle menu includes finger foods and PNG coffee. Tel. +675 479 0100.
Chigi’s Cafe: This delightful place inside the temporary Brian Bell store near the Lae main markets serves good coffee, milkshakes, sandwiches, cakes and salads. Tel. +675 7217 1966.
Golden Aviat: A good option for Chinese, located on Huon Road in Eriku. Open for lunch and dinner, and yum cha on Sundays. Tel. +675 472 0486.
Huon Club: This private members’ club offers airconditioned facilities, comfortable lounge chairs, an expansive deck overlooking the Lae Golf Club, a fully stocked bar and Foxtel to preview all the racing and sporting events. Tel. +675 7347 1058.
Lae City Cafe: Located in the Lae City Hotel on 3rd street, the cafe serves Western and Asian cuisine. The signature dishes include ribs and Nasi Goreng. Tel. +675 472 0138.
Lae Garden Restaurant: The Asian menu includes staples such as crispy chicken and butter prawns. The elegant restaurant, inside Hotel Morobe on Coronation Drive, offers breathtaking views of the city from its balcony. Tel. +675 479 0100.
Lae Golf Club: The club is excellent for a few sundowners as you overlook the stunning green. Tel. +675 472 1363.
Lae International Hotel: Home to three restaurants – Luluai’s Italian Pizza, Vanda and