Port Moresby
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.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
For St John Ambulance phone 111 or 7111 1234. St John provides 24-hour ambulance service in Port Moresby.
MONEY
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.
SAFETY
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 cafestyle 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-formoney 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 baristamade 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 topfloor 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.