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General Information About Papua New Guinea
Currency
The currency is the PNG Kina, with daily exchange rates listed in banks, newspapers and at Papua New Guinea hotel accommodation properties. Papua New Guinea's currency is the Kina which is divided into 100 toea. K100, K50, K20, K10, K5 and K2 notes and a K1 coin are in circulation.
Money can be exchanged at Jackson's Airport. Travellers’ cheques and international credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants and some shops or can be cashed at banks throughout the country, which are open from 9.00am to 3.00pm Monday - Thursdays and 9.00 - 4.00pm on Fridays.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
All transactions within Papua New Guinea's hotels, restaurants and bars are subject to 10% tax which is included in published prices.
Credit Cards
Port Moresby hotels, restaurants, shops, rental car companies, Papua New Guinea tours and cruise operators and travel agents accept most major credit cards including Amex, Diners, Master Cards and Visa Cards.
Language
More than 800 distinct languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea. Melanesian Pidgin and Hiri Motu are the two most widely used, although English is the official language in education, businesses and government circles.
Geography
Looking at the Papua New Guinea map, we can see that it lies just south of the Equator and 160km to the north of Australia. With a total land mass of about 473.189sq.km, the country encompasses the eastern side of New Guinea Island - the second largest island in the world, plus some 600 other islands, atolls and coral reefs. A central core of mountains, runs east to west with great rivers below beginning their journey to the sea. Fertile coastal plains and mangrove swamps exist alongside broad sandy beaches, colourful sheltered bays and dense rainforest. |
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