Papua New Guinea

About PNG

Geography

Papua New Guinea lies entirely within the tropics, 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 part 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, the Owen Stanley Range, runs east to west rising steeply from the coastal plains. From its highest peaks, 4500 metre high Mt Wilhelm and from downs of other peaks, great rivers like the Sepik and Fly River begin their journey to the sea. Below the mountain chain, fertile coastal plains, flooded delta regions and mangrove swamps exist alongside broad sandy beaches, colourful sheltered bays and dense rainforest. Papua New Guinea’s capital is Port Moresby.

Population

Papua New Guinea has a total population of almost 5.5 million comprised mainly of Melanesian race with dark skin, fuzzy hair and friendly smiles. Only 15% of the population live in urban areas. Papua New Guinea’s Highlands are the most densely populated as nearly 2 million people currently live in that area.

Language

There are more than 800 distinct languages. Melanesian Pidgin and Hiri Motu are the two most widely used, but English is the official language in education, businesses and government circles.

Climate

As Papua New Guinea lies entirely in the tropics it’s warm to hot and humid throughout the year. There is a rainy season, which varies from province to province, however in general it's driest from May to December. The air is clean; watch out for sunburn, particularly in the Highlands, even on overcast days.

Country's independence

The country is fully independent from Australia since 16 September 1975 and has a freely elected democratic government. Papua New Guinea became the 142nd member of the United Nations on 10 October 1975 and is also a member of the British Commonwealth.

The economy

Papua New Guinea has a vibrant and multifaceted economy with two distinct systems operating side by side. The vast majority of our people live in a traditional, non-monetary barter economy that existed long before European colonization began. Co-existing with this is modern economic system based on mining, petroleum, fishing, forestry and agriculture. Our main exports are gold, copper, oil, coffee, tea, copra, oil palm, forest and marine products.

Food & Restaurants

You won't go hungry in Papua New Guinea. Western cuisine is available in hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, lodges and village resorts. Port Moresby has many Asian and European restaurants. For something different try a traditional 'mumu' of roast pork, sweet potatoes, rice and greens.

Nightlife

Nightlife is usually quiet in Papua New Guinea. Home entertainment is popular. Major hotels provide their own entertainment. The capital, Port Moresby, offers the variety of entertainment and nightlife as well as other major cities.

Handicrafts & Souvenirs

One of the many pleasant surprises of Papua New Guinea is the wide range of art forms in diverse styles. Among the many tempting souvenirs you will encounter are:

• Bilums - string bags made from natural fibre.
• Masks - woven from cane or rattan: made of wood and clay and decorated with shells, hair and pig’s teeth or incise with brown and white patterns and finished in glossy black.
• Wooden bowls - bowls fashioned from prized local timbers, including ebony. Carved walking sticks, stools and tables are often inlaid with mother of pearl.
• Baskets/Trays - Many different patterns and styles can be found. Those from Bougainville are regarded as some of the finest in the Pacific.
• Drums - the most common musical instrument in Papua New Guinea: those made from a hollow tree trunk are called Garamuts while the smaller Kundu is shaped like an hour glass and has snake or lizard skins sketched over one end.
• Story Board - made on the Karam River, they illustrate in raised relief incidents of village life.
• Spirit Boards - act as guardians of the village with those from the Gulf Province believed to possess the spirits of powerful warriors.

We want to keep our cultural heritage intact, so items made before 1960 are restricted exports. National Museum Staff must inspect them before an export permit can be considered. Export of Bird of Paradise plumes as well as stone artifacts - except stone axes - is prohibited.

Shopping

From modern department complexes to quaint little stores there are plenty of places to spend your money. In artifact shops you may try your hand at bargaining but be gentle! Remember that Saturday is a half-day for most shops and virtually every shop is closed on Sunday.