Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s last great wilderness frontiers — a country of extraordinary biodiversity, 800+ languages, ancient highland cultures and some of the most dramatic and challenging trekking on Earth. The Kokoda Track is one of the most historically significant and physically demanding multi-day walks in the world, retracing the World War II campaign through the Owen Stanley Ranges. Mount Wilhelm (4,509m) is the highest peak in Oceania outside of the Indonesian Papua highlands, and the Highlands Highway corridor provides access to intact cloud forest, traditional village culture and extraordinary bird of paradise watching. PNG requires significant preparation but rewards with experiences found nowhere else.
- Kokoda Track (Central Province / Oro Province) — 96km; 8–12 days; Owen Stanley Ranges; the most famous WWII historical trek in the Pacific; extremely demanding terrain
- Mount Wilhelm (Simbu Province) — 4,509m — PNG’s highest peak and the highest in Oceania outside Indonesian Papua; 2-day guided ascent from Keglsugl
- Highlands (Western Highlands, Enga) — traditional sing-sing festivals; Hagen Show (August); cloud forest birding; Mount Hagen as the base
- Tufi (Oro Province) — fjord-style coastline; unique landscape of drowned river valleys; snorkeling, walking and village immersion
- Sepik River region (East Sepik / Sandaun) — traditional spirit house villages; dugout canoe river travel; forest walks; extraordinary traditional art and culture
The Kokoda Track is one of the world’s great endurance treks — 96km through rugged Owen Stanley jungle that saw some of World War II’s most intense and consequential fighting. Walking it is both a profound physical challenge and a deeply moving encounter with Pacific military history. Every step is shared with the memory of the Australian and PNG soldiers who fought and died here.
- Owen Stanley Ranges — rugged, densely forested mountain chain rising to 4,072m (Mount Victoria); perpetually wet; the Kokoda Track crosses multiple ridgelines through this terrain
- Highlands cloud forest — mossy montane forest above 2,500m; tree ferns; orchids; some of the world’s greatest bird of paradise diversity
- Mount Wilhelm terrain — alpine grassland and rock above 3,800m; crater lake; glacial cirques
- PNG coastline — extraordinary fjord-like drowned river valleys at Tufi; coral reef systems; completely different from the highland interior
- Kokoda Track — 8–12 days; 2,190m (highest point); 96km; extreme terrain; PNG carriers (porters) essential; the Pacific’s most significant historical trek
- Mount Wilhelm summit — 2 days; 4,509m; overnight at Pindaunde Lakes (3,480m); pre-dawn summit start; guided ascent from Keglsugl
- Sogeri Plateau day hikes (near Port Moresby) — accessible day walks including the start of the Kokoda Track at Owers Corner
- Highlands birding walk — 2–5 days; 3,000m; bird of paradise sightings in cloud forest; guided from Mount Hagen
PNG has significant law and order challenges — petty crime, occasional armed robbery (raskols) and unpredictable security incidents occur throughout the country including in Port Moresby and highland areas. Always use a reputable PNG operator with local knowledge, travel in groups, follow local advice at all times, and check your government’s current travel advisory before booking.
- Kokoda Track: mandatory licensed PNG guide and carriers (porters); Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) permit (PGK 300 foreigners); booking through KTA-registered operators
- Mount Wilhelm: guide arranged through Keglsugl village community or Goroka-based operators; no formal permit required but community fee expected
- All PNG hiking: work with a reputable, locally-connected operator — their relationships with communities along the route are essential for both safety and cultural respect
PNG carriers on the Kokoda Track are not simply porters — they are descendants of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who carried wounded Australian soldiers to safety during the 1942 campaign. The relationship between trekkers and carriers is one of deep mutual respect and should be treated as such. Pay fair wages well above the minimum.
- Kokoda Track equipment checklist — lightweight tent (camps in villages or open bivouacs), sleeping bag (nights cold on ridges), rain gear (PNG receives enormous rainfall), trekking poles, blister treatment, electrolytes
- Water purification — essential; PNG backcountry water requires treatment throughout
- Malaria prophylaxis — PNG has one of the world’s highest malaria burdens; take prophylaxis seriously and use repellent throughout
- Physical preparation — the Kokoda Track requires months of physical training; it involves 10+ hours of walking daily on extremely steep terrain for 8–12 consecutive days
Emergency (PNG): 000 (police) | 111 (ambulance)
- Emergency services are limited outside Port Moresby — your operator is your primary emergency support
- Medical evacuation to Australia (Brisbane or Cairns) is the standard for serious emergencies
- Travel insurance must explicitly cover PNG, remote trekking and medical evacuation to Australia
- Satellite communicator (Garmin inReach) essential for the Kokoda Track and Mount Wilhelm
- Kokoda Track — dry season (May–October) strongly preferred; wet season (November–April) extremely muddy; river crossings dangerous in heavy rain
- Mount Wilhelm — May–October: clearest skies; summit views best; wet season possible but visibility often poor
- Highlands festivals — August: Mount Hagen Show (one of the Pacific’s great cultural events); Goroka Show (September)
- PNG general — two seasons: dry (May–October) and wet (November–April); the dry season is always preferred for highland trekking
- May–October — dry season; best for all PNG trekking; Kokoda Track most manageable; Mount Wilhelm clearest
- July–September — peak season; Kokoda busiest; book operators well ahead; highland festivals August–September
- April and November — shoulder months; generally acceptable conditions
- December–March — wet season; Kokoda extremely challenging; not recommended for first-time PNG trekkers
Combining the Kokoda Track with the Mount Hagen Show (August) creates an extraordinary Papua New Guinea experience — one of the Pacific’s most challenging and historically meaningful treks followed by one of the world’s most spectacular traditional cultural festivals, with hundreds of warrior groups from across the Highlands performing in full traditional dress.
- Port Moresby (POM / Jacksons Airport) — main international gateway; direct flights from Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney, Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo
- Kokoda Track — fly Port Moresby → Kokoda airstrip (Kodari, 1hr light aircraft) for the traditional northern start; or road to Owers Corner for the Port Moresby southern start
- Mount Wilhelm — fly Port Moresby → Goroka (1hr) or Mount Hagen (1hr); road to Keglsugl base (3–5hr on rough road)
- Mount Hagen (HGU) — fly from Port Moresby (1hr); gateway for all Western Highlands and Enga Province trekking
- Operators — use KTA-registered operators for Kokoda; established PNG operators (Trans Niugini Tours, PNG Trekking Adventures) for other routes
Air Niugini and PNG Air connect Port Moresby with Goroka, Mount Hagen, Madang and other highland centres — essential for reaching trekking bases efficiently. Book domestic flights well in advance as schedules can change and capacity on highland routes is limited.
- PNG’s CASA requires drone registration
- Military sites and WWII memorial areas (Kokoda Track) — deep cultural and historical sensitivity; permission required from local communities and traditional landowners
- Village areas — always seek explicit permission from village chiefs (wantok system) before any photography or drone use
- National parks and conservation areas — Dept of Environment and Conservation authorization required
PNG communities have deep cultural sensitivities around photography and aerial imagery — particularly in highland areas where traditional beliefs may include concerns about capturing images of people or sacred spaces. Always seek permission from community leaders (village elders) before any photography, and treat a refusal with complete respect. This applies with even greater force to drone flights over communities or ceremonial areas.
- PNG’s CASA requires drone registration
- Military sites and WWII memorial areas (Kokoda Track) — deep cultural and historical sensitivity; permission required from local communities and traditional landowners
- Village areas — always seek explicit permission from village chiefs (wantok system) before any photography or drone use
- National parks and conservation areas — Dept of Environment and Conservation authorization required
PNG communities have deep cultural sensitivities around photography and aerial imagery — particularly in highland areas where traditional beliefs may include concerns about capturing images of people or sacred spaces. Always seek permission from community leaders before any photography, and treat a refusal with complete respect. This applies with even greater force to drone flights over communities or ceremonial areas.
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