INTRODUCTION
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 the New Guinea island - the second largest island in the world, plus some 600 islands, atolls and coral reefs. A central core of mountains, the Owen Stanley Range, runs east and west rising steeply from the coastal plains. From its highest peak, 4,500 metre-high Mt Wilhelm, and from dozens of other peaks, great rivers like the Sepik and Fly begin their journey to the sea. above: view of Port Moresby

Below the mountain chain, fertile coastal plains, flooded delta regions and mangrove swamps exist alongside broad sandy beaches, colorful sheltered bays and dense rainforest.

PEOPLE
Papua New Guinea has a total population of almost 4 million people, comprised mainly of Melanesian race with dark skin, fuzzy hair and friendly smiles. The 1990 Census put the official population count at 3.8 million. 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, business and government circles.

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

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 colonisation began. Co-existing with this is a modern economic system based on mining, petroleum, fishing, forestry and agriculture. Our main exports are gold, copper, oil, coffee, tea, copra, palm oil, forest and marine products.

AIR TRAVEL
Jackson’s International Airport is the gateway to Papua New Guinea, situated 8km away from the main town centre of Port Moresby. Mt Hagen Provincial Airport has been declared an International Port of entry because of the mining activities in the Highlands provinces.
International airlines - Air Niugini and Qantas.
Domestic airlines - Air Niugini, Airlink, Milne Bay Air, Islands Nationair, Trans Niugini Airways, MAF.

BANKING & CURRENCY
Banking hours: Monday to Thursday - 9.00am-3.00pm. Friday -9.00am-5.00pm.

Currency: Papua New Guinea’s currency unit is the Kina which is divided into 100 toea. There are K50, K20, K10, K5 and K2 notes and a K1 coin. In July 1998, one Kina was equal to approximately US$0.3000 as of May 2004. Travelers cheques and the international credit cards are accepted in major hotels and restaurants.

BUSINESS HOURS
Commercial Firms: Monday to Friday: 8.00 - 4.30 or 5.00pm. Saturday: 8.00am - 12.00 noon.

Government Hours: Monday - Friday: 7.45am - 4.06pm.

CLIMATE
Warm to hot and humid throughout the year. There is a rainy season that varies from province to province, however, in general, its driest from May to December. The air is clean , watch out for sunburn, particularly in the Highlands, even on overcast days.

DUTY FREE
Standard customs concessions for travelers apply to the following goods.
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco
- One litre of spirits
- A reasonable amount of perfume

DRESS
Informal or casual with shorts and open neck shirts worn throughout the year along with traditional items of apparel: ramis, sulus, laplaps, and kolos. Thongs, sneakers and sandshoes are not allowed in some bars and restaurants. In the Highlands, sturdy walking shoes are recommended as is a sweater or jacket for cool evenings. Female dress should always be modest.

POWER SUPPLY
Electrical current on the national grid is 240 volts, AC 50hz. Some hotels provide 110 volt outlets in guest rooms for shavers and hair dryers.

NIGHTLIFE
Usually very quiet. Home entertainment is popular. Major hotels provide their own entertainment. The capital, Port Moresby, offers the same variety of entertainment and nightlife found in most Major cities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A 60-day tourist visa can be obtained from any Papua New Guinea Diplomatic Mission or nearest Australian Mission at a cost equivalent to K10.00. Visas can also be obtained on arrival for a fee of K25.00, and can be extended for another 30 days for a fee of K50.00.

Business Entry Visas are valid for a minimum of sixty (60) days per entry and are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. As such, business entry visas are multiple entry. Visas can be obtained from any PNG Diplomatic Mission or the nearest Australian Mission for a fee equivalent to K25.00. You will need valid travel documents, sufficient funds for your stay in our country and an airline ticket with a confirmation outbound flight before the expiry date of your visa.

A some restrictions apply to travelers from several Asian, Eastern Europe and African countries, we recommend that you check with the PNG Embassy or the nearest Australian Mission for visa requirements before travelling to PNG

HEALTH REGULATIONS
Certification or vaccination against yellow fever or cholera is required for travelers over one year of age coming from or through infected areas. Malaria is the only serious health risk. Visitors are strongly advised to consult your local doctor or tropical disease clinic to commence anti-malarial preparations before arrival.

WATER SUPPLY
All towns have reticulated water. Water quality is within World Health Organization standards in most towns. Bottled water is available. In rural areas it is advisable to boil water at all times.

FOOD/RESTAURANTS
You won’t go hungry in Papua New Guinea . Western cuisine is available in hotels, restaurants, guest houses, 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.

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 fibres.
Masks - woven from cane or rattan; make of wood and clay and decorated with shells, hair and pig’s teeth or incised with brown and white patterns in glossy black.
Wooden bowls - bowls fashioned from prized local timber, including ebony. Carved walking sticks, stools and tables are often inlaid with mother of pearl.
Basket/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 skin stretched 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. They must be inspected by National Museum Staff before an export permit can be considered. Export Bird of Paradise plumes as well as stone artifacts - except stone axe - 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 most shops except trade stores and supermarkets are closed on Sunday.

MEDICAL SERVICES
Dental, doctors and hospital services are available in all major centres.. Medical clinics and aid posts are found in remote areas and several hospitals are privately owned.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day - 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Queen’s Birthday - 13 June, Remembrance Day - 21 July, Independence Day -16 September, Christmas Day - 25 December, Boxing Day - 26 December.
Religion: Local traditional beliefs and ceremonies are maintained in remote areas; however, Christians influence is predominant.

SPORT & RECREATION
Play golf, tennis and squash or go fishing, diving, snorkeling, hunting and trekking. Check with Air Niugini, your travel agent or the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority for venues,. Touch football is also very popular around the country.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Papua New Guinea has modern satellite communications which have brought the world closer at the touch of a few buttons. International and Long Distance dialing are available in most parts of the country. telex and Facsimile services are also readily available, except in very remote areas where high frequency radios are in use. Internet services were introduced into Papua New Guinea in May 1997.

TIME ZONE
Papua New Guinea is 10 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - the same as Australian Eastern Standard Time. Papua New Guinea, being so close to the equator, does not have daylight saving.

TIPPING
Visitors to the country are guests and hospitality is an honour in our Melanesian culture. Tips are neither expected nor encouraged.

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation is mostly by air across PNG. A good network of roads connects the Northern zone and the highlands region. Rental cars, local boats and ferries, taxis in larger towns, plus local buses. There is no road link between the northern zone and the capital, Port Moresby, because of the rugged nature of the environment.