COUNTRY TOURS....Experience The Last Frontier

PORT MORESBY - NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT

Discover Port Moresby and Central Province

Papua New Guinea ’s principal city and capital is Port Moresby, situated halfway along the southern coastline on a superb natural harbor in Central Province. The people are from two distinct backgrounds: The Motu are coastal seafaring people and have a distinct Polynesian appearance, suggesting they migrated from Pacific island communities. On the other hand, the Koitabu are inland village people, hunters and farmers who traded peacefully with the Motu.

Central Province covers an area of 29,940 square kilometers. It is a region of stark contrast – the narrow coastal fringe sweeps dramatically into the foothills and 4000meter heights of the Owen Stanley Range, which divides the Province from its northern neighbors.

Port Moresby the birthplace of European influence, Port Moresby was named after Captain John Moresby, who mapped the southern coastline in 1873. It later became the capital of British New Guinea, and then Papua New Guinea after independence in 1975.

Port Moresby – or “Moresby” as it is popularly known – is a bustling cosmopolitan city of over 200,000 people. Rich in cultural diversity, the city has the country’s largest foreign community and counts among its citizens people from almost every tribal group in the land. The center of the city is on a peninsula at the entrance to Fairfax Harbor, where the docks and business district are located. Nearby Paga Hill is a favorite city lookout spot among visitors.

Port Moresby is a “spread out” city, extending along the coastal bays and back into the hills. Hanuabada is the original Motuan settlement stilt village located close to the city center. Although once destroyed by fire, the houses have been rebuilt to retain some of the character of Mountain tradition.

The infamous Kokoda Trail is within striking distance of Port Moresby, and is a main attraction. From popular Ela Beach is the city, the shoreline runs up to Koki Bay, a Market attracts traders and bargain hunters every day, but on the weekends it is crowned with stalls offering fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood.

Port Moresby is a fascinating blend of the old and the new. The National Parliament building exemplifies the striking harmony of modern architecture and traditional design. The National Museum and Art Gallery exhibits cultural features of Papua New Guinea’s complex and varied tribal lifestyles.

Port Moresby is the hub for most Papua New Guinea air travel. With a staggering 466 airfield scattered throughout the efficiency of its domestic flight network.

Jackson ’s International Airport has established Port Moresby as the gateway to Papua New Guinea.

Central Province

Sogeri Plateau is a 46-kilometer journey from Port Moresby. At 800 meters the air is cool and comfortable. From Sogeri, short drives (and walks) lead to peaceful picnic areas, jungle walks and swimming holes. Sogeri is also the starting point for the Kokoda Trail.

Variarata National Park is a spectacular natural mountain region providing excellent views of Port Moresby and the coastline.

Wildlife and native flora are plentiful and provide photographers with an opportunity to test their skills. West of Port Moresby the Hiritano Highway connects to Bereina, home of the colorful Mekeo people who are renowned for their impressive dancing displays and striking costumes.

In the high country beyond the coastal strip, the village of Tapini can be reached by walking tracks, or by aircraft to its heart-stopping cliff-face airstrip

 

HALF-DAY CITY TOUR - PORT MORESBY

(MINIMUM 100 PAX/NO MAXIMUM)

08:30 AM DEPART WHARF FOR BOTANICAL GARDENS PASSING THROUGH KONEDOBU, THE OLD ADMINISTRATIONS CENTRE, HANUABADA AND TATANA VILLAGES. (Photostops at Hanuabada village and at thecause way linking Tatanavillage with the mainland. The cause way was built by the Alliedforces during the WWII. Further to the west you will see the newNapa Napa oil refinery plant).

09:00 AM ARRIVE AT BOTANICAL GARDENS (An excellent collection oforchids can be foundhere. The orchidcollection is one of the bestand largest in the South Pacific region. Birds, tree kangaroo’scasawary’s, and other animals can be seen here. The Botanical Garden is well maintained and houses a variety of flowers and plants and it’s a florist’s Paradise).

09:30 AM DEPART BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR NATIONAL MUSEUM & NATIONAL PARLIAMENT (Note, the NationalParliament will only be an outside view and shortphoto stop). The National Museum houses primitive arts, historical materials, geologicaland anthropological items from all around the country.

NO CAMERAS ALLOWED IN THE MUSEUM.

09:45 AM ARRIVE AT NATIONAL PARLIAMENT & MUSEUM. (A traditional Highlands WomenSingsing groupwill beperforming at the Museum grounds).

10:30 AM DEPART NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR PARI VILLAGE. (Pari is a traditional Papuan villagesituated on theoutskirts of Port Moresby on the coast . Study the village life style of a Papuan village and chat with villagers and a traditional dance will beperformed to entertain the passengers),

11:00 AM ARRIVE AT PARI VILLAGE.

11:30 AM DEPART PARI VILLAGE FOR KOKI MARKET. (Koki Market is the biggest market in thecity. At display will be local produce, vegetables, fish, yam, taro and many more. This is the only fishmarket in the city).

11:45 AM ARRIVE AT KOKI MARKET

12:00 PM DEPART KOKI MARKET FOR PAGA HILL LOOKOUT PASSING THROUGH ELA BEACH.

12:15 PM ARRIVE AT PAGA HILL. An excellent Lookout point viewing thePort Moresby city, theharbor, Tatana andHanuabada villages and fisherman islands and the ocean.

12;30 PM DEPART PAGA HILL LOOKOUT FOR WHARF.

12:45 PM ARRIVE AT WHARF AND BOARD SHIP.

 

COST: US$42.00 NET PER PERSON.

ALL SHIPS ESCORTS JOINING THE TOUR, FREE OF CHARGE.

CHILDREN 15 YEARS OF AGE & BELOW ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

The above cost includes tour transportation, English speaking guides and entry fees to all sights of visit, cultural activities and government taxes.

A Complimentary bottle of water will be provided for each participant.

** The morning half-day tour can be repeated in the afternoon starting at 1:00 pm.

 

FULL DAY PORT MORESBY & SOGERI PLATEAU TOUR.

MINIMUM 100 PAX/NO MAXIMUM)

09:00 AM TOUR COMMENCES WITH DRIVE TO VARIRATA NATIONAL PARK VIA ROUNA FALLS (Photo stops will be made along theway. A beautiful scenery with waterfallsand excellent landscape.

10:00 AM ARRIVE AT VARIRATA NATIONAL PARK. From the Parkslookout is an excellent panoramic view of the all of Port Moresbyand to the ocean the laying islands of Loloata, the coral and theatolls. Short hikes in the park are excellent walking through nature trails.

10:30 AM DEPART VARIRATA NATIONAL PARK FOR SOGERI PLATEAU FOR SCENIC DRIVE.

11:00 AM ARRIVE AT SOGERI PLATEAU. The Sogeri plateau has a cool andpleasant atmosphere. This is a cattle breeding area and holds someof the country’s rubber plantations. The start of the Famous Kokoda Trail has monuments that remind the bloody war thattook place along the Kokoda trail. It’s cool and most of the city’s fresh vegetables are grown from the Sogeri Plateau. You can witness this as you pass roadside markets filled with freshvegetables.

11:30 AM DEPART SOGERI PLATEAU FOR BOMANA WAR CEMERARY.

12:00 PM ARRIVE AT BOMANA WAR CEMETARY. This is a cemetery of the Allied soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War

12:15 PM DEPART BOMANA WAR CEMETARY FOR FUGUI RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH. (A bottle of beer, glass of wine orsoft drink is included in the lunch)

12:45 PM ARRIVE AT FUGUI RESTAURANT AND HAVE LUNCH.

13:45 PM DEPART FUGUI RESTAURANT FOR PARI VILLAGE.(Pari is atraditional Papua village situated on the outskirts of Port Moresbyon the coast . Study the village life style of aPapuan village andchat with villagers and a traditional dance will be performed toentertain the passengers).

14:15 PM ARRIVE AT PARI VILLAGE

14:45 PM DEPART PARI VILLAGE FOR NATIONAL PARLIAMENT & NATIONAL MUSEUM.

Note, the National Parliament will only be an outside view and short photo stop. The National Museum houses primitive arts,historical materials, geological and anthropological items fromall around the country. CAMERAS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE MUSEUM.

15:15 PM ARRIVE AT NATIONAL PARLUIAMENT & NATIONAL MUSEUM. (A traditional Highlands Women Singsing group will be performing at the Museum grounds).

15:15 PM DEPART PARLIAMENT HOUSE & NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR BOTANICAL GARDENS. (An excellent collection of orchids can be found here. The orchid collection is one of the best and largestin the South Pacific region. Birds, tree kangaroo’s, casawary’s, and other animals can be seen here. The Botanical Gardens, wellmaintained and houses a variety of flowers and plants and it’s a florist’s Paradise).

15:30 PM ARRIVE AT BOTANICAL GARDEN.

16:00 PM DEPART BOTANICAL GARDENS FOR PAGA HILL LOOK OUT VIA TATANA & HANUABADA VILLAGES AND KONEDOBU, THE OLD ADMINISTRATION CENTRE. (Photo stops at Tatana and Hanuabada villageand at the causeway linking Tatana village with the mainland. The cause way wasbuilt by the Allied forces during theWWII to trap the Japanese submarines. Further to the west you will see the newNapa Napa oilRefinery plant).

16:30 PM ARRIVE AT PAGA HILL LOOK OUT. (An excellent Lookoutpoint viewing the Port Moresby city, the harbor, Tatana and Hanuabada villages and fisherman islands and the ocean).

16:45 PM DEPART PAGA HILL LOOK OUT FOR WHARF.

17:00 PM ARRIVE AT WHARF & BOARD SHIP.

 

COSTS: US$78.00 NET PER PERSON.

ALL SHIPS ESCORTS JOINING THE TOUR ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

CHILDREN 15 YEARS OF AGE & BELOW ARE FREE OF CHARGE .

The above cost includes tour transportation; English speaking guides and entry fees to all sights of visit, cultural activities and government taxes.

A Complimentary bottle of water will be provided for each participant.

The tour routing is subject to change depending on the operational requirements, road conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.