Port Moresby

According to TOP-MEDICAL-SCHOOLS, Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea. The city is administratively divided into a separate district, which includes the capital itself and small suburban villages. Port Moresby is located in the southeastern part of the island of New Guinea on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Papua. In 1873, a small colonial settlement was founded on this site by Captain John Moresby. A little later, Christian missions arrived here, and Port Moresby began to turn into the administrative center of European settlements on the island. During World War II, the small town of Port Moresby became a huge military camp, and after the war was the only surviving city of the island, which is why it was chosen as the capital of the state. Hills surround the city on one side and Firfax Bay on the other.

Old town called Town, located in the southwestern part of the city on a small peninsula between two bays. Here, in the old quarters, buildings of the colonial period have been preserved, but during the Second World War, most of them were destroyed. Town is home to the oldest building in the capital – the United Church of El, which was built in 1890. In the south-west of Tauna rises the 99 m high Paga hill, which offers a bewitching view of the city and the sea, in the north there is a port, and in the south Ela beach stretches, surrounded by a park. Ela Beach, like all city beaches, is quite dirty. Every year in September, the beach hosts a three-day Hiri Moale festival. The festival is celebrated during the historical trading campaign of the inhabitants of the province of Gulf to the capital regions and is accompanied by songs, dances and performances of various tribes.

A little north of the Old City on the coast, the village of Khanubada is interesting, which was destroyed during the Second World War. After the war, it was rebuilt and is now the largest village in the state and the symbol of Port Moresby. All the houses in the village are built on stilts. In the very north of Port Moresby is the Waigani district. where most government offices are located. Very beautifully modern Parliament building (1984), which was built in the national style and looks like a house for spirits typical of Aboriginal culture. Next to the Parliament is the National Museum, which contains collections on nature, ethnography, culture and history of the country, and the Art Gallery. The University of Papua New Guinea is located in the northern part of Waigani, and the National Botanical Gardens are located to the west of it. It houses a wide variety of plants from all over the country, including over 3,000 orchids, the largest collection of orchids in the Southern Hemisphere. The gardens consist of several parts, each representing the flora of a separate province of the country. Hiking paths in the gardens are made in the form of suspended wooden decks.

South of the Waigani district is the Gordon district with one of the largest markets in the country. The new city of Port Moresby, called Boroko, is located just south of Gordon. Modern office buildings rise here and luxury hotels are located , as well as the largest shopping center in the capital, which contains not only the best shops, but also restaurants, bars and branches of the largest banks. Unlike downtown Port Moresby, its outskirts, where residential areas with shacks stretch, are not so attractive.

The capital of the country is surrounded by the Central Province, where many tourist attractions are concentrated. Port Moresby is one of the starting points of the world famous tourist route Kokoda Trail. This is the most equipped and most exciting tourist route in the country. Its length is 90 km. On average, a group of tourists overcomes it in 10 days. At the end of the 19th century, the Kokoda Trail became the main route for gold miners from Port Moresby. to the gold mines of Yodda and Kokoda. During the Second World War, important battles took place in the vicinity of the route, traces of which remain on this land to this day. The route passes through mountain ranges, rivers, waterfalls, dense rainforests, World War II military installations, memorials, wetlands and villages, whose inhabitants willingly communicate with tourists. The Kokoda Trail is divided into several parts and if you think that the route is too long, then you can go only on a small part of it. 46 km from the capital, on the Kokoda Trail, there is a picturesque Sogeri plateau with a height of 800 m. Varirata National Park is located next to it.. It was created to protect the wildlife of the Central Province of the country and to preserve the original culture of local tribes. This park became the first protected area in Papua New Guinea. Its area is 1000 hectares. A network of hiking trails has been created on the territory of the Varirata Park, guest houses, places for spending the night, and picnic areas have been built. In the Central Province, you can also go to the Moitaka Wildlife Park, where there is a small zoo, as well as a laboratory for the study of crocodiles. Here tourists can watch how crocodiles are fed. The province of Oro (Northern Province) is adjacent to the Central Region. In the southeastern part of the province on the coast of Cape Nelson you can see the fjords. The local fjords, unlike the Scandinavian ones, arose as a result of volcanic processes, when lava, flowing down to the coast, solidified, forming bizarre rocky forms. The height of the fjords in some places reaches 150 m, and under water they go to a depth of 90 m. Walking tours are offered along the fjord-carved coastline. Oro Province has a mountainous terrain suitable for hiking. Here is the village of Kokoda, from where the world-famous tourist route Kokoda Trail begins or ends. The active volcano Lamington is located in the heart of the province. (1680 m), on the slopes of which thousands of birds nest. The inhabitants of the province are known for making clothes from tree bark – tapa. In the main city of the province – Popondetta – even the Tapa Festival is held in mid-October. The province of Milne Bay

is located on the southeastern tip of the island of New Guinea. The province also includes the Trobriand, Murua, Lachlan, D’Entrecasteaux, Louisiade, Conflict and Samarai island groups. The capital of the province – the city of Alotau – is located in the southern part of Milne Bay. Most excursions to nearby islands and coral reefs depart from here. The most popular excursions to Ferguson Island with volcanoes, hot springs and mud pools; the island of Murua, where wood carving masters live; the Trobriand Islands, where tribal leaders are highly respected but inherited through the female line, and where the annual Milamala Harvest Festival is held between June and August.

In the very center of the island of New Guinea, one of the smallest provinces of the country is located – the province of Simbu (Chimbu). The relief of this region is mountainous, strongly dissected. Here is the highest point of the country – MountWilhelm (4509 m). It is very popular among climbers and hikers. The starting point for traveling along the slopes of Mount Wilhelm is the main city of the province – Kundiava. Often, individual ascents to Mount Wilhelm with local guides are arranged from Kundiava, however, these ascents are quite difficult and are suitable only for trained tourists. Most of the river and hiking routes around the province also start from Kundiava, because it is all dotted with hiking trails. Keu caves areinteresting not far from the city, and the Vaga and Purari rivers flowing nearby are perfect for rafting and kayaking. It is worth noting that the Vaga River is considered one of the best in the world for rafting.

Simbu Province is bordered by Eastern Highlands Province.. In the 20th century, gold deposits were discovered in the central parts of the island of New Guinea, which attracted many Europeans and Australians here, so this region was most influenced by foreigners. The capital of the Eastern Highlands Province is the city of Goroka . It is located at an altitude of 1600 m and is called “the city of eternal spring” for its mild climate. Initially, a small settlement of Goroka in the middle of the 20th century began to turn into a city with a developed infrastructure. Now it is the main commercial center of the highlands of the island of New Guinea. The city of Goroka is famous for its annual colorful Goroka show festival.. The festival is held in September on the dates closest to the State Independence Day (September 16) and lasts three days. This is the oldest festival in the country. For the first time it began to be held in the middle of the 20th century in order to rally among themselves local tribes and clans. Now more than 40,000 representatives of different tribes gather here – they arrange colorful performances that talk about the culture of each individual tribe, dance and sing. The festival is one of the country’s main tourist attractions, providing an insight into the ethnic diversity of Papua New Guinea. In addition, a market opens every Saturday in Goroka, where both products and handicrafts are sold. Opposite the market is the ethnic theater Round-Round. The city is home to the nation’s second largest museum , the McCarthy Museum. It is affiliated with the National Museum of Port Moresby. The museum consists of 6 galleries with collections of folk crafts and crafts, military relics and photographs, reflecting the ancient relationship between Europeans and the inhabitants of the highlands. The museum has a souvenir shop. Goroka is the starting point for traveling through the mountains and jungles of the province. From here, excursions to coffee plantations are arranged, ascents are made to Mount Michael (3380 m) and Gahavisuka. At the foot of Mount Michael is the village of Lufa, from which you can get into a cave with ancient petroglyphs. On Mount Gahavisuka, 11 km from the city of Goroka located reserve mountain Gahavisuka. It covers an area of 80 hectares. The park was created to protect the species of orchids and rhododendrons growing on the slopes of the mountain. At an altitude of 2450 m, there is an observation deck in the park.

Tours of the villages of the Eastern Highlands provide the best representation of the diversity of national crafts and tribal cultures. The most interesting are the village of Bena Bena (10 km from Gorok), whose inhabitants are famous for the art of weaving – they make rugs, bedspreads and mats, and the village of Asaro, whose inhabitants cover the body with clay to look like ghosts and scare away enemies from neighboring tribes.

Simbu Province borders Western Highlands Province to the west.. The regional capital is Mount Hagen . It is located at an altitude of almost 2 km above sea level. The population of the city is very diverse in terms of ethnic composition – almost all ethnic groups of the country live here. As a result, Mount Hagen hosts the most festivals throughout the year. Of interest is the Mount Hagen Cultural Center with a museum that exhibits the work of local craftsmen and religious objects of various tribes. On Saturdays, a bustling market opens in the city, where residents from all over the province trade. This is a great place to buy souvenirs. Traveling from Mount Hagen on the mountains Giluve, Ivlibu, Hagen, Ongo, along the Bismarck and Kubor ridges. Bayer River Reserve is located 55 km north of Mount Hagen. It was founded in 1968. It is home to many birds of paradise, parrots, cassowaries, as well as possums and tree kangaroos.

To the northwest, the province of Western Highlands shares a border with the province of Enga. This is a great place for hiking. Lake Rau is located in the central part of the province in the crater of an extinct volcano at an altitude of 3000 m. It can be reached from Pumas village. In the west of the province are the Layagam Botanical Gardens, which have over 100 species of orchids and about 13 species of rhododendrons. Every year in August in the central city of the province – the city of Wabag – a show is held where you can see the dances of local tribes, whose representatives decorate their heads with 2-meter multi-colored headdresses, symbolizing the feathers of a bird of paradise. In Vabag, the Cultural Center with a museum, an art gallery and a crafts center is also interesting.

South of the province of Enga lies the province of Southern Highlands. These places appeared on world maps only in the middle of the 20th century, before that they remained an unknown land. The capital city of the Southern Highlands Province is the city of Mendi. It is located in the mountain valley of the same name at the foot of Mount Giluve (4368 m). This is the second highest mountain of the island and the whole country. In the valley of Mendi many hiking trails have been laid that pass through karst caves and villages of mountain peoples that have not yet been embraced by civilization, among them – hunters uli and dune with a yellow-red war paint on their faces and with human hair wigs on their heads. Also Kutubu Lake is very popular in the valley. It lies in the mountains at an altitude of 800 m. This is a real monument of nature, because about a dozen fish live in the waters of the lake, which are not found anywhere else on Earth, and birds and numerous butterflies settle along its shores. By the lake is a boarding house built by local residents. The Western Province is located near the southern section of the border with Indonesia. The main settlement of this region is the city of Daru located on a small island in the Torres Strait off the southern coast of New Guinea. This part of the coast of the island of New Guinea is occupied by swampy plains, where many crocodiles live. That is why you can always find products made of crocodile skin in local shops. The main natural attraction of the region is the Bensbatch Conservation Area, which was named after the Bensbach River, which flows along the border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. This is a unique place – in the rainy season, when flooded, it is a habitat for many birds and fish, and in the dry season, when it dries up, it is a feeding place for large ungulates. Another attraction of the province is the Fly River. – one of the largest rivers in the country. In its upper reaches there are mines for the extraction of gold and copper. Here every tourist can try himself as a gold digger. In the upper reaches of the Fly River, it is also possible to travel to Lake Murray. This is the largest lake in the state, its area is 430 square meters. km. During the rainy season, the area of the lake increases 5 times. The lake is home to sawfish, which are caught to feed the freshwater crocodiles that live in the southern parts of the province, and mussels in its muddy bottom. Gulf Province borders Western Province to the east.. Gulf Province is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, where the rivers Turama, Kikori, Purari and Vailala flow. The deltas of these rivers are swampy, therefore, in all settlements, houses are built on stilts and they move only by canoe. The provincial capital is the city of Kerema. This is a small city that received the status of the capital due to the fact that it is located east of the wetlands in drier places. The region’s main tourist attraction is the annual Hiri Moale festival in September, during which a trading caravan arrives in Gulf from the central province to exchange pottery for sago. For those who love outdoor activities, travel through the Lakekamu forest is suitable. It is full of birds and various vegetation.