How to get there
(Last updated April 2010)
Located just south of the equator and north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is only a short flight from Australia. Local Time is GMT + 10. Depending on your origin of travel there are several international gateways to PNG:
From Australia/New Zealand
Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, can be reached by plane in 1.5 hours from Cairns, 3 hours from Brisbane or 4 hours from Sydney.
Air Niugini, codesharing with Qantas Airways, offers daily flights from Cairns and Brisbane and two weekly flights are scheduled from Sydney. Airlines PNG, codesharing with Pacific Blue, has 4 scheduled flights per week between Brisbane and Port Moresby.
From North America
For divers travelling to PNG from North America, the best gateway is Brisbane, Australia.
From Asia/South Pacific
Air Niugini's Asian international gateways to PNG are Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur (both 1x flight per week), Manila, Tokyo and Singapore (all 2x flights per week).
Port Moresby can also be reached with Air Niugini from Honiara and Nadi (2x flights per week).
From Europe
For divers travelling to PNG from Europe and the UK, the best gateway is Singapore.
Domestic Air Travel
Air Niugini and Airlines PNG are covering a wide network of domestic flights and offer regular schedules from Port Moresby to all major diving destinations within PNG.
Airfares
We offer competitive wholesale airfares with Air Niugini from Australia. Those airfares can be reserved for you and ticketed at a later point in time. Seat allocations, necessary schedule or itinerary changes are all part of our service.
Air taxes are subject to strong fluctuations and can change daily or until your flight ticket has been purchased. Taxes generally include local airport/security fees, departure taxes, ground handling fees and fuel surcharges.
In general, airfares available for purchase online depend on day of departure and time of travel. Those instant purchase airfares require full payment at time of booking. If you choose to arrange your own flights online, we won't be able to provide any services for seat reservations, schedule or itinerary changes.
Baggage
Air Niugini: On international flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns to Port Moresby and domestic outer island connections 23kg (50lbs) free baggage allowance + 15kg (33lbs) dive equipment allowance (if booked through Diversion Dive Travel and ticketed after 1 Sept 2011). For all other international routes with Air Niugini to Port Moresby and with same day domestic outer island connections 20kg (44lbs) free checked baggage allowance.
Pacific Blue: You can purchase a baggage allowance of 23kg (50lbs) with your ticket purchase for international flights to Port Moresby. Recently, Pacific Blue has withdrawn any additional sports baggage allowance with immediate effect. Excess baggage charges will apply once the purchased baggage allowance has been exceeded.
Airlines PNG: On international flights from Brisbane to Port Moresby 32kg (70lbs) free baggage allowance; on international flights from Cairns 20kg (44lbs) free baggage allowance + 15kg (33lbs) dive equipment allowance.
If domestic flight tickets with Air Niugini or Airlines PNG are purchased separately from the international flight ticket, the domestic baggage allowance is restricted to 16kg (35lbs) per person.
If you need to connect within Australia to join your Air Niugini or Airlines PNG flight, a strict baggage limit of 20-23kg (44-50lbs) applies with all domestic Australian carriers.
Fragile items such as camera, regulator, dive computer etc., should be packed in a small bag and taken as carry-on luggage. Batteries from dive torches, strobes, cameras and other devices should be removed prior to check-in. Be sure your baggage is properly tagged.
Port Moresby International Airport
Air Niugini passengers commencing their journey on direct Air Niugini flights in Cairns, Brisbane or Sydney will be handed boarding passes and seat allocation for both their flight to Port Moresby as well as for the connecting flight to their onward PNG destination. Baggage will be checked as far as Port Moresby where it is necessary to collect the baggage and clear immigration and customs.
On arrival in Port Moresby, you will need to clear immigration and pay 100 Kina (cash, local currency only) for the visitor's visa, if you haven't pre-arranged your visa already. If you don't have Kina, the exchange bureau is right next to where you pay for your entry visa. Next, move to the immigration counter opposite the visa pay station, where you will have your passport stamped.
Once you have collected your luggage, you will proceed through the customs check desks. As soon as you are through customs (DO NOT exit the arrivals hall), you should head up to the left hand side of the desks to re-check your luggage to a same day Air Niugini connection. Air Niugini will check you in here for your domestic flight, saving you having to carry your luggage over to the domestic terminal. You will also get your boarding pass here. Once you get to the domestic terminal, you can walk straight through to the waiting lounge. The Domestic departure lounge is very basic, and the PA system not very good, so you should always keep an eye on the departure gates and check with staff if you are unsure if your flight is boarding.
Visa & passport requirements
A valid passport (at least 6 month valid upon arrival) is required for your trip to PNG. A visa will be issued to the following nationalities upon arrival at Port Moresby International Airport for a stay of less than 60 days:
Australia & New Zealand
United States & Canada
United Kingdom
Most Western European countries
- The visa cost is 100 Kina (local currency, cash only).
- If you wish, you can still pre-arrange your own visa prior to departure through the Papua New Guinea High Commission in your home country.
- If your nationality does not appear above, check with your nearest PNG or Australian Embassy.
- For stays longer than 60 days, you will have to apply for a visa at the nearest PNG Embassy prior to departing your home country.
- If you travel via Australia to PNG and plan to spend some time in Australia, an Australian Tourist Visa is required. This can be issued in most countries electronically and must be issued before you leave your country of residence.
Health
Papua New Guinea is a malaria zone. Anti malarial precautions are highly recommended.
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