Getting Around Papua New Guinea

Air

Air Niugini (www.airniugini.com.pg) and PNG Air (www.pngair.com.pg) fly to all the main centres. Charter services are also available.

Road

Owing to the rugged terrain of Papua New Guinea, road development of the interior has been slow. There is a network of roads connecting the northern coast towns of Madang and Lae with the major urban centres in the Highlands region. There are few roads connecting the various provinces however.

Car Hire

Available in principal towns.

Taxi

Available in district centres but expensive. Although operated on a metered basis, fares can be negotiated.

Documentation

A national driving licence is sufficient.

Rail

Water

Cruises go mainly to the islands and otherwise inaccessible places on the coast. Cargo/passenger services between Lae and Madang run by Lutheran Shipping (with facilities including passenger cabins, accommodation and meals) are currently suspended following the company's liquidation.

For the local people in some regions of the country, rivers, particularly the Sepik, provide the main thoroughfares. In these areas it's possible to hire motorised canoes or obtain passage on a trading boat; however, apart from cruises, there are no regular public transport operators on the rivers.