Papua New Guinea Travel Guide - Getting Around

Services are run by Air Niugini (PX) (website: www.airniugini.com.pg) and Airlines PNG (website: www.apng.com) to all main centres. Charter services are also in operation.

Cruises and excursions are available lasting three to 16 days. These go mainly to the islands and some otherwise inaccessible places on the coast. Cargo/passenger services between Lae and Madang are run by Lutheran Shipping with facilities including passenger cabins, accommodation and meals.

For the local people in some regions of the country, rivers, particularly the Sepik, provide the main thoroughfares. In these areas it is 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.

Driving is on the left and is not recommended. 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.

Bus: PMVs (public motor vehicles) operate in the main centres from bus shelters or they can be hailed.

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

Car hire: Available in principal towns.

Documentation: A national driving licence is sufficient.