What is the best time to visit Papua New Guinea?

Best Time to Visit Papua New Guinea

The best time to travel to Papua New Guinea is during the dry season (May to October) and the wet season (November to April).

Dry Season in Papua New Guinea

The dry season in Papua New Guinea is from May to October. This season is characterized by sunny days and clear skies, making it the ideal time for outdoor activities. The temperatures are mild, ranging from 24°C to 30°C. During this season, travelers can enjoy the beautiful beaches and explore the lush rainforests. Popular attractions include the Kokoda Track, Mount Wilhelm, and the Sepik River. The dry season is also the best time to attend the Goroka Show, a cultural festival that takes place in September.

Wet Season in Papua New Guinea

The wet season in Papua New Guinea is from November to April. This season is characterized by heavy rains and thunderstorms. The temperatures are warm, ranging from 24°C to 31°C. Despite the rain, travelers can still enjoy the natural beauty of the country, including the stunning waterfalls and volcanoes. Popular attractions during this season include the Tufi Dive Resort, the Rabaul Volcano, and the Madang Festival.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea in January

Weather

January in Papua New Guinea is the start of the dry season. Temperatures are generally warm and humid, with average highs reaching 86°F (30°C) and lows around 75°F (24°C). Rainfall is low, with an average of 3.7 inches (95 mm) of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The New Year Festival is a popular event that takes place in January. It is a celebration of the New Year with music, dancing, and traditional food.
• The National Mask Festival is held in January in the capital city of Port Moresby. It is a celebration of traditional masks and costumes from all over the country.
• The Kokopo Cultural Festival is a celebration of the local culture of the East New Britain Province. It includes traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Madang Festival of Arts is an annual event that takes place in Madang. It features traditional music, dance, and art from all over the country.
• The Goroka Show is a cultural event that takes place in the Eastern Highlands Province. It includes traditional dancing, singing, and music.

Papua New Guinea in January

Weather

January is the start of the dry season in Papua New Guinea, with temperatures ranging from 24-32°C (75-90°F). The humidity is high and the skies are mostly clear, with occasional showers.

Events

• The New Year Festival is celebrated throughout the country with traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Goroka Show is held in the Eastern Highlands Province, featuring traditional singing, dancing, and cultural displays.
• The National Mask Festival is held in the Western Highlands Province, with traditional masks from all over the country being displayed and celebrated.
• The Madang Festival is held in the Madang Province, featuring traditional music and dance performances, as well as art exhibitions.
• The Rabaul Mask Festival is held in the East New Britain Province, with traditional masks from the region being displayed and celebrated.

Papua New Guinea in March

Weather

March in Papua New Guinea is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 24-32°C (75-90°F). Rainfall is common during this month, with an average of 9-10 rainy days in March.

Events

• The Goroka Show is held in the Eastern Highlands Province during the first week of March. This cultural celebration includes traditional singing, dancing, and the display of traditional artifacts.
• The Kokoda Challenge is a 96km trek across the Kokoda Track in the Oro Province. This event takes place in March and is a physically and mentally demanding challenge.
• The Madang Festival is held in the Madang Province during March. This festival includes traditional singing and dancing, as well as a variety of cultural activities.
• The Kokopo Cultural Show is held in East New Britain Province in March. This event celebrates the culture and heritage of the people of Papua New Guinea, with traditional singing and dancing.
• The Rabaul Mask Festival is held in East New Britain Province during March. This festival celebrates the traditional masks of the Tolai people, with performances and displays of traditional masks.

Papua New Guinea in April

Weather

April in Papua New Guinea is generally warm and humid. Temperatures range from 24-32°C (75-90°F) and rainfall is common throughout the month.

Events

• The Kokoda Track Challenge takes place in April. This is a grueling 96km trek through the mountainous terrain of the Kokoda Track.
• The Milne Bay Canoe and Kundu Festival is held in April. This festival celebrates the traditional canoes and drums of the Milne Bay Province.
• The Madang Festival is held in April. This festival celebrates the culture, music, and food of the Madang Province.
• The Goroka Show is held in April. This is a cultural event that showcases the traditional dances and costumes of the Eastern Highlands Province.
• The Port Moresby Arts and Cultural Festival is held in April. This festival celebrates the art, music, and culture of the National Capital District.

Papua New Guinea in May

Weather

May is the start of the dry season in Papua New Guinea, with temperatures ranging from 24-33°C (75-91°F) and humidity levels of around 75%. Rainfall is minimal, with only a few showers expected in the northern parts of the country.

Events

• The Goroka Show is an annual cultural event held in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, featuring traditional performances, singing, dancing, and food. It is usually held in the middle of May.
• The Madang Festival is a celebration of the culture and history of Madang Province, featuring traditional performances, art displays, and sports competitions. It is usually held in late May.
• The Kokoda Track Marathon is an annual endurance event held in the Kokoda region of Papua New Guinea. It usually takes place in late May.
• The Mount Hagen Cultural Show is an annual event held in the Western Highlands Province, featuring traditional performances, singing, dancing, and food. It is usually held in late May.
• The Rabaul Mask Festival is an annual event held in East New Britain, featuring traditional performances, art displays, and sports competitions. It is usually held in late May.

Papua New Guinea in June

Weather

June in Papua New Guinea is the beginning of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from 24-30°C (75-86°F). June is also the beginning of the hurricane season, so visitors should be aware of potential storms.

Events

• The Goroka Show is an annual event that takes place in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. It is a celebration of traditional culture, with traditional singing and dancing, and a showcase of traditional costumes.
• The Madang Festival is an annual event that takes place in Madang, Madang Province. It is a celebration of the culture, art, and music of the Madang Province.
• The Rabaul Mask Festival is an annual event that takes place in Rabaul, East New Britain Province. It is a celebration of traditional culture, with traditional singing and dancing, and a showcase of traditional masks.
• The Wewak International Cultural Festival is an annual event that takes place in Wewak, East Sepik Province. It is a celebration of the culture, art, and music of the East Sepik Province.
• The Tufi Festival is an annual event that takes place in Tufi, Oro Province. It is a celebration of the culture, art, and music of the Oro Province.

Papua New Guinea in July

Weather

July is the middle of the dry season in Papua New Guinea. Temperatures are warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from 24-32 degrees Celsius (75-90 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is minimal, with the occasional shower.

Events

• The Goroka Show is held in the Eastern Highlands Province in July. This event is a cultural celebration of the traditional customs of the people of Papua New Guinea.
• The Kokoda Challenge is held in July. This is a grueling trek across the Kokoda Track, a 96-kilometer trail that is part of the Kokoda Trail National Park.
• The Madang Festival is held in Madang in July. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the people of Madang.
• July marks the start of the National Soccer League in Papua New Guinea. Soccer is the most popular sport in the country and the league runs from July to December.
• The Goroka Music Festival is held in July in Goroka. This festival celebrates the traditional music of Papua New Guinea with performances from local and international artists.

Papua New Guinea in August

Weather

August in Papua New Guinea is typically characterized by hot and humid weather with temperatures ranging from 24-32°C (75-90°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of 8-9 rainy days.

Events

• The Goroka Show is an annual cultural show held in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. The event is held in August and features traditional music, dance, and food from various ethnic groups in the country.
• The Mt. Hagen Show is an annual cultural show held in Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. The event is held in August and features traditional music, dance, and food from various ethnic groups in the country.
• The Madang Show is an annual cultural show held in Madang, Madang Province. The event is held in August and features traditional music, dance, and food from various ethnic groups in the country.
• The National Mask Festival is an annual event held in Lae, Morobe Province. The event is held in August and features traditional masks from various ethnic groups in the country.
• The National Music Festival is an annual event held in Port Moresby, National Capital District. The event is held in August and features traditional music from various ethnic groups in the country.

Papua New Guinea in September

Weather

September in Papua New Guinea is typically hot and humid, with temperatures averaging around 28°C (82°F). Rainfall is common, with an average of around 160mm (6.3 inches) of precipitation across the month.

Events

• The Madang Festival is held in the city of Madang in mid-September. This festival celebrates the culture of the local people and features traditional music, dancing, and food.
• The Kokoda Challenge is an annual event held in early September. It is a gruelling 96km (60 mile) trek across the Kokoda Trail, which is a historic World War II site.
• The Goroka Show is held in the city of Goroka in late September. It is a two-day event featuring traditional music, dancing, and food, as well as displays of traditional crafts and artwork.
• The Rabaul Mask Festival is held in the city of Rabaul in early September. It is a week-long event that celebrates the traditional masks and costumes of the local people.
• The Tumbuna Festival is held in the city of Port Moresby in mid-September. It is a celebration of traditional culture, featuring performances of traditional music and dance, as well as displays of traditional crafts and artwork.

Papua New Guinea in October

Weather

October in Papua New Guinea is generally warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is common in most parts of the country during this time of year.

Events

• The Port Moresby Arts Theatre Festival takes place in October, showcasing the best of Papua New Guinea’s performing arts.
• The Kokoda Challenge is a grueling endurance event that takes place in October, with participants running or walking the 96km Kokoda Trail.
• The Kokopo Cultural Show is held in October, featuring traditional music, dance, and storytelling from the East New Britain Province.
• The Madang Festival of Culture and Arts is held in October, celebrating the diverse cultures of the Madang Province.
• The Goroka Show is held in October, showcasing traditional dances, music, and art from the Eastern Highlands Province.

Papua New Guinea in November

Weather

November is the start of the wet season in Papua New Guinea. Temperatures are typically warm and humid, with average highs of 29°C (84°F) and lows of 22°C (72°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of 11 days of rain.

Events

• The Kokoda Track Challenge takes place in November. This is a grueling 96 km (60 mile) trek through the mountains of Papua New Guinea.
• The Baining Fire Dance Festival is held in November. This is a traditional dance festival that celebrates the culture of the Baining people.
• The Goroka Show is held in November. This is a cultural festival that showcases the traditional music and dance of the many different tribes of Papua New Guinea.
• The Madang Festival is held in November. This is a cultural festival that celebrates the culture and traditions of the Madang Province.
• The National Mask Festival is held in November. This is a festival that celebrates the traditional masks of the many different tribes of Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea in December

Weather

December in Papua New Guinea is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 31°C. There is a chance of rain throughout the month, with an average of around 10 days of rainfall.

Events

• The Madang Festival is held in Madang in December, and is a celebration of the culture, tradition and history of the Madang people. It is a great opportunity to experience the local culture and enjoy traditional music and dance performances.
• The Kokopo Cultural Show is held in Kokopo in December, and is a celebration of the culture, tradition and history of the people of East New Britain. It is a great opportunity to experience the local culture and enjoy traditional music and dance performances.
• The Goroka Show is held in Goroka in December and is a celebration of the culture, tradition and history of the people of the Eastern Highlands. It is a great opportunity to experience the local culture and enjoy traditional music and dance performances.
• The Christmas Festival is held in Port Moresby in December and is a celebration of the Christmas season. It is a great opportunity to experience the local culture and enjoy Christmas decorations, music, and food.
• The New Year’s Festival is held in Port Moresby in December and is a celebration of the start of the new year. It is a great opportunity to experience the local culture and enjoy traditional music and dance performances.