My personal favorites are Walindi Plantation Resort for its beautiful view and outstanding food and Grand Papua Hotel for its luxury and accessibility to everything.

QUICK PICKS: 4 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the best resorts in Papua New Guinea? No worries! These are my four top picks for where to stay in Papua New Guinea. If you book one of these four, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

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Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

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Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

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Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

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WHICH REGION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO STAY IN

The blog will be broken up into five sections for the best specialty resorts and best hotels in PNG.

• Best Hotels in Port Moresby (The base to access all adventures and the International Airport)
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for scuba-diving
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for bird-watching
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for surfing
• Additional accommodation in Lae

Just north of Australia lies Papua New Guinea, ‘The Land of Unexpected’! This country is located in the continent of Oceania and is divided into four regions: Highlands Region, Islands Region, Momase Region, and Southern Region. Papua New Guinea is known for its cultural traditions and epic scuba diving, trekking, bird watching, and surfing. The marine diversity is also incredible with beautiful corals as well as several shipwrecks and plane wrecks from World War II.  

Despite the small number of tourists, the country still offers some very luxurious and immersive accommodations. Whether you want to stay by the ocean, in the mountains, or an island, Papua New Guinea has a place for you.

WHERE TO STAY IN PNG: REGION BY REGION

In this blog post, I’ve handpicked two luxury and another two ‘value’ hotels in Port Moresby, six resorts for scuba diving, three lodges for bird watching, three accommodations for surfing, and several other hotels.

Here’s a little checklist to start!

• If you are in Papua New Guinea for business and leisure, then Port Moresby in the Southern region is ideal for you.
• If you are visiting to experience world-class diving, head to Madang (Momase Region) and Kimbe Bay, New Britain (Islands Region).
• If you want to do bird watching and trekking, the Highlands Region (Mt. Hagen) is the perfect place for you.
• If surfing is your thing, there’s a place in the North Shore, New Ireland and near Kavieng.

 THE BEST RESORTS AND ACCOMMODATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

18 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

In this blog post, I’ve handpicked two luxury and another two ‘value’ hotels in Port Moresby, the six best resorts for scuba diving, the three best lodges for bird watching, and the three best accommodations for surfing.

Southern region: Port Moresby

Most people traveling in business or leisure stay in one of the following hotels in Port Moresby. It’s the main hub for travelers exploring Papua New Guinea. There are more hotels in the area and lots of attractions including Parliament Haus, Port Moresby Nature Park, Bomana War Cemetery, National Orchid Gardens, and so much more. Check out my personal luxury and value pick below:

GRAND PAPUA HOTEL

Grand Papua Hotel (Luxury): This 5-star hotel is centrally located, a few minute’s drive from Port Moresby International Airport, and within easy access to everything including Ela Beach. If you’re up to something indulging, this is an excellent base before or after your Papua New Guinea exploration. The property features an infinity pool, a full-service spa, a hot tub, a sauna, in-house restaurants, a fitness center, and 2 bars.

Each room and suite has everything that you could ask for including an iPod docking station but the panoramic ocean view from the balcony is definitely the highlight. The room service is impeccable, the food is extremely delicious, and the facilities are immaculately clean. Hands down! This is rated as the best 5-star hotel in Papua New Guinea!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Grand Papua Hotel

Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

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AIRWAYS HOTEL

Airways Hotel (Luxury): This is where I stayed before and after my trek on the Kokoda Track . A luxury staycation awaits you at Airways Hotel! The name of the hotel speaks for itself as it is one of the best airport hotels in the world. It is literally 3-minutes from the airport with a free shuttle included. This sleek, well-designed 5-star hotel features first-class amenities and an awesome buffet for all meals.

The staff has good attention to detail and they greet you warmly from the moment you set foot in the hotel entrance. The staff were very friendly and often chatted to us for ages about our treks, and where we were going and were excited to meet us. It was not like the normal sterile customer service of a hotel, the staff was genuinely happy we had come to Papua New Guinea and their hotel. Everything is perfect from the views of Bootless Bay to the mountains. 

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Airways Hotel

Airways Hotel

• Luxury
• Best
• Free-shuttle

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THE SANCTUARY HOTEL RESORT & SPA

The Sanctuary Hotel Resort & Spa (Value): This hotel is just 10 minutes away from the Jacksons’ airport and is popular with all sorts of travelers. It features a tiny pool fenced with plants and a fountain making it a relaxing spot for guests after a long day of sightseeing. This hideaway has 54 rooms ranging from twin rooms, double rooms, and studio suites– all equipped with air conditioners, Wi-fi, and a terrace. If that’s not enough, try their super relaxing hot stone massage at Lingzhi (Mushroom) Serenity Spa.

Here guests can also get a chance to feed birds in the big aviary on-site. They have a parking space available for guests, round-the-clock reception, a complimentary airport shuttle (very handy), and balconies overlooking the pool. And the hotel serves healthy and delicious food! This hotel is definitely a great value for money but still has luxurious trimmings.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for The Sanctuary Hotel Resort & Spa

The Sanctuary Hotel Resort & Spa

• Value for money
• Relaxing spot
• Luxury

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HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS PORT MORESBY

Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby (Value): This is an affordable 4-star option for people traveling for business or leisure. Set in the center of the action, this property is all about attention to detail. Guests of the 4-star rooms enjoy free Wi-fi throughout the hotel as well as the airport shuttle. But the real highlight is the complimentary breakfast buffet and it’s included in the price.

Holiday Inn Express is an ideal place for those who are looking for places that offer great value for money. I highly recommend staying at this hotel for transit or a short stay in Port Moresby.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby

Holiday Inn Express Port Moresby

• Value
• Affordable
• 4-star

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SCUBA DIVING

You can dive in Papua New Guinea throughout the year with incredibly warm water. It’s ranked as the #7 diving location in the entire world! Though the locations can be quite remote and the marine biodiversity is incredible. The popular diving locations are Kavieng, Milne Bay, and Kimbe Bay. Check out my top-pick resorts below:

MADANG DIVE RESORT

Madang Dive Resort: I stayed here and if scuba diving is your thing, then Madang Dive Resort is the ideal place for you too! This waterfront 4-star resort offers a wide selection of rooms from standard to Presidential and Executive suites with private balconies except some of the standard rooms.  I think what sets Madang Dive Resort apart is the number of activities for every guest to enjoy such as diving at a WWII shipwreck and plane wreck, snorkeling, trekking, cruising, fishing, and even jet skiing!

Breakfast is included in your stay and you can also try the cuisines from the 4 restaurants on-site. There is also a shuttle service to and from the airport. Staff is all personable, providing excellent service to their guests. I highly recommend Madang Dive Resort! Tell your guide and shuttle diver ‘Busy Bee’ I said hello.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Madang Dive Resort

Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

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WALINDI PLANTATION RESORT

Walindi Plantation Resort: This was my favorite place I stayed while in Papua New Guinea. We stayed for four nights and it was just incredible in every regard. The food was outstanding, even for us as vegetarians. The volcano hikes, hot river, island-hopping, and scuba diving were just second to none!

Set in Kimbe Bay, Walindi Plantation Resort is another perfect base for scuba diving or water excursions. Not a cheap stay but it is truly all-inclusive even your daily washing! Each bungalow is designed traditionally with verandas and is surrounded by rainforest and tropical lush scenery.

Wait till you see how epic the trees are on the property! This oceanfront resort has a cute pool, a waterfront bar, and an open-air restaurant so you’ll have everything for a comfortable stay. The area has the most amazing diving spots although it’s quite remote, which means you will literally be the only boat on the water.

Most people visit here to experience full days of diving but actually, you can customize activities based on your preference just like what I did. Whether you want to try trekking to a volcano, enjoy the heated enchanted river in the jungle, or go scuba diving and free diving, Walindi Resort has plenty to offer! The average stay is seven days the owner told us, with guests looking to spend lots of days diving, with one or two land adventure days and some relaxing. This was easily my favorite resort in Papua New Guinea.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Walindi Plantation Resort

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

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LOLOATA PRIVATE ISLAND RESORT

Loloata Private Island Resort (Secluded): If you want a more private escape then head to Loloata Private Island Resort located on Loloata island–not too far from Port Moresby. This luxury boutique resort offers 68 tastefully-furnished suites and villas which are designed for every guest’s comfort with a view of the pristine ocean and colorful reefs, plus easy access to its private beach.

The resort has been redeveloped and features multiple diving sites where you can see stunning tropical sea creatures. If you want to do snorkeling, guests are provided with snorkeling gear for free which is a bonus. But if you feel like pampering yourself whilst staying at Loloata, take advantage of their spa service at the Sea Salt Spa. This resort also welcomes day visitors but it requires advanced booking to keep the privacy of the resort. This property is perfect for those who seek a luxury tropical destination.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Loloata Private Island Resort

Loloata Private Island Resort

• Secluded
• Luxury
• Spa

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TAWALI RESORT

Tawali Resort: Set in a remote part of Milne Bay, Tawali Resort is one of the best places to stay for scuba diving enthusiasts and travelers alike. This private resort is only accessible by boat where the rainforest meets corals. How epic is that! Featuring wooden bungalows with safe-deposit boxes and private balconies from which guests can enjoy the view of the bay.

Apart from the exceptional scuba diving, another thing that I love about this resort is its laid-back atmosphere. There’s a swimming pool, a bar, and a restaurant on site. The property also offers excursions such as snorkeling, fishing trips, and visiting a waterfall and cave. What’s not to love?

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Tawali Resort

Tawali Resort

• Best place
• Private balconies
• Swimming pool, bar

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KABAIRA BEACH HIDEAWAY

Kabaira Beach Hideaway: This retreat cabin offers basic accommodation located on New Britain island. It is technically surrounded by villages and lush greenery. A beachfront accommodation that offers basic rooms to cater to all types of travelers. It features small and big bungalows, guesthouses, a dining room for all meals, and a bar.

They have a wide range of activities on offer including scuba diving, snorkeling, jungle tours, island tours, and more. Take advantage of their complimentary laundry service. And a visit to Kabaira is not complete without sampling their traditional food.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Kabaira Beach Hideaway

Kabaira Beach Hideaway

• Villages and lush greenery
• Beachfront
• Amazing location

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LISSENUNG ISLAND RESORT

Lissenung Island Resort: This resort is situated on a private island just a 20-minute boat ride from Kavieng. This place is an epitome of paradise! From white sand beaches that surround the towering palm trees to pristine seawater home to the most beautiful coral reefs and fishes.

It offers 8 traditional-style oceanfront accommodations with verandas. Imagine yourself waking up in paradise. Serenity and relaxation are another reason why people visit here. Here at Lissenung, you’ll be rewarded with world-class diving as the island is abundant in marine life. Definitely a favorite among scuba divers!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Lissenung Island Resort

Lissenung Island Resort

• Paradise
• Location
• Budget

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BIRD WATCHING

The Highland areas are popular for birders, photographers, and nature lovers thanks to Papua New Guinea’s incredible birdlife. Here, you’ll get to see a lot of beautiful flora and fauna. If you are a hiking enthusiast, then Mt. Hagen’s rugged outback shows the real challenge for you.

There are a few lodges that make perfect places to stay for bird watchers. Rondon Ridge Lodge is one of the best lodgings as it offers a surreal view of Wahgi Valley. Betty’s Lodge is a popular base for hiking and bird watching as well as Ambua Lodge, which is an eco-friendly lodge that also offers a great view of Tari Valley.

RONDON RIDGE LODGE

Rondon Ridge Lodge: Getting there is a pain in the bum but it’s certainly worth it! This lodge is quite off the beaten track which is more exciting for adventure lovers like me. Set in the Wahgi Valley, you’ll wake up with a panoramic view of the valley from your room. Rooms are a mixture of local rosewood and modern-style furnishings.

Each room is provided with electric blankets. There is also a lounge for dining which is surrounded by rainforest and vegetation. Apart from watching birds, some of the highlights here are visiting the famous Mudmen and several villages for the customs and traditions of the Melpa people and you’ll be accompanied by a local guide. Undoubtedly, this haven has a lot to offer!

BETTY’S LODGE

Betty’s Lodge: It’s one of those iconic accommodations you come across on your travels. Everyone knows it, everyone knows Betty. She’s been in the community for 33-years and at the top of a bumpy road, she has built a haven for hikers. She prides herself on providing as much luxury as she can in this remote village. Hikers are treated to hot water, comfortable beds, and best of all, a really great spread of food at every meal. Little touches like afternoon coffee and fresh strawberries make it feel like home.

The lodge is at 2,800m of incline so it’s good to spend a night here acclimatizing before heading up to base camp at 3,500m. We stayed here for one night and then trekked up to base camp where we spent one night, summited in the morning, and then trekked all the way back down to Betty’s Lodge to stay one more night before driving back to Mount Hagen. This is a great way and gives you a little bit of acclimatization time. I would suggest maybe two nights at base camp so you can better acclimatize. I struggled with altitude sickness so this would’ve benefited me.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Betty’s Lodge

Betty’s Lodge

• Iconic
• Luxury
• Adventure

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AMBUA LODGE

Ambua Lodge: Set in the Southern Highlands, Ambua Lodge features non-air conditioned and round-shaped lodges but cozy enough for sleeping. Of course, who would want an air conditioner if your base is in the middle of the jungle? This eco-friendly property has a restaurant and lounge area. Getting here is tricky but it’s worth it as it offers wondrous and bizarre views of Tari Valley.

Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts stay in this lodge not only to watch different species of birds but also to learn about the culture of the neighboring villages such as the sightings of the famous Huli Wigmen tribe. Hiking from the lodge is another option- a short trek to the rainforest leads to a fantastic and huge waterfall but wherever you go it’s advisable to be accompanied by a guide or else you’ll lose track in the forest. So bring your camera and enjoy taking photographs with nature as your backdrop!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Ambua Lodge

Ambua Lodge

• Cozy
• Eco-friendly
• Views

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 SURFING

There are also some guesthouses for surfers traveling in Papua New Guinea. No-frills accommodation but have decent lodging and a laid-back atmosphere. Some of the recommended properties for surfing enthusiasts are Vanimo Surf Lodge on the North Shore of Papua New Guinea; Nusa Island Retreat in the outer reaches of Niugini Islands; and Rubio Plantation Retreat in New Ireland.

VANIMO SURF LODGE

Vanimo Surf Lodge: This place is a haven for all sorts of surfers! Vanimo Surf Lodge is situated on the North shore in Papua New Guinea not far from the Indonesian border. With very few tourists visiting each year, this remote accommodation has been operating for years and visited by famous surfers since the 1980s. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for uncrowded surf breaks, waves for even beginner surfers, small waterfront refuge, and a cultural experience.

The accommodations are bare-bones oceanfront huts and can accommodate only up to 16 guests. A $12 fee for the local community is included in your booking and also airport transfer, 1.5 liters of bottled water a day, all meals, and endless surfing. The property offers food that is cooked in a traditional way–simple yet delicious! Although electricity is scarce here because power shuts off at 9 pm, I guess it is not a problem as guests are probably asleep this time after a long day of surfing.  

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Vanimo Surf Lodge

Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

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NUSA ISLAND RETREAT

Nusa Island Retreat: A sanctuary for surfers set in the outer parts of Niugini Islands, New Ireland where you’ll experience the true island and surfing life. Nusa Island Retreat is only a few minute’s boat ride from Kavieng offering simple accommodation ranging from standard rooms to premium rooms. The traditional island-style premium bungalows can accommodate up to 6 people and they are just right on the water so you’ll enjoy listening to the sound of waves throughout day and night.

Each premium bungalow has a private bathroom and a spacious veranda with hammocks, chairs, and excellent views of the pristine waters. But the standard room has a shared bathroom in the back part of the property. I really loved its laid-back atmosphere and the fresh local seafood and fruits they served to every guest. Here surfing is lit as the area boasts a great number of surf breaks and nice waves during the surfing period from November to April. Apart from surfing, it is also a perfect location to base yourself on other water activities such as diving, fishing, and kayaking.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Nusa Island Retreat

Nusa Island Retreat

• Premium
• Traditional island-style
• Budget

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RUBIO PLANTATION RETREAT

Rubio Plantation Retreat: Rubio Plantation Retreat is perfectly located on a private plantation which is a 3-hour drive from Kavieng Airport. It offers rustic traditional bungalows with a total of 11 beds equipped with private and shared facilities. You’ll expect nothing but a basic, no-frills stay as they only rely on solar and hydro-power systems to generate power in the area. The hosts (Shane & Annette) are very accommodating and helpful in providing for every guest’s needs. They are extremely knowledgeable about the place, especially surfing.

At Rubio’s, delicious meals are served 3 times a day during your entire stay. Try their homemade hot choco- it’s the best and probably one of the highlights during the stay. Beach and mountains surround this property so it has many trails to explore on top of infinite surfing. There’s nothing more interesting than learning a new culture. This retreat also offers traditional dancing and cooking and village tours. With a private beach, excellent surf breaks, and amazing jungles, Rubio Plantation Retreat is a pure paradise!

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Rubio Plantation Retreat

Rubio Plantation Retreat

• Amazing
• Perfect location
• Traditional

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MOMASE REGION: LAE ACCOMMODATION

Lae is the capital of Morobe Province and the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. There are plenty of attractions to see in Lae Province including the Unitech and Botanical Gardens. Check out my two top recommendations below:

CROSSROADS LAE HOTEL

Crossroads Lae Hotel (Staff/Location): Renowned for its friendly staff and convenient location, a stay at Crossroads Lae Hotel will be both welcoming and comfortable. It’s only 30 minutes away from Lae Airport plus there’s a shuttle bus available if you want to be picked up. This 3-star hotel has beautiful landscapes and a tranquil location.

It features 40 rooms, an outdoor pool with a bar, a 24-hour reception, a tour desk, and a gym. Each room is fitted with a safe-deposit box and some may have a balcony from which you can enjoy the mountain views. I especially like the fact that the property serves numerous cuisines from international to Asian dishes.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Crossroads Lae Hotel

Crossroads Lae Hotel

• Great staff
• Fair location
• Comfortable

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HOTEL MOROBE

Hotel Morobe (Value): Another 3-star hotel in Lae is Hotel Morobe. This hotel offers free breakfast for two at their two in-house restaurants. An added bonus is the proximity to the shops and the beautiful views of the city and mountains. Each room has necessities including hairdryers and toiletries. Its simple and homey interior, welcoming staff, and quiet location are among the reasons why guests love to stay here. Plus it’s a great base if you’re exploring the Momase region.

Click Here to check the current rates and availability for Hotel Morobe

Hotel Morobe

• Free breakfast
• Beautiful views
• 3-Star

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I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best luxury resorts in Papua New Guinea.

At the bottom of this blog post, I will also cover everything you need to know before you visit Papua New Guinea such as safety, vaccines, the best time to visit, and if it’s possible to solo travel.

10 ADVENTUROUS THINGS TO DO IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

1. TREK THE KOKODA TRACK

The most popular tourist attraction in Papua New Guinea is most definitely the Kokoda Track. The Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea is known as one of the toughest multi-day treks in the world. It also has an immense historical significance as it was the epicenter of the Kokoda Battle between the Japanese and the Australian Forces in WWII. The grueling battle of war along the muddy ridges of the Kokoda track was played out in harsh tropical conditions. Today, trekkers from around the world reflect on the four pillars of Kokoda, which are mateship, endurance, sacrifice, and courage as they push themselves physically and mentally to complete the arduous journey across the Kokoda Track.

The Kokoda Track is a single-file trail, which runs through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The Track begins at Owers’ Corner in Central Province, which is 50 kilometers east of the capital, Port Moresby. The Kokoda Track finishes in the village of Kokoda, which is in the Oro Province.

The trail is a total distance of 96 kilometers, which sounds like a long way but when you break it up over 8 days it becomes a manageable 12 kilometers a day. The important part to consider is that it is very slow going due to the muddy and uneven terrain. 12 kilometers on flat terrain walking around the local park may take you 2-3 hours but on the Kokoda Track, you can expect to go twice as slow so 5-8 hours a day of hiking is about the norm.

I can’t recommend the Kokoda Trail enough and have linked below to my huge blog post guide about the adventure with everything you need to know. It’s by far one of the most popular Papua New Guinea tourist attractions.

READ FULL BLOG POST: THE KOKODA TRAIL: READ THIS BLOG BEFORE YOUR TREK

2. TREK UP TO THE HIGHEST POINT IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA & OCEANIA: MOUNT WILHELM

Climbing Mount Wilhelm is one of the toughest challenges in Papua New Guinea. In fact, it is the tallest peak in Oceania at 4,509m. The journey to base camp and then the summit requires planning, determination, and hopefully some good weather! 

Mount Wilhelm is part of the Bismarck Range and the peak is the exact point where three different provinces meet. Generally, most people take 2-3 days to complete the trek as it is best to acclimatize to the altitude rather than rushing up

The total distance of the hike from Betty’s Lodge to Base Camp (where most trekkers stay) to Summit is 11.7km one-way so a total round-trip distance of 23.4 kilometers is what you are up against.

The trail consists of a dirt path, slippery muddy terrain, and moderate bouldering. There are no technical sections that require rock-climbing experience or ropes/equipment. It is slow going due to the slippery, uneven terrain.

This was one of the toughest experiences we’ve ever had as we battled the altitude and the cold to reach the summit for sunrise! Mount Wilhelm is one of the most difficult places to visit in Papua New Guinea.

READ THE FULL BLOG POST: MOUNT WILHELM TREK (4,509M) – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

3. ISLAND HOPPING IN MADANG

Madang is one of the most pristine coastal regions in Papua New Guinea with excellent diving, multiple WWII plane and shipwrecks as well as a number of land attractions and villages in the jungle to explore. There are hundreds of islands off the coast of Madang and with few other boats in the area, you can stop off and enjoy the peaceful calls of birds and nature on your own private island. There were many highlights but the pick of the bunch for me was Pig Island. It was covered in palm trees and was surrounded by incredible turquoise waters. The jungle seemed to overflow onto the beach and into the water. It was beautifully wild.

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4. SCUBA-DIVING IN MADANG

On one of our days in Madang, we headed out from Madang Resort to discover several wrecks that are remnants of the battles that took place in WWII. It was Josh’s first-time Scuba diving but they let him do a fun dive, which meant on his first ever scuba dive he was down checking out a WWII bomber and behind the machine guns!

I personally love diving wrecks and think it’s incredible to witness history but also see how nature slowly takes over. We dove down to the Henry Lieth shipwreck and the B-25 bomber plane wreck. Hundreds of species call the wrecks home and it becomes a hotspot of diversity and activity with fish and corals covering the wrecks. The underwater wrecks are one of the best things to see in Papua New Guinea.

5. EXPERIENCE THE HAILIKU VILLAGE TOUR, CAVING AND CLIFF JUMP

The discovery of the Hailiku Village cliff jump in the jungle cave called ‘Mali Cave’ was a bit of an accident for us. It was a strange old day, in which 50 members of the village, young and old, led us through the rivers, caves, and watering holes of their community.

We drove out along a bumpy road through the jungle, passing by lots of small villages throughout the journey. When we arrived the kids led us through the jungle toward the caves. When we arrived it was a dark, scary cave full of water. I’m not sure exactly what they wanted us to do but we ended up deciding to have a cliff jump. I checked the landing area, climbed back up, and then sent a jump from the entrance. Locals never did that, apparently ever so they all loved it and a few of them joined in.

The other adventure at Hailiku Village was a tour of the Itanub Cave. It’s a deep cave complex where the locals have built access ladders out of bamboo. A small, narrow entrance opens out into a huge room inside the cave. During the war, it’s said the Japanese used the caves in these regions to hide out when necessary.

READ FULL BLOG POST: HAILIKU VILLAGE JUNGLE-CAVE CLIFF JUMP & VILLAGE VISIT IN MADANG

6.  DISCOVER THE TALASEA PLANE WRECKS IN NEW BRITAIN

During World War II the South Pacific Sea was an explosive battleground between Japan and America. There was some serious action throughout Papua New Guinea, which means that inevitably, there are many planes and shipwrecks scattered throughout the island nation. Many of the plane wrecks are accessible by scuba dive but throughout our three weeks in Papua New Guinea, we also visited a number of plane wrecks on land. The most impressive of them all was the Talasea plane wrecks in New Britain.

The Talasea Plane Wrecks are found in an area to the west of Kimbe Town in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It’s just a 30-minute drive from Walindi Plantation Resort.

The Talasea Plane Wrecks are in the same position they crashed in. They haven’t been moved but a palm-oil plantation has been planted in the region, replacing the former town. This means that the jungle is slowly overtaking the two bomber wrecks found at the site. The wrecks are on either side of the road and you can explore each with just a 20-yard stroll from the road making it an easy activity after a day of scuba-diving or island-hopping.

READ FULL BLOG POST: TALASEA WWII PLANE WRECKS IN NEW BRITAIN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

7. HIKE TO THE TOP OF MOUNT GARBUNA VOLCANO

Mount Garbuna (sometimes named Gabuna) is just 20 km from Kimbe in New Britain. Sitting atop the lush, forested mountain is one of the largest thermal fields in all of Papua New Guinea. The three-hour, 8-kilometer trek through the forest is rich with birdlife and hundreds of different plant species. Once you emerge from the forest, the smell of sulfur fills the air as bubbling thermal pots send plumes billowing into the sky.

The hike begins from the small village at the foot of the mountain. A group of kids, some running around naked, met us as we emerged from the Landcruiser. 

With 2L of water each and a sandwich packed (and of course all our camera gear), we head off into the jungle. The trek is 8 kilometers up and you return the same way so it is a total of 16 kilometers for the entire journey. The incline was about 850m in total (depending on what peaks you climb at the summit).

At the summit, we scampered across the muddy plains, weaving in between the countless dead trees. We climbed our way up the ridge and made it to the base of the sulfur pit where we found a thermal field with bright yellow sulfur creating small chimneys where the plumes of smoke flowed out.  The entire scene is just very wild and with no other tourists or even locals around, it felt like we were on another planet.

READ FULL BLOG POST: MT. GARBUNA VOLCANO HIKE IN NEW BRITAIN, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

8. SOAK IN THE ENCHANTED HOT GARU RIVER

The Garu Hot River in New Britain is one of the most enchanting places I’ve ever visited. Hidden in the jungle, this Papua New Guinea gem is truly magical. A crystal clear river steams at temperatures close to 40 degrees warmed by the thermal fields of the volcano. It’s a perfect place to soak in the natural spa while taking in the lush jungle surroundings.

READ FULL BLOG POST: THE ENCHANTED ‘GARU HOT RIVER’ IN NEW BRITAIN

9. ISLAND HOPPING IN KIMBE BAY

The island hopping in Kimbe Bay is like nowhere else. I say this because there is literally one tour operator and that’s it. This means there are no other boats and no other tourists. It’s just you and nature.

We did an entire day of island-hopping with Walindi Plantation Resort and it was just incredible! I’m talking deep blues, tropical turquoise, and a jungle full of green. We swam through underwater caves, snorkeled with colorful fish and coral, and watched birds nesting on the islands as we sat on the boat.

I’ve been to a lot of beautiful tropical destinations and this region is definitely up there is the most pristine and stunning I’ve come across.

10. SNORKELING AND SCUBA DIVING IN KIMBE BAY

Papua New Guinea is up there as one of the best diving destinations in the world. The sits can often be a little remote to reach but once you are there, settle in for a week of mind-blowing underwater action.

Walindi Plantation Resort is the home base for all of the diving in Kimbe Bay and some of the dive sites are just off the charts. You can go snorkeling, free-diving, and scuba-diving at locations that are in pristine conditions. Thousands of fish, corals, dolphins, sharks, and turtles call the reefs home. The water clarity was just ridiculous in some spots and we could see 40-ft deep with perfect vision just from the deck of the boat.

Okay! Now that we have covered all of the spots I visited during my trip to Papua New Guinea, I’m going to give you some tips and advice for your trip.

BEST TIME TO VISIT PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The best time to visit Papua New Guinea is between April and October as this is the ‘least’ rainy season of the year. However, it is important to know that it is raining all year round, just less in certain periods of the year. Most of the festivals also take place during the dry season, which is some of the key attractions for traveling to Papua New Guinea. 

Between April to October is also the best time for the Kokoda track and most operators aren’t open for business from November till March due to the rainy season.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA VISA

Visa on arrival is possible for all countries in the EU, Australia, the USA, and most other pacific nations. For the full list of countries that can get the visa on arrival, you can click here. The visa on arrival is free and valid for 60 days.

SOLO TRAVEL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

At this stage, I would say solo travel in Papua New Guinea is possible but not something I would recommend. The infrastructure and travel community is just not there.

• To transit as an individual is quite difficult. Without registered public transport available in most places the best option would be hitchhiking to get to certain destinations. Plane travel and private/pick-up or shuttles were our main transportation. For example, to get from Mt. Hagen to Betty’s Lodge was a 4-hr drive and Betty picked us up. There is no opublic transport. If you booked this pick-up on your own it will cost a lot, which is why most people do tours and group trips in Papua New Guinea.
• Safety is a question many ask about Papua New Guinea. Even after three weeks, I don’t feel too qualified to answer the questions I get about safety. Our entire trip was on a group tour or with a guide. However, I never felt unsafe when I was in the provinces. I can imagine Port Moresby can be a bit rough around the edges. It seems like the kind of place you don’t venture out alone at night or even at all to certain areas. I didn’t see or hear anything to suggest it was unsafe but like most cities, there are questionable individuals lurking about. If like most tourists, you are staying in hotels and out hiking, you will most likely only experience the very friendly locals. I found people in Papua New Guinea very, very friendly and curious. It was very similar to the Philippines where the kids were joking around and always smiling and waving.

WHERE TO STAY IN NEW BRITAIN

Kimbe is quite a remote region. Most overseas visitors to the region come to stay at Walindi Plantation Resort. The popular scuba-diving resort is the only well-known accommodation in the region and is where I stayed on my visit. It is one of the best places I have stayed on my travels. We had a private bungalow, fantastic meals each night and the diving is right on the doorstep. You just dive, eat, explore, eat, sleep, repeat, and everything else is taken care of to a very high, western resort-style standard. It’s definitely not a cheap option but you do get what you pay for at Walindi Plantation Resort, so if you have the coin, you will not be disappointed.

QUICK PICKS: 4 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the best resorts in Papua New Guinea? No worries! These are my four top picks for where to stay in Papua New Guinea. If you book one of these four, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

Check price

Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

Check price

Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

Check price

Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

Check price

WHICH REGION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO STAY IN

The blog will be broken up into five sections for the best specialty resorts and best hotels in PNG.

• Best Hotels in Port Moresby (The base to access all adventures and the International Airport)
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for scuba-diving
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for bird-watching
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for surfing
• Additional accommodation in Lae

I completed the Kokoda Track in 2019 with my mate Josh Lynott on a tour with Buna Treks & Tours (one of only two locally-owned trekking companies. In this blog post, I will share with you how we prepared, what we packed, how difficult the track was, and, of course, share my experiences and photos from our 8 days along the trail. You can find my day-by-day breakdown of the trail with photos below the general information sections. There’s also a detailed packing list at the bottom of the post.

THE KOKODA TRACK

I hope this blog post is a one-stop guide to give you all the information you need before deciding to lock in your Kokoda adventure. I really can’t recommend it enough and enjoyed not only the physical challenge but switching off from internet connection, electricity, and many of the distractions we are faced with today. It was a time to learn, reflect and push myself in all departments.

KOKODA TRAIL OR KOKODA TRACK?

First things first, let’s clear something up. Is it Kokoda Trail or Kokoda Track? Well, the short answer is that both are correct, and both are incorrect. It depends on who you ask. I too had this question and was informed it was a bit of a debate so dug a little deeper. It appears that mentions of track and trail have been used throughout history and both are acceptable now although many like to call the entire trail the Kokoda Track.

I had mixed responses from locals but a lot of the operators like to go with Kokoda Track. You can be sure to be wrong and right on this one no matter how you approach it. For more reading on the debate, you can check out this article I read about the topic. Throughout this blog post, I will use both terms interchangeably.

WHERE IS THE THE KOKODA TRAIL

The Kokoda Track is a single-file trail, which runs through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The Track begins at Owers’ Corner in Central Province, which is 50 kilometers east of the capital, Port Moresby. The Kokoda Track finishes in the village of Kokoda, which is in the Oro Province.

Most people make the journey from Owers’ Corner to Kokoda but it can be done in either direction. The most common route is to begin in Port Moresby you will drive to Owers’ Corner, hike through to Kokoda, and then drive down to Poppendetta Airport to fly back to Port Moresby.

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MAP OF THE KOKODA TRAIL

The map of the Kokoda Track below shows each of the campsites and villages along the trail. You won’t necessarily stop and stay the night at them all but you will definitely pass through them all. Your guides will choose the best locations depending on your speed and projections for each day. They will also know which campsites are busy, beautiful and the right choice for your group regarding facilities and space.

KOKODA TRAIL DISTANCE

The trail is a total distance of 96 kilometers, which sounds like a long way but when you break it up over 8 days it becomes a manageable 12 kilometers a day. The important part to consider is that it is very slow going due to the muddy and uneven terrain. 12 kilometers on flat terrain walking around the local park may take you 2-3 hours but on the Kokoda Track, you can expect to go twice as slow so 5-8 hours a day of hiking is about the norm.

KOKODA TRACK ALTITUDE AND INCLINE

Over the course of 96 kilometers, you can expect to gain over 6000 meters of incline. The trail is in a constant state of undulation with 300m of climbing followed by a 200m drop. Despite the total incline of 6000m+, the highest point of altitude is 2,190m at Mt. Bellamy. Because of the high altitude during the middle days of the hike, it can be a bit colder at night and fresher in the air.

HOW TO TRAIN FOR THE KOKODA TRACK?

The answer to this question is not a one-size-fits-all regime. Many young guns may already be in good enough shape to get through the 96 kilometers without extra training. However, it isn’t just about surviving, you want to be thriving and enjoying the trail rather than ‘digging deep’ every day to battle through. I’m not going to formulate a specific training plan but the points below will make it clear what type of training would need to be required.

• You should be able to complete a hike with 600m of elevation throughout. IF YOU CAN’T YET, start by doing a hike with 3-400m of elevation and then repeat once or twice a week leading up to your Kokoda Track adventure. Some days on the track have 1000m+ of climbing.
• You should be able to hike several days in a row during your training. Practice backing up a big hike the next day with a smaller one and try and string together multiple hikes and workouts back-to-back
• I would say running is a great overall fitness activity but not necessary at all to train for Kokoda. Long hikes with moderate incline with a duration of more than four hours are a great, low-impact activity to prepare you.
• Don’t wait to prepare for the hike until one month before. Give yourself three months to really make some changes in your body and your muscles to ensure you are ready when the time comes.
• When people ask how hard the Kokoda Trail is….take comfort in knowing that our guides told us the oldest hiker they had was 75 and the youngest was a 12-year-old girl. It’s a mental challenge more than it is physical. You just need to keep walking and believe you will make it.

BEST TIME TO TREK THE KOKODA TRACK. WHAT’S THE WEATHER?

The Kokoda Track is well up in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and is a tropical country. This means the country has a monsoonal climate with hot, humid temperatures. During the day, you can expect 24-32 degrees celsius while nights can be 2-18 degrees throughout the trek at different times of the year. Humidity on the Kokoda Trail is the real killer, often recorded between 75-95%. 

There is no dry season, just a wet and ‘drier’ season in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The wet season is between November to April. Most of the trekking companies don’t operate from November to March due to the rainy conditions. We did our hike during October and it rained every day in the afternoon but it wasn’t a bad experience. 

The best time to trek the Kokoda Track is during the dry season, which runs from April to October but you should still expect rain. The other part to consider is that when we went on the fringe on the wet season there were hardly any other trekkers. It was peaceful. In the peak, dry season you can expect to share facilities, campsites, and the trail but it is rarely overflowing.

BOOKING A TOUR AND HOW TO CHOOSE WHICH TOUR COMPANY 

There are 98 tour companies currently offering tours of the Kokoda Track but only two are locally owned. That’s important to know. We did our trek with Buna Treks & Tours, which was formed by a group of determined local guides, who had for years worked for Australian tour companies. Learning plenty over several decades, they set up their own tour company and are now offering one of the most authentic experiences on the trail from locals, by locals for you.

Florence and Watson from Buna Treks & Tours met us the night before our trek in Port Moresby and joined us for dinner. They checked all our gear and answered any questions we had about what we needed, what to expect, and how the whole experience would work.

This was important because once you are out there, you have no electricity or internet so you need to be well-prepared. The team is from the town of Buna, which is the town near the airport at the end of the trail. They are all local, hard-working guys and even a few of the ladies guide the trek including Florence (don’t underestimate her, I think she’s the strongest of them all!)

Buna Treks & Tours offer a point of difference in that the guys love the trail. They hiked with two guitars, traditional drums, and traditional outfits and shared with us traditional dances and performances as well as constantly creating good vibes with tunes on their guitars. Imagine hiking up 1000m+ of incline on a muddy track while playing the guitar.

I can’t thank the team enough from Buna Treks & Tours for such an incredible experience. We loved all of you guys and I truly hope you guys will choose local and get to know the team during your eight days in the jungle.

The cost of the tour depends on the number of trekkers in your group (the more you have the less you each pay) and the duration of the trek. It’s possible to do the trek in 5, 8, or 11 days but generally, eight is the ideal number and manageable for most. We did 8 and found it comfortable and enjoyable with time to relax at each campsite and village.

I’ll leave the link here to the booking page on their website so you can check the rates, details, and information about the team: Buna Treks & Tours Website

To visit their website: Buna Treks & Tours

If you want to contact Florence and the team directly to make an inquiry or ask some questions you can reach them via email or phone.

To send Buna Treks & Tours an email inquiry: bunatrekkers@gmail.com

Phone number: +675 7690 0412

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE KOKODA TRACK

In this section of the blog post, I’m going to give you a little bit of insight into each day on the trail. It won’t be a turn-by-turn description but just a few thoughts from Josh and myself that we jotted down each day as well as our favorite shots.

DAY 1

The big adventure began with a windy drive to, Owers’ corner the start of Kokoda. Our intention was to finish the hike in 8 days (96km). Maybe we’ll do it faster but we’ll see how we go. We stopped off on the way to Owers’ corner at the memorial where hundreds of soldiers are buried. It was our first time encountering the scale of the losses and it was a quiet, reflective moment as Watson, our senior guide, talked us through some of the stories and facts of the Kokoda Battle. Watson’s grandfather was a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel, which means he was an integral part of the Australian mission helping to carry the injured and critical supplies.

After a last-minute check of all the gear, we set off with smiles and sunny skies but just two minutes into the hike it started to bucket down with rain! What a welcome to Kokoda that would set the tone of the next week. Everything we were carrying was completely saturated.

The boys told us to expect the unexpected in Papua New Guinea, you never know what the weather is going to do. The great thing about tropical rain, even if it is torrential, is that it’s not cold. We pushed on in our t-shirts and shorts not overly bothered by the ridiculous downpour that just soaked us. The great part about the downpour was that it meant there was no need to take your shoes off for river crossings, there was no point.

Day one was a short day, only hiking for 2-3 hours, and relatively easy for me. We trudged through some river crossings and muddy sections, but nothing to test our mettle yet.

Arriving at camp, the sky turned all shades of pink and purple. We were also treated to a full rainbow as the guides sang and played guitar. 

One of the quotes of the day was from Watson, team leader of Buna Treks & Tours: “I always try and take a bit of their mind with me.” This was in reference to the trekkers he guides and the people he gets to meet along the trail. We enjoyed the idea that you can take ideas from everyone you meet and it’s a privilege to gain an insight into their mind.

DAY 2

The second day on the Kokoda Track is a reality check. You are sliding on wet socks, and wet shoes and have 90 kilometers to go. There is nowhere to hide. Our hike today was a 400m climb in total taking us only 4-5 hours before we reached our camp.

This part of the trail takes you to some of the most significant sections of the Kokoda Battle as you reach the area where the Japanese were finally forced back. We also had our first look at several of the trenches the Australians used along the ridges. 

We arrived early to camp two and beat the rain, which meant we could dry our clothes out in the hut. This was a big win. An afternoon spent inside the hut, watching the storm around us was surprisingly blissful.

DAY 3

Josh wrote today’s summary from the campsite on day three.

There’s a deeply warming feeling about being under shelter away from the elements. Currently, I’m drying my towel and clothes next to the campfire. It’s raining again, that’s been a trend every afternoon. This morning was noticeably hot, I was sweating for hours on end. We left camp at 6:37 am from camp two. Weetbix for breakfast today, what a treat that was. A little taste of Australia out here on Kokoda.

So far, the best word to describe Kokoda is undulating. We climb and then descend but rarely do we hit flat ground.

I think that today we did maybe 800-100m of climbing across the 15km. After our hiking rampage in Switzerland, it is very manageable and our legs are conditioned.

Smoke from the fire makes my eyes cry but the setting is so peaceful. I have been forced (in the best way possible) to disconnect and slow down, it’s great.

I have found that I have been reminiscing and having many nostalgic thoughts. Thinking about past adventures, romances, physical feats, and much more.

DAY 4:

Today was a long stretch with a solid amount of climbing (1500m), half of which was in the pouring rain. This is the day that when finished puts you in the no-return zone and you are now in no-mans land. Not that we ever had any intentions of turning back. Reaching camp, changing into dry clothes, and sitting by the fire was a welcome relief after being wet for at least the last four hours of the hike.

I had never seen a jungle, like what we saw. The valleys of lush green, occasional patches of luminous maroon leaves, big walls of tropical plants. It was special.

DAY 5

Today was slow and steady out on the Kokoda track. We had a faux departure of 6:22 am. We went to look at an airplane that had a crash landing recently. It was very out of place and kind of funny to see. We returned from our ‘pre-adventure adventure’ and set off to start hiking at 7:00 am.

We slept at Epogi Village, the biggest village on the track and also the halfway point.

The Routine has been bed before 7:30 pm and up at 4:45 am. We’ve actually been sleeping so much!

Breakfast was by the fire in the hut today, eating our Weet-bix, and drinking a concoction of coffee/milo – it was a great way to start the day. I honestly wish more people could experience the tranquility of it.

Kokoda has had far more beauty for nature than I expected. There are ever-changing micro-climates, you really never get bored. The types of trees are continually different which I have enjoyed.

Today involved more climbing; we did over a vertical kilometer in elevation. The moss forest was by far the most enjoyable thing today.

Tonight our guides danced and played traditional PNG music. I’m starting to catch onto their tunes. A small choir of men’s voices well harmonized and partnered with a guitar is very wholesome. I should learn guitar, at least just the basics.

DAY 6

We made it before the rain again. It has nearly been a definitive pattern. By 3 pm it will be raining. It’s great to arrive before the rain, that way all our gear stays dry and we get to shower or swim. (We can obviously shower or swim if it’s raining, but that’s not as enticing.)

Priority one at any camp is to get the fire going. Once the fire is going, the water is on the boil and a cuppa’ tea shortly follows.

Today we made it to the highest point of the entire trek, Mt. Bellamy. It’s approximately 2100m, however, it was not the hardest climb. We meandered along through more ‘moss forest’ and an undulating trail. There are some very scenic sections that we documented. I would genuinely recommend Kokoda to people. Simply put, it is just so beautiful.

Over time, people have obviously enforced a path through the weight of their continual footsteps, but it still seems very natural and untouched to me. I imagine the consistent rain washes away all the footsteps each day.

We began today at 6:33 am. Porridge was served for breakfast again, I’m loving porridge for breakfast. It seemingly fuels us well, especially with a dash of honey.

The guides us at lunch with peanut butter and Nutella tortillas, what a treat this deep into the hike.

The camp we arrived at today is awesome. We swam in the pool of a small waterfall and managed to climb up and jump off the rocks beside it. The water was very very fresh.

Physically, we feel great. The legs are fine and not fatigued. we’re scoring 8-9 hours of sleep each night which is fantastic.

Our hiking leader, Daryl, hiked noticeably quicker today. He’s a machine. We did 13.2 kilometers and made it to camp around 1:30 pm.

Again, being in a warm dry outfit whilst listening to the rain pound against the tarp is an atmosphere we love. Today’s work is done, now we can relax and enjoy the hours of ‘zen’ before tomorrow.

DAY 7

Today was the most challenging day so far. Before starting the trek at 6:15 am, we had a damper for breakfast. This was my first experience with a damper. A small fire, tea in hand, and PB + honey on my damper, winning.

We kicked off with two water crossings, two of at least ten that we crossed throughout the day. Some were more precarious than others. Josh earned himself the title, ‘Jittery Josh’ after a few slips on the crossings but no major accidents to report.

Breakfast to lunch was slow going, it took a while to progress. With lots of tree roots, it’s not easy to simply ‘walk’ and get into a good rhythm. Kokoda requires a lot of focus on your footing, otherwise, it could be very easy to fall.

 ‘Choco vine’, a plant that grows out of control in PNG has been a new inclusion to our meals. It surprisingly tastes great. It’s good to get some greens into the diet too.

After lunch, both the pace of hiking and the scenery picked up. We passed through some of the best jungles I’ve ever seen! It was the best of the trip so far. The greenery and the way it takes over the land are unbelievable. An ocean of green, truly. All the tall trees are covered in moss or vines, there is so much for the eyes to take in. It’s a sight to behold!

We made it to camp, one minute before the rain started. We were very lucky. It was also extremely humid today.

Physically, we could feel the fatigue in my knees today and hips. The 1700m of downhill is no easy task. However, tomorrow will be easy.

We are sleeping in a tin shed tonight. We’ve also been having very intense, weird, and vivid dreams. Maybe that is a result of the increase in sleep and being completely disconnected from electricity and the internet.

DAY 8

The final day.

We completed the final 6km in 70 minutes. How about that!? The Kokoda Track was done and dusted. An incredible experience. An adventure we’ll never forget. The lessons, the boys, and the stories will stay with us forever.

KOKODA TRACK PACKING LIST

HIKING GEAR AND TRAIL CLOTHES

RE-USABLE WATER BOTTLE

My Earthwell re-usable bottle doesn’t leave my side. Tucked on the side of my backpack, it keeps my water refreshingly cold for extended periods of time. In the dense jungle canopies, you’ll find yourself sweating in excess. Having the Earthwell flask filled with an electrolyte drink is a hot tip for keeping yourself in good working order. There are plenty of places to refill your bottle, so there is absolutely no need for you to use any single-use plastics along the Kokoda Trail. The Hydroflask is insulated and built to last, it won’t let you down.

GRAYL ULTRALIGHT WATER PURIFIER

The Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier is an understated game-changer for adventure travel. The Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier removes 99.9999% of viruses of disease-causing bacteria. The best thing about it, it only takes 15 seconds and one press to purify water from any freshwater source. Along the Kokoda Trail, we filled up from rivers, waterfalls, and local village taps. Unlike aqua purification tablets which require you to wait 30 minutes before drinking, you can have rehydrated yourself immediately with the grail ultralight water purifier.

HIKING BOOTS

Depending on your ability, you’re more than likely going to be out on Kokoda Track for anywhere between 7-12 days. To put that in perspective, you could accumulate 50-80 hours of direct time-on-legs hiking. Your future self will be grateful if you get yourself some quality boots. With undulating terrain and never-ending tree roots, your hiking boots will provide the necessary stability and support. I’d recommend waterproof hiking boots to shield off the rain and puddles. 

GAITERS

Gaiters are incredibly helpful for keeping mud, stones, and debris out of your shoes and socks. Not only will they keep your shoes and socks in better condition but they’ll reduce the chances of blisters, cuts, and grazes. Make sure you buy gaiters with zip as velcro won’t hold strong verse the demanding conditions of The Kokoda Track. We used gaiters that covered our ankles, but I’d recommend something that covers at least the middle of your shin

TREKKING POLES

Trekking poles have been one of the best additions to my backpack this year. The Kokoda Trek has punchy uphill sections and steep downhills. Most people prepare for the uphill sections but don’t realize that the downhill will bring the most discomfort. Trekking poles help take the load off your knees and legs and provide extra points of contact with the ground to keep you from slipping.

LARGE BACKPACK 

There are two ways to do the hike. You can carry everything in a big bag of your own or your guide will carry your camp gear and you just carry a smaller daypack with a camera, rain jacket, water, and accessories.

If you carry your own large backpack the guides recommend carrying no more than 10-12kg or you will really struggle with the 96km and the 6000m of incline throughout the week. Therefore a 60l backpack will be sufficient.

DAYPACK

I carried a daypack with my camera gear. The one I used on this trip was a Wandrd 31L PRVKE. It’s good for organizing your gear. It struggled a bit in the heavy rain even with the rain cover so I put everything inside plastic bags inside the bag. Overall it did a good job for me but you need a strong back and shoulders to deal with it as it isn’t a hiking bag specifically. A 30L is a good size or if you don’t have cameras you could go even less.

HIKING PANTS

Depending on the level of protection you’re after, it may be worth considering a pair of lightweight hiking pants. Personally, we wore shorts with crew-length socks and gaiters and that was sufficient. However, if you want to avoid getting scratched up in the dry season of Kokoda then hiking pants may be worthwhile.

ACTIVEWEAR T-SHIRT

I completed Kokoda using one shirt! Choose a t-shirt that dries quickly and uses an anti-stick material. You’ll be able to wash your clothes in the river most days along with drying it by the fire. I had one set of clothes at camp each night and then tried to dry my hiking set of clothes each night. Some mornings they were damp, to begin with. Two shirts on rotation would be a luxury but not a necessity.

LIGHT PANTS

Having a pair of tracksuit pants or lightweight dry pants that you can change into each night is both comfortable and practical. Once you’ve made it to the campsite, it’s the perfect time to recover and rest.

HIKING SOCKS

Quality over quantity. I’d recommend 2-3 pairs of crew socks made from merino wool. They’ll cushion your feet and keep shape no matter how dirty or wet they get. Your socks are going to be wet most of the trip, make sure you have ones that don’t slip around in your shoe. The Merino fabric means that you don’t really stink too much and the thick hiking style means you don’t get blisters like regular sports socks.

UNDERWEAR

A rotation of 2-3 pairs will be enough. If you wash and dry your clothes each night, you can really keep the weight down. I used a spandex-style trunk to prevent chafing from cotton-style undies.

SPORTS BRA

I’m obviously not an expert on this topic but I’d imagine a sport-style version to deal with the daily sweating, and damp conditions will help rather than other fabrics.

FLIP-FLOPS

Flip-flops are particularly useful for shallow river crossings. If your shoes haven’t been soaked by the rain, it’s better to keep them dry whilst you can. Switch out your hiking boots and put on a pair of flip-flops to maneuver through the rocks underwater.

Looking after your feet on Kokoda is incredibly important, wearing flip-flops and allowing your toes to dry out around camp is another power play. Some people brought water shoes but the river-crossings are so short that it is just another wet thing to carry around. Flip-flops doubles as a shoe to wear around camp at night rather than wet water shoes.

HAT

A lot of the time you’ll be covered by a dense jungle canopy, however, there are times of direct sun during the middle of the day that might catch you off guard.

RAIN JACKET

If you don’t want to embrace the rain, throw on a lightweight rain jacket. Having a rain jacket at camp is useful when you have to make a journey outside of the hut. It rained every single afternoon and night on our Kokoda trek.

BACKPACK COVER

An essential piece of equipment is a backpack rain cover. It rained every single day of our trek and there is often no shelter and no stopping. Therefore you want to be able to hike through the rain without all of your gear getting saturated. We had our electronics in plastic bags inside our packs as well but the outer backpack cover is the shell that does the most when protecting your gear from the rain. 

SWISS ARMY KNIFE

You never know when you’re going to need it, but I guarantee you will. We used our swiss army knife to mend our trekking poles, cut toenails, fix blisters, and other little issues.

MOSQUITO NET 

Our guides carried the mosquito net and we used it every night. They say prevention is better than cure, keep the mosquitos at bay. Nobody wants malaria.

UTENSILS

Your tour guide may provide but you may need to bring your own bowl, mug, knife, fork, and, spoon.

DRY BAG

We packed all our important gear in a dry bag and then placed it inside our backpack for extra protection. When you’ve seen as many people lose their phones or camera gear to water damage as I have, you’ll understand why I place so much importance on a waterproof dry bag. A quality dry bag will do as it suggests by keeping your belongings air-tight even if the bag happens to become fully immersed in water during river crossings or heavy rain.

CAMPSITE GEAR & SLEEPING GEAR

1 CAMP/SLEEPING T-SHIRT

Like I mentioned before one (or two) dedicated hiking shirts and one that you keep clean and dry that is used for camp and to sleep in. You do not want to be sleeping wet so protect this camp/sleeping gear in a plastic bag inside your bag. It’s your key to a good night’s sleep.

1 CAMP SHORTS

Shorts to wear around camp and sleep in.

LONG SLEEVED JACKET

To keep warm at the camps or after I jumped in the river to wash, I kept warm with a lightweight down jacket. In the highlands of the Kokoda Trail, I also slept in this for added warmth. At night in an open-air hut at 1900m of altitude, the air can be chilly overnight so, with a lightweight sleeping bag, I slept in my down jacket on two of the nights. On other nights just my t-shirt at a lower altitude.

SWIMWEAR

We hiked in what we swam in and swam in what we hiked in. If it rains, you’ll spend most of the day wet and if it’s sunny, you’ll be sweaty. We wore board shorts which made for efficient swims in the river to cool off.

DRY SOCKS

Just like the camp t-shirt. Keep one pair of socks for camp hang-outs only. 

QUICK-DRY TOWEL

Pack yourself a quick-dry towel that won’t take up much space so you can dry off after a surf or shower and then hang your towel out to quickly dry. Unlike normal towels the micro-fiber towels dry in under an hour so they aren’t damp in your backpack and start smelling as you progress along the trail. If it does start to get damp, leave it by the fire and you’ll be good to go.

TENT

These were supplied by our guides but you can bring your own. This is something you should check prior to departure.

SLEEPING MAT

I used a super lightweight inflatable sleeping mat that gave me a full-body place to sleep that was well elevated off the ground. It was much better than a piece of foam packed down into the size of two tennis balls.

SLEEPING BAG

I used a three-season sleeping bag, which meant it went down to 0-degree capability. It was pretty thin, packed down super small, and kept me just warm enough at night on the coldest night. I wore a jacket in it on two of nights at 2000m of altitude.

SMALL PILLOW

You can get creative with your choice of pillow. Josh slept on a bag of his clothes or otherwise if you’re looking for a bit more comfort you can use a lightweight inflatable pillow. Having an inflatable pillow doesn’t take up any space or weight which is key when packing for an expedition. I used a Sea To Summit pillow that packs down to the size of one tennis ball and made my sleep very comfortable.

TOILET PAPER

Each campsite has a toilet but it is usually BYO toilet paper. They are drop toilets so you can drop your paper in after you finish your business, which means, fortunately, you don’t have to pack out your poop paper for eight days.

PHONE

If you’re not carrying a camera, this will be the only use for your phone. There is no signal or connection along any of the Kokoda and it’s great. Rarely do we get a chance to disconnect from technology like you do on Kokoda. Embrace it and put the phone away for a while.

POWERBANK

Again, there is no electricity along the trail. Bring along a power bank or two so you can keep your GoPro, phone and head torch charged.

HEAD TORCH AND SPARE BATTERIES

To save on buying batteries, you can get a rechargeable head torch. The head torch is useful when walking around the campsites at night or finding your way in the early morning. If you pack a battery pack, you’ll be able to charge your head torch each night.

GOPRO

The GoPro is a serious bang for your buck. There is nothing else that compares to it on the market right now. It allows you to take amazing underwater photos at a very affordable price. Pair this with a selfie stick to capture some incredible angles from the trail on Kokoda Track. GoPros are also extremely durable, they’ll be able to take a lot more hits than you will so you don’t have to be afraid of where you can and can’t take it.

CAMERA GEAR I TOOK ON THE TRAIL

• DJI Mavic 2 PRO
• GoPro Hero 7
• Sony A7iii
• 16-35mm F4
• 24-105mm f4
• 85mm 1.8
• Peak Design camera clip for the backpack
• Batteries and Accessories

Obviously, your camera setup is up to you but I will provide the following insights. A wild angle is great for the forest areas and capturing the entire scene. The 24-105mm was nice for some compression of mountains but there weren’t too many spots with mountain views compared to the amount of time spent in dense jungle.

The drone was great but a lot to carry for eight days considering I could only use three batteries as there is nowhere to charge along the way. I shot some nice stuff at sunrise along the trail at one of the villages and then at the end in the jungle on day seven for a higher perspective.

The GoPro was great for filming and taking a few photos in the rain. It rained really heavily so all camera gear was put inside plastic bags and became hard to access. The GoPro became our only tool during these moments.

WHERE TO STAY IN NEW BRITAIN

Kimbe is quite a remote region. Most overseas visitors to the region come to stay at Walindi Plantation Resort. The popular scuba-diving resort is the only well-known accommodation in the region and is where I stayed on my visit. It is one of the best places I have stayed on my travels. We had a private bungalow, fantastic meals each night and the diving is right on the doorstep. You just dive, eat, explore, eat, sleep, repeat, and everything else is taken care of to a very high, western resort-style standard. It’s definitely not a cheap option but you do get what you pay for at Walindi Plantation Resort, so if you have the coin, you will not be disappointed.

QUICK PICKS: 4 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the best resorts in Papua New Guinea? No worries! These are my four top picks for where to stay in Papua New Guinea. If you book one of these four, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

Check price

Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

Check price

Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

Check price

Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

Check price

WHICH REGION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO STAY IN

The blog will be broken up into five sections for the best specialty resorts and best hotels in PNG.

• Best Hotels in Port Moresby (The base to access all adventures and the International Airport)
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for scuba-diving
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for bird-watching
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for surfing
• Additional accommodation in Lae

Together with Josh Lynott, I spent three weeks hiking, diving and exploring the jungles of Papua New Guinea. We began with an 8-day expedition along the Kokoda Track, Summited Mount Wilhelm and then went on to explore the coastal regions of Madang and Kimbe Bay.

Throughout the three weeks, I was on assignment with Papua New Guinea Tourism Board to capture images and share my experience throughout the country. The photos in this blog post are my personal selects from the many shots I took along with my mate Josh Lynott.  I hope you enjoy this selection of photos as much as we enjoyed the adventures.

The following photos were taken on a Dji Mavic Pro 2 drone, GoPro and Sony A7iii.

For a full breakdown of all my camera gear you can check out this post: TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHAT’S IN MY BACKPACK

 

Throughout the eight days, I was on assignment with Papua New Guinea Tourism Board to capture images and share my experience in this region of the country. The photos in this blog post are my personal selects from the many shots I took along with my mate Josh Lynott. It’s a beautiful part of the country, extremely remote and therefore pretty untouched with raw beauty consistently overwhelming us. I hope you enjoy this selection of photos as much as we enjoyed the adventures.

The following photos were taken on a Dji Mavic Pro 2 drone, GoPro and Sony A7iii. There was no electricity so I carried power banks to charge and only sparingly used the three drone batteries that I carried throughout the trek.

For a full breakdown of all my camera gear you can check out this post: TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHAT’S IN MY BACKPACK

We visited several WWII wrecks, Hailiku Village caves, and spent an entire day exploring the islands and dive sites off of Madang.

Throughout the two days, I was on assignment with Papua New Guinea Tourism Board to capture images and share my experience in this region of the country. The photos in this blog post are my personal selects from the many shots I took along with my mate Josh Lynott. It’s an incredible coastal region and we loved the village visit and the bomber wreck scuba-dive. I hope you enjoy this selection of photos as much as we enjoyed the adventures.

The following photos were taken on a Dji Mavic Pro 2 drone, GoPro and Sony A7iii.

For a full breakdown of all my camera gear you can check out this post: TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHAT’S IN MY BACKPACK

We visited Garbuna Volcano, Garu Hot River, Talasea Plane Wrecks, several villages and spent two days exploring the islands and dive sites of Kimbe Bay.

Throughout the four days, I was on assignment with Papua New Guinea Tourism Board to capture images and share my experience in this region of the country. The photos in this blog post are my personal selects from the many shots I took along with my mate Josh Lynott. It’s a beautiful part of the country, extremely remote and therefore pretty untouched with raw beauty consistently overwhelming us. I hope you enjoy this selection of photos as much as we enjoyed the adventures.

The following photos were taken on a Dji Mavic Pro 2 drone, GoPro and Sony A7iii.

For a full breakdown of all my camera gear, you can check out this post: TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: WHAT’S IN MY BACKPACK

WHERE ARE THE TALASEA PLANE WRECKS AND HOW TO GET THERE

The Talasea Plane Wrecks are found in an area to the west of Kimbe Town in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It’s just a 30-minute drive from Walindi Plantation Resort.

Kimbe is quite a remote region. Most overseas visitors to the region come to stay at Walindi Plantation Resort. The popular scuba-diving resort is the only well-known accommodation in the region and is where I stayed on my visit. It is one of the best places I have stayed on my travels. We had a private bungalow, fantastic meals each night and the diving is right on the doorstep. You just dive, eat, explore, eat, sleep, repeat, and everything else is taken care of to a very high, western resort-style standard. 

Walindi Plantation Resort offers a number of land excursions to complement its diving options. The land excursions include the Talasea WWII plane wrecks, the Garbuna Volcano trek, bird watching, and the Garu Hot River. 

To get to Kimbe Bay you will need to fly into Hoskins Airport and then get the Walindi Private Shuttle down to the resort. There is no public transport so if you were trying to visit without a stay at Walindi Plantation, you would need to make all of your own plans regarding transport and where to stay. It isn’t a very easy area for DIY due to the remoteness.

MY EXPERIENCE AT THE TALASEA PLANE WRECKS 

The drive into the Talasea Plane Wrecks takes about 30-40 minutes along the coast from Walindi Plantation Resort. The road is only accessible by four-wheel drive and is very muddy and rocky. We were sideways at one point but our driver, a local legend named Joseph, was always in control.

The Talasea Plane Wrecks are in the same position they crashed in. They haven’t been moved but a palm-oil plantation has been planted in the region, replacing the former town. This means that the jungle is slowly overtaking the two bomber wrecks found at the site. The wrecks are on either side of the road and you can explore each with just a 20-yard stroll from the road making it an easy activity after a day of scuba-diving or island-hopping.

THE AMERICAN B-25 BOMBER FROM WWII

The American B-25H bomber was tasked with fly-over patrols around Bougainville to keep watch for any Japanese threats. This specific bomber was tasked with a patrol over the southern coast of New Britain in search of any ships bringing in Japanese supplies.

The bomber spotted several barges and supply ships and successfully destroyed them. However, during the flight, there was an engine failure. Talasea airfield was the nearest airstrip to make an emergency landing. The aircraft managed to land but caused serious damage to its nose gear and slid to stop. Luckily, all on board survived and managed to walk away. 

THE LOCKHEED VENTURA WRECK

One week after the B-25H made its emergency landing, the Lockheed Venture NZ4522 was on a mission to bomb an airstrip located near Rabaul. After dropping several bombs on the target, one of the engines cut out. The Lockheed Ventura was now flying on one engine and couldn’t make it back to Bougainville Island so the call was made to make an emergency landing at Talasea airstrip. The landing was made with no injuries to those on board.

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

WHERE TO STAY IN NEW BRITAIN

Kimbe is quite a remote region. Most overseas visitors to the region come to stay at Walindi Plantation Resort. The popular scuba-diving resort is the only well-known accommodation in the region and is where I stayed on my visit. It is one of the best places I have stayed on my travels. We had a private bungalow, fantastic meals each night and the diving is right on the doorstep. You just dive, eat, explore, eat, sleep, repeat, and everything else is taken care of to a very high, western resort-style standard. It’s definitely not a cheap option but you do get what you pay for at Walindi Plantation Resort, so if you have the coin, you will not be disappointed.

QUICK PICKS: 4 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the best resorts in Papua New Guinea? No worries! These are my four top picks for where to stay in Papua New Guinea. If you book one of these four, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

Check price

Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

Check price

Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

Check price

Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

Check price

WHICH REGION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO STAY IN

The blog will be broken up into five sections for the best specialty resorts and best hotels in PNG.

• Best Hotels in Port Moresby (The base to access all adventures and the International Airport)
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for scuba-diving
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for bird-watching
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for surfing
• Additional accommodation in Lae

This is the ultimate packing list for everything you need on the Kokoda Track detailed with reasons about why you need each item. Packing for any expedition is no easy task. Trying to think of what you might need on day 6 of The Kokoda Trail before you even left your own country can be a confronting task. Alas, if you’re reading this it means you’re probably gearing up in preparation for your trip to the Kokoda Trail.

BEST INSURANCE FOR TRAVELERS

Don’t wait for an accident to happen… get insured! My travel insurance is HeyMondo which offers low-cost travel & medical insurance. That’s me on the left with three teeth knocked out after a motorbike crash in Bali!

You can click to read my Full Review of the Best Travel Insurance.

I’ve made several successful claims with HeyMondo and find their customer service very quick and helpful. Click the button below to get a 5% DISCOUNT

Get a Free Quote

As you work your way through this article, you’ll be prepared for everything and everything the Kokoda Trail tries to throw at you. In Papua New Guinea, the locals will continually tell you to “expect the unexpected”. The Kokoda Trail will have you walking through head-high grass, knee-deep mud, rivers, and over precarious bridges. Being prepared for these challenges will put your mind at ease and allow you to truly soak up the ever-changing landscapes of the Kokoda Trail. This packing list will prepare you for your wild 96km adventure along the famous Kokoda Trail.

THE ULTIMATE KOKODA TRAIL PACKING LIST

I’ll break this post up into three sections & a bonus camera section.

• Hiking gear, trail clothes, and equipment you need.
• Gear for the campsite, sleeping, warm clothes
• Other items such as medicine, accessories
• Camera section (if you are interested in photography)

HIKING GEAR AND TRAIL CLOTHES

RE-USABLE WATER BOTTLE

My Earthwell re-usable bottle doesn’t leave my side. Tucked on the side of my backpack, it keeps my water refreshingly cold for extended periods of time. In the dense jungle canopies, you’ll find yourself sweating in excess. Having the Earthwell flask filled with an electrolyte drink is a hot tip to keeping yourself in good working order. There are plenty of places to refill your bottle, so there is absolutely no need for you to use any single-use plastics along the Kokoda Trail. The Hydroflask is insulated and built to last, it won’t let you down.

GRAYL ULTRALIGHT WATER PURIFIER

The Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier is an understated game-changer for adventure travel. The Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier removes 99.9999% of viruses of disease-causing bacteria. The best thing about it, it only takes 15 seconds and one press to purify water from any freshwater source. Along the Kokoda Trail, we filled up from rivers, waterfalls and local village taps. Unlike aqua purification tablets which require you to wait 30 minutes before drinking, you can have rehydrated yourself immediately with the grail ultralight water purifier.

HIKING BOOTS

Depending on your ability, you’re more than likely going to be out on Kokoda Track for anywhere between 7-12 days. To put that in perspective, you could accumulate 50-80 hours of direct time-on-legs hiking. Your future self will be grateful if you get yourself some quality boots. With undulating terrain and never-ending tree-roots, your hiking boots will provide the necessary stability and support. I’d recommend waterproof hiking boots to shield off the rain and puddles. 

GAITERS

Gaiters are incredibly helpful for keeping mud, stones, and debris out of your shoes and socks. Not only will they keep your shoes and socks in better conditions but they’ll reduce the chances of blisters, cuts, and grazes. Make sure you buy gaiters with zip as velcro won’t hold strong verse the demanding conditions of The Kokoda Track. We used gaiters that covered our ankles, but I’d recommend something that covers at least to the middle of your shin

TREKKING POLES

Trekking poles have been one of the best additions to my backpack this year. The Kokoda Trek has punchy uphill sections and steep downhills. Most people prepare for the uphill sections but don’t realize that the downhill will bring the most discomfort. Trekking poles help take the load off your knees and legs and provide extra points of contact with the ground to keep you from slipping.

LARGE BACKPACK 

There are two ways to do the hike. You can carry everything in a big bag of your own or your guide will carry your camp gear and you just carry a smaller daypack with a camera, rain jacket, water, and accessories.

If you carry your own large backpack the guides recommend to carry no more than 10-12kg or you will really struggle with the 96km and the 6000m of incline throughout the week. Therefore a 60l backpack will be sufficient.

DAYPACK

I carried a daypack with my camera gear. The one I used on this trip was a Wandrd 31L PRVKE. It’s good for organizing your gear. It struggled a bit in the heavy rain even with the rain cover so I put everything inside plastic bags inside the bag. Overall it did a good job for me but you need a strong back and shoulders to deal with it as it isn’t a hiking bag specifically. A 30L is a good size or if you don’t have cameras you could go even less.

HIKING PANTS

Depending on the level of protection you’re after, it may be worth considering a pair of light-weight hiking pants. Personally, we wore shorts with crew length socks and gaiters and that was sufficient. However, if you want to avoid getting scratched up in the dry season of Kokoda then hiking pants may be worthwhile.

ACTIVEWEAR T-SHIRT

I completed Kokoda using one shirt! Choose a t-shirt that dries quickly and uses an anti-stick material. You’ll be able to wash your clothes in the river most days along with drying it by the fire. I had one set of clothes at camp each night and then tried to dry my hiking set of clothes each night. Some mornings they were damp, to begin with. Two shirts on rotation would be a luxury but not a necessity.

LIGHT PANTS

Having a pair of tracksuit pants or lightweight dry pants that you can change into each night is both comfortable and practical. Once you’ve made it to the campsite, it’s the perfect time to recover and rest.

HIKING SOCKS

Quality over quantity. I’d recommend 2-3 pairs of crew socks made from merino wool. They’ll cushion your feet and keep shape no matter how dirty or wet they get. Your socks are going to be wet most of the trip, make sure you have ones that don’t slip around in your shoe. The Merino fabric means that you don’t really stink too much and the thick hiking style means you don’t get blisters like regular sports socks.

UNDERWEAR

A rotation of 2-3 pairs will be enough. If you wash and dry your clothes each night, you can really keep the weight down. I used a spandex style trunk to prevent chafing from cotton-style undies.

SPORTS BRA

I’m obviously not an expert on this topic but I’d imagine a sport-style version to deal with the daily sweating, damp conditions will help rather than other fabrics.

FLIP-FLOPS

Flip-flops are particularly useful for shallow river crossings. If your shoes haven’t been soaked by the rain, it’s better to keep them dry whilst you can. Switch out your hiking boots and put on a pair of flip-flops to maneuver through the rocks underwater. Looking after your feet on Kokoda is incredibly important, wearing flip-flops and allowing your toes to dry out around camp is another power play. Some people brought water shoes but the river-crossings are so short that it is just another wet thing to carry around. Flip-flops doubles as a shoe to wear around camp at night rather than a wet water shoe.

HAT

A lot of the time you’ll be covered by dense jungle canopy, however, there are times of direct sun during the middle of the day that might catch you off guard.

RAIN JACKET

If you don’t want to embrace the rain, throw on a lightweight rain jacket. Having a rain-jacket at camp is useful when you have to make a journey outside of the hut. It rained every single afternoon and night on our Kokoda trek.

BACKPACK COVER

An essential piece of equipment is a backpack rain cover. It rained every single day of our trek and there is often no shelter and no stopping. Therefore you want to be able to hike through the rain without all of your gear getting saturated. We had our electronics in plastic bags inside our packs as well but the outer backpack cover is the shell that does the most when protecting your gear from the rain. 

SWISS ARMY KNIFE

You never know when you’re going to need it, but I guarantee you will. We used our swiss army knife to mend our trekking poles, cut toenails, fix blisters and other little issues.

MOSQUITO NET 

Our guides carried the mosquito net and we used it every night. They say prevention is better than cure, keep the mosquitos at bay. Nobody wants malaria.

UTENSILS

Your tour guide may provide but you may need to bring your own bowl, mug, knife, fork and, spoon.

DRY BAG

We packed all our important gear in a dry bag and then placed it inside our backpack for extra protection. When you’ve seen as many people lose their phones or camera gear to water damage as I have, you’ll understand why I place so much importance on a waterproof dry bag. A quality dry bag will do as it suggests by keeping your belongings air-tight even if the bag happens to become fully immersed in water during river crossings or heavy rain.

CAMPSITE GEAR & SLEEPING GEAR

1 CAMP/SLEEPING T-SHIRT

Like I mentioned before one (or two) dedicated hiking shirts and one that you keep clean and dry that is used for camp and to sleep in. You do not want to be sleeping wet so protect this camp/sleeping gear in a plastic bag inside your bag. It’s your key to a good night’s sleep.

1 CAMP SHORTS

Shorts to wear around camp and sleep in.

LONG SLEEVED JACKET

To keep warm at the camps or after I jumped in the river to wash, I kept warm with a light-weight down jacket. In the highlands of the Kokoda Trail, I also slept in this for added warmth. At night in an open-air hut at 1900m of altitude, the air can be chilly overnight so, with a lightweight sleeping bag, I slept in my down jacket on two of the nights. Other nights just my t-shirt at a lower altitude.

SWIMWEAR

We hiked in what we swam in and swam in what we hiked in. If it rains, you’ll spend most of the day wet and if it’s sunny, you’ll be sweaty. We wore board shorts which made for efficient swims in the river to cool off.

DRY SOCKS

Just like the camp t-shirt. Keep one pair of socks for camp hang-outs only. 

QUICK-DRY TOWEL

Pack yourself a quick-dry towel that won’t take up much space so you can dry off after a surf or shower and then hang your towel out to quickly dry. Unlike normal towels the micro-fiber towels dry in under an hour so they aren’t damp in your backpack and start smelling as you progress along the trail. If it does start to get damp, leave it by the fire and you’ll be good to go.

TENT 

These were supplied by our guides but you can bring your own. This is something you should check prior to departure.

SLEEPING MAT

I used a super lightweight inflatable sleeping mat that gave me a full-body place to sleep that was well elevated off the ground. It was much better than a piece of foam and packed down into the size of two tennis balls.

SLEEPING BAG

I used a three-season sleeping bag, which meant it went down to 0-degrees capability. It was pretty thin, packed down super small and kept me just warm enough at night on the coldest night. I wore a jacket in it on two of the nights at 2000m of altitude.

SMALL PILLOW

You can get creative with your choice of pillow. Josh slept on a bag of his clothes or otherwise if you’re looking for a bit more comfort you can use a light-weight inflatable pillow. Having an inflatable pillow doesn’t take up any space or weight which is key when packing for an expedition. I used a Sea To Summit pillow that packs down to the size of one tennis ball and made my sleep very comfortable.

TOILET PAPER

Each campsite has a toilet but it is usually BYO toilet paper. They are drop-toilets so you can drop your paper in after you finish your business, which means, fortunately, you don’t have to pack out your poop paper for eight days.

PHONE

If you’re not carrying a camera, this will be the only use for your phone. There is no signal or connection along any of the Kokoda and it’s great. Rarely do we get a chance to disconnect from technology like you do on Kokoda. Embrace it and put the phone away for a while.

POWERBANK

Again, there is no electricity along the trail. Bring along a power bank or two so you can keep your GoPro, phone and head torch charged.

HEAD TORCH AND SPARE BATTERIES

To save buying batteries, you can get a rechargeable head torch. The head torch is useful when walking around the campsites at night or finding your way in the early morning. If you pack a battery pack, you’ll be able to charge your head torch each night.

GOPRO

The GoPro Hero 8 is a serious bang for your buck. There is nothing else that compares to it on the market right now. It allows you to take amazing underwater photos at a very affordable price. Pair this with a selfie stick capture some incredible angles from the trail on Kokoda Track. GoPros are also extremely durable, they’ll be able to take a lot more hits than you will so you don’t have to be afraid where you can and can’t take it.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Kokoda Track is not a ‘risky’ adventure but travel insurance is always a necessity. Read up on what you’re covered for and keep a copy of it at the bottom of your bag. With high-quality medical support still not widespread across the PNG, it’s not a place you want to get stuck if you have any mishaps. There are some great hospitals in the PNG but if something unforeseen happens, you will be taken to the nearest clinic and you get what you get. I use Heymondo Travel Insurance because it allows me to be covered globally. I never know what I am doing a few months in advance so I don’t want to have to chop and change my travel insurance all the time depending on my travel plans. Now I can also itemize my valuable camera gear and laptop so that I can adventure hard without worrying about breaking things.

CAMERA GEAR I TOOK ON THE TRAIL

• DJI Mavic 2 PRO
• GoPro Hero 7
• Sony A7iii
• 16-35mm F4
• 24-105mm f4
• 85mm 1.8
• Peak Design camera clip for the backpack
• Batteries and Accessories

Obviously your camera set up is up to you but I will provide the following insights. A wild angle is great for the forest areas and capturing the entire scene. The 24-105mm was nice for some compression of mountains but there weren’t too many spots with mountain views compared to the amount of time spent in dense jungle.

The drone was great but a lot to carry for eight days considering I could only use three batteries as there is nowhere to charge along the way. I shot some nice stuff at sunrise along the trail at one of the villages and then at the end in the jungle on day seven for a higher perspective.

The GoPro was great for filming and taking a few photos in the rain. It rained really heavy so all camera gear was put inside plastic bags and became hard to access. The GoPro became our only tool during these moments.

MOUNT WILHELM CLIMB

This blog post will detail everything you need to know about planning your trip, the ins and outs of the climb, the gear you need, and your options for booking the trip from an organized tour to a DIY expedition. I’ve done and can now share the experience with you.

WHERE IS MOUNT WILHELM

Mount Wilhelm is part of the Bismarck Range and the peak is the exact point where three different provinces meet. These provinces are Chimbu, Jiwaka, and Madang. One of the most common routes to reach Mount Wilhelm is to fly into Mount Hagen Airport and then drive up to the starting point or Bettys Lodge (more on the accommodation later) and begin the trek from there. The drive from Mount Hagen to Betty’s Lodge is 4 hours and has a 22-kilometer section on one of the bumpiest roads in the world, suitable only for Landcruiser and very experienced drivers.

QUICK PICKS: 4 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the best resorts in Papua New Guinea? No worries! These are my four top picks for where to stay in Papua New Guinea. If you book one of these four, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

Check price

Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

Check price

Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

Check price

Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

Check price

WHICH REGION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO STAY IN

The blog will be broken up into five sections for the best specialty resorts and best hotels in PNG.

• Best Hotels in Port Moresby (The base to access all adventures and the International Airport)
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for scuba-diving
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for bird-watching
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for surfing
• Additional accommodation in Lae

WHERE IS THE GARU HOT RIVER

Garu Hot River is found in an area to the west of Kimbe Town in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It’s just a 40-minute drive from Walindi Plantation Resort.

HOW TO GET TO GARU HOT RIVER

Kimbe is quite a remote region. Most overseas visitors to the region come to stay at Walindi Plantation Resort. The popular scuba-diving resort is the only well-known accommodation in the region and is where I stayed on my visit. It is one of the best places I have stayed on my travels. We had a private bungalow, fantastic meals each night and the diving is right on the doorstep. You just dive, eat, explore, eat, sleep, repeat, and everything else is taken care of to a very high, western resort-style standard. 

Walindi Plantation Resort offers a number of land excursions to compliment its diving options. The land excursions include the Talasea WWII plane wrecks, the Garbuna Volcano trek, bird watching, and the Garu Hot River. We went diving on our first and last day at Walindi Plantation Resort but on our second day we ventured out on the Mount Garbuna Volcano Trek and after that, we headed down for a recovery soak at the Garu Hot River.

To get to Kimbe Bay you will need to fly into Hoskins Airport and then get the Walindi Private Shuttle down to the resort. There is no public transport so if you were trying to visit without a stay at Walindi Plantation, you would need to make all of your own plans regarding transport and where to stay. It isn’t a very easy area for DIY due to the remoteness.

MY EXPERIENCE AT THE GARU HOT RIVER

After a long day trekking up the Mount Garbuna Volcano, we weren’t too sure about a 40-minute drive along the bumpy roads we had become all too familiar in Papua New Guinea. To be honest, we could have just relaxed back at the resort. But with a sense of adventure and a desire to see as much as we could during our stay in New Britain, we pushed on. I’m so glad we did.

The drive to the Garu Hot River takes you through an extensive palm oil plantation. Despite the negative notions about palm oil and deforestation (warranted), the plantation itself is quite beautiful. Rows and rows of palm trees are lined up perfectly. 

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After 40-mins of moderately (relative to other spots in Papua New Guinea) bumpy roads, the boys parked the car in amongst the trees. Who knew what was on the other side!? 

It’s literally a 10-meter walk, which was great for us as our legs were dust from the 16-km volcano hike earlier. As we made our way along the path and emerged at the river we couldn’t believe the scene. The river steamed, creating a mist above the water. With no one else at the hot river, we lay in the hot water looking up at the lush jungle surroundings.

The water is like a bath, just cool enough to swim in but hot enough you could laze about for hours. I suggest bringing some water or even a beer or two to enjoy as you soak up the warmth from the thermal hot spring. 

In a comical moment, our guide came over with a handful of clay and told us to paint ourselves. It’s often used in ceremonies for painting. He then jokingly gave us the machete he had been carrying to clear some vines and we took a couple of crazy photos!

I highly recommend a visit out to the Garu Hot River if you are in New Britain as it is truly one of the most relaxing and enchanting places in Papua New Guinea.

QUICK PICKS: 4 BEST RESORTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Don’t have time to read my detailed breakdown of all the best resorts in Papua New Guinea? No worries! These are my four top picks for where to stay in Papua New Guinea. If you book one of these four, you are guaranteed to have a great stay in a great location!

Walindi Plantation Resort

• Outstanding food
• Comfortable
• Beautiful view

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Madang Dive Resort

• Waterfront
• 4-Star
• Private balcony

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Grand Papua Hotel

• Luxury
• 5-star hotel
• Easy access to everything

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Vanimo Surf Lodge

• Uncrowded
• Oceanfront
• Budget

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WHICH REGION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO STAY IN

The blog will be broken up into five sections for the best specialty resorts and best hotels in PNG.

• Best Hotels in Port Moresby (The base to access all adventures and the International Airport)
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for scuba-diving
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for bird-watching
• Best Papua New Guinea resorts for surfing
• Additional accommodation in Lae