Papua New Guinea
Country Data
Regions
2
Breaks
19
Coastline
5,152 KM
Cost of living
Capital
Port Moresby
Current Time
Security
Health
Where to surf in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is known as 'the land of the unexpected' with its enormous diversity of cultures, peoples, and landscapes. It is one of only three tropical areas in the world that also supports a glacier, high up on Mount Jaya's 5,000m (16,404ft) peak. PNG is 2,400km (1,500mi) long and 720km (450mi) wide and is exposed to three seas. Port Moresby is the mainland capital city, facing the Coral Sea, which produces erratic surf, and the town of Hula is the most consistent area. The Solomon Sea is similarly unreliable, leaving the Bismarck Sea (backed by the Pacific Ocean) as the major swell producer.
Mainland
The NW-N swell affects many different provinces including East Sepik and Sandaun (the tok pisin word for sundown, formerly West Sepik province), an undeveloped region bordering West Papua, with 260km (163mi) of mostly grey-sand coastline.
Tupira in Ulingan Bay, Madang province is a consistent swell magnet close to five user-friendly, limestone bottomed breaks and has become a contest site for the world longboard championships.
Bismarck Archipelago
Offshore the New Ireland province of the Bismarck Archipelago is home to Kavieng, PNG's best known surf area.
The north coast road of New Ireland works in any N swell and there’s a surf camp located centrally at Rubio Plantation Retreat.
Offshore islands like Simberi have been surfed and expats surf Rabaul, despite poor direct swell exposure. Bougainville and Manus islands present the biggest exploration possibilities within the swell window.
Papua New Guinea surf map
Explore the 2 regions & 19 surf breaks in Papua New Guinea.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 140,000
- Population
- 8,947,024
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- PGK
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 3.01 PGK PGK
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +675
- Dialing out
- 05
- Language
- Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, English (Pidgin), 800 local languages
Electricity
- Plug Type
- i
Visas
Most nationalities can get a free visa on arrival for stays of up to 60 days. Australians currently only get 30 days.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.
Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Papua New Guinea.
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