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Port Moresby
Capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea

Port Moresby

Port Moresby, also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea.

Plan a trip to Port Moresby→From Lae

It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific outside of Australia and New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Coral Sea, on the south-western coast of the Papuan Peninsula of the island of New Guinea. The city emerged as a trade centre in the second half of the 19th century. During World War II, it was a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–1943 as a staging point and air base to cut off Australia from Southeast Asia and the Americas. Due to its population and outsized influence compared to other cities in Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby may be regarded as a primate city.

Get in

Getting to Port Moresby

Port Moresby is the main point of entry into Papua New Guinea for air-traffic and most of the boat-traffic.

  1. 01
    Jacksons International Airport
See

Worth seeing

  1. 01
    Port Moresby Nature Park
  2. 02
    Bomana War Cemetery

    9 Mile (19 kilometres north of Port Moresby on the road to Nine Mile, approached from the main road by a short side road called Pilgrims Way).

  3. 03
    National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

    Parliament Haus is one of the most impressive buildings in Port Moresby, built in the style of a Maprik Haus Tambaran (house of spirits from East Sepik Province).

  4. 04
    Touaguba Hill

    Perhaps not so much to see, but this is where the ambassadorial residences are located and is also where many of the well-to-do expats and locals live.

  5. 05
    Moitaka Wildlife Sanctuary

    Numerous crocodiles, some very large, as well as birds and other animals.

Do

Things to do

Scuba diving – A number of reefs and wrecks are within close proximity to Port Moresby and diving can be arranged through day vessels or on nearby Loloata Island (which has its own dive shop). There are a variety of sites and depths for all experience levels.

  1. 01
    Hiking
Eat

Where to eat

  1. 01
    Asia Aromas
  2. 02
    Daikoku
  3. 03
    Royal Papua Yacht Club

    Serves good Australian cuisine with some Papua New Guinean touches.

  4. 04
    Crowne Plaza

    Has a wonderful Mediterranean restaurant which is probably the most expensive on the island.

  5. 05
    Port Moresby Golf Club

    Has a nice little lunch restaurant which serves à la carte or a buffet during lunch hours.

How locals move

Getting around Port Moresby the local way

  • Get aroundThere are cases of people standing in the middle of a stretch of road they have mended and demanding compensation from people driving by, and as soon as you get outside of the city the roads deteriorate to muddy trails that only a 4x4 with an experienced driver should attempt.
  • Get aroundIf you want to see the sights near Moresby such as Crystal Rapids near Sogeri or the start of the Kokoda, a 4x4 is highly recommended.
  • Go nextPossible day trips from Port Moresby include: Sogeri Plateau.

From Wikivoyage: Port Moresby, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: U.S. Army 8TSC by Sgt (Public domain), Wikimedia Commons.