Papua New Guinea offers a range of holiday features and activities. From trekking along remote jungle tracks, cruising the mighty Sepik, surfing the waves of New Ireland, fishing around the fiords of Tufi and diving amongst the coral reefs, the variety of accommodation facilities available are equally wide ranging.

In all main centres there are hotels or guest houses to suit every budget. In the more remote areas, accommodation might be in a village guest house or a luxurious mountain lodge, built in traditional style using bush materials. Some of PNG’s older hotels, like the Malolo Lodge in Madang date from the colonial days and are delightfully tropical. Divers are well; catered for on purpose built live-aboard dive boats or if a river expedition is on the itinerary, the MV Melanesian Discoverer of MV Sepik Spirit are luxurious floating hotels.

Most hotels will provide transfers and can arrange day tours and car hire. Booking well ahead is recommended, particularly during a festival time. Guest houses and lodges usually include all meals in the tariff, while the larger hotels have à la carte restaurants offering international cuisine. Tropical fruits and fresh seafood feature on many menus, particularly in the resort hotels and coastal areas.

Starchy foods such as rice, sago and kau kau are basis of most local diets, accompanied by seafood, chicken, game, pork and a variety of green leaves. The most famous local cooking style is the mumu, which is an underground oven. A pit is dug, fire-heated stones are placed in the bottom meat and vegetables are wrapped in herbs and leaves and placed on the stones, the pit is sealed with more branches and leaves and the contents roast and steam. For feasts the pits may be hundreds of feet long and filled with hundreds of whole pigs.

From time to time a provincial government may impose a liquor ban in the area. However an exception is often made for clubs and tourist hotels where liquor may be served to hotel guests.

Night life can vary depending on the location. Larger hotels have bars and nightclubs. Check with the hotel or local tourist authority for the location of clubs, golf courses, tennis and squash courts.