Port Moresby
Travel Warnings for Papua New Guinea
Click here to obtain the latest travel advisory warnings issued by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Following is an extract from the website posted on 30 December 2008:
Safety and Security
Crime
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea because of the high levels of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
Crime is random and particularly prevalent in urban areas such as Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen. Settlement areas of towns and cities are particularly dangerous. Violence and use of 'bush knives' (machetes) and firearms are often used in assault and theft attempts. Carjackings, assaults (including sexual assaults), bag snatching and robberies are common. Banks and automatic teller machines are increasingly being targeted.
Although most crime is opportunistic, there have been a number of recent incidents of robbery in which expatriates have been targeted in their homes or workplaces.
There is a significant risk of robbery and carjacking in the area near Parliament House in the Waigani suburb of Port Moresby and along the highway between Lae and the Nadzab Airport, particularly between the two and nine mile settlement areas.
Walking after dark is particularly dangerous in Port Moresby and other urban centres. All travel at night should be made by car, with doors locked and windows up.
Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary faces a number of obstacles, including limited resources, and this may affect police response times in the event of crime. Many businesses, including the High Commission, employ private security companies to help deliver a prompt response to calls for assistance.
Civil Unrest/Political Tension
Tension between communal or clan groups, particularly in the Highlands region, occasionally leads to outbreaks of tribal fighting, often involving the use of firearms. Outbreaks of violence have occurred in settlements and marketplaces in Port Moresby, Lae, Mt Hagen and other major towns in the Highlands.
Tensions in Mt Hagen are currently higher than normal due to disputed national election results between candidates from rival ethnic groups. The risk of ethnic fighting erupting in Mt Hagen could peak at the conclusion of ballot recounting in mid to late December 2008.
You should avoid rallies, demonstrations and other large public gatherings as they may turn violent.
Terrorism
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
Local Travel
Road conditions are generally poor. During the wet season (November to May), flash floods and landslides, particularly on stretches of the Highlands Highway between Lae and Mount Hagen, can result in road closures and extensive travel delays. Severe flooding in Oro Province in November 2007 caused significant damage to major roads and bridges throughout the province. Restoration and rehabilitation is continuing and travellers should expect delays.
For further advice on road safety, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
Police roadblocks to check vehicle registrations are a regular occurrence at night in Port Moresby. Drivers should ensure that their vehicle registration and safety stickers are up-to-date so that they minimise difficulties at roadblocks.
Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) are unreliable due to poor maintenance and have been targeted by criminals. Vehicles hired from a reputable car hire company, reputable taxi company or hotel transport are a safer alternative.
Delays and cancellations of international and domestic flights occur on a regular basis. Passengers should check with airlines and be prepared for the possibility of extended waits at airports.
Some mobile telephone global roaming facilities are available in Papua New Guinea but service can be patchy. Travellers should contact their mobile telephone service provider for more details. Landline phones occasionally suffer from local outages due to vandalism or theft of the underground cable infrastructure.
Venomous snakes are common in Papua New Guinea. There is usually an increase in the number of snake bite cases reported during the wet season.
Kokoda Trail
As for other parts of Papua New Guinea, we advise you to exercise a high degree of caution when walking the Kokoda Trail and travelling through the areas adjacent to each end of the track.
Australians should ensure they only travel with guides from reputable trekking companies. This is particularly important given the occasional threats by villagers to close parts of the track due to local land and compensation disputes. Trekkers should check with their travel agent and/or tour operator that they have contingency plans in the event that the track is blocked.
The Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) has stationed rangers along the track and at airports to collect fees from trekkers who have not obtained a valid trekking permit. Trekkers should ensure that their tour company provides a permit in return for fees paid for this purpose. The KTA can be contacted on telephone (675) 323 6165 regarding payment of the applicable fee. Information can also be obtained from the Tourism Promotion Authority on (675) 320 0211. You should register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade before attempting to hike the Kokoda Trail. Walking the Kokoda Trail is physically demanding and requires a high level of fitness (see Health Issues section below).
Unexploded ordnance still exists in Papua New Guinea, particularly along the Kokoda Trail and at Milne Bay and Rabaul.
Airline Safety
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate
Since 9 December 2008, ocean tidal surges and flooding have caused extensive damage to some island communities in New Ireland Province, the east coast of New Ireland mainland, Manus Province, low-lying islands in Bougainville and Wewak in East Sepik Province. Residents of Tench Island in New Ireland Province are being evacuated. The spring high tides are expected to peak on 12 December before starting to fall. You should check with your travel provider about hotel accommodation and possible delays with flights if travelling to these areas. The phone system in the Wewak area is experiencing faults due to water damage and some numbers are not currently in service.
Papua New Guinea is in an active seismic zone and regular volcanic eruptions occur, particularly around Rabaul, Bougainville, West New Britain and Manam Island. Ash from volcanoes in the Rabaul region occasionally disrupts airline schedules at Kokopo airport. Flights may be cancelled at short notice.
All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure.
If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Wildlife Watching
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Money and Valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering and theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
Local Laws
When you are in Papua New Guinea, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for treason, murder and piracy include the death sentence.
Homosexual acts are illegal and punishable by imprisonment. Overt public displays of affection by persons of the same sex should be avoided.
Papua New Guinea has very strict laws relating to the possession and sale of pornographic material and penalties include imprisonment.
Adultery is a criminal offence and punishment may include imprisonment.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Local Customs
You should be aware that the traditional custom of 'payback' is often practised in Papua New Guinea. Australians who engage in illegal or inappropriate sexual or financial relations run the risk of extrajudicial responses from offended parties. Demands for compensation for property damage, including to livestock, are common.
There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Papua New Guinea. You should take care not to offend.
You should seek permission before taking photographs of individuals and cultural sites (for example, spirit houses).
Information for Dual Nationals
Papua New Guinea does not recognise dual nationality except for children under 18 years of age. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Papua New Guinean dual nationals who are arrested or detained.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Papua New Guinea for the most up to date information.
Quarantine restrictions prevent travellers from bringing fruit and vegetables into the country.
Health Issues
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Health care facilities in Papua New Guinea, including in the capital Port Moresby, are poor by Australian standards. Facilities in large towns are usually adequate for routine problems and some emergencies, however health facilities in rural areas are very basic, including along the Kokoda Track.
Medical evacuation to Australia, costing between several thousand dollars to eighty thousand dollars depending on the circumstances, is often the only option for serious illnesses or accidents (including diving accidents).
Walking the Kokoda Trail is physically demanding and requires a high level of fitness. Each year, several Australians are medically evacuated. Given the unpredictable weather and poor services, some have had to wait several days before such evacuations took place. Adequate travel insurance is essential.
Malaria is a risk throughout Papua New Guinea. In 2008, a number of cases of malaria have been reported in Port Moresby. However, the risk to short-term visitors to Port Moresby remains relatively low. Dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases also occur, including in Port Moresby. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria where necessary and take measures to avoid mosquito bites, including using insect repellent at all times.
The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis is found throughout many regions of Asia and Papua New Guinea. A Japanese encephalitis vaccine registered for use in Australia is currently unavailable. However, a non-registered vaccine is available for purchase by travellers through their travel clinics under a "Special Access Scheme" of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). For further information see the Therapeutic Goods Administration's website. The Department of Health and Ageing is working with vaccine suppliers to ensure a registered vaccine can be supplied in Australia as soon as possible. For further details see the Department of Health and Ageing's website or consult your travel health doctor.
The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Papua New Guinea is high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection. Other sexually transmitted diseases are prevalent in all urban centres.
Food-borne, water-borne and other infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, typhoid and hepatitis) are common. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Swimmers should also be aware that water-borne parasites pose a risk in many of PNG's rivers. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world, including in the Papua New Guinea region. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Where to Get Help
In Papua New Guinea, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian High Commission
Godwit Road
Waigani NCD
Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Telephone (675) 325 9333
Facsimile (675) 325 9239
Website http://www.png.embassy.gov.au /
Limited consular assistance, which does not include the issue of Australian passports, may be obtained from:
Australian Honorary Consulate
Mataram Street
Lae, Morobe Province
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Telephone (675) 472 2466 or 472 1905
Facsimile (675) 472 2726
If you are travelling to Papua New Guinea, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the High Commission or the Honorary Consulate, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.