Arrival in Port Moresby

PNG Customs

Visa on Arrival in Port Moresby is currently not available therefore you are required to apply for a Visa before leaving home. 

Visa auto-grant is in place for Australian passport holders and on the basis you meet all the requirements you will receive a Visitor Visa upon submission of your application.

There is a fee of USD 50 (approximately AUD 70) for the online visa application.

Following is the link to access the online application:  eVisa (select Visa category Visitor 'Easy Visitor Permit 30 day').

You will be required to upload the documents listed below.  Adventure Kokoda will provide the 'Sponsor Letter' for your application.

• Copy of you Passport bio data page

You must ensure your passport has at least six months validity from your arrival date - make sure you double check this as it is easy to overlook.

Trek Snacks

You will need to declare any trek snacks with PNG Quarantine on arrival.  Explain that they are for your consumption on the trail and you will be generally be OK with them.  Pack your snacks near the top of your suitcase in case Customs want to view them.

Airport Welcome

You will be met in the arrivals area by our PNG crew.  They will be wearing red ‘Adventure Kokoda’ shirts and will co-ordinate your movement to your hotel by bus.  Please stay inside the terminal until all the trekkers in your group have cleared customs.

Please wear your provided Adventure Kokoda polo shirt so that we can easily identify each other at the airport.

Accommodation and Check-In

On arrival at the hotel you will be allocated to your rooms by your Trek Leader and the hotel staff. Accommodation is on a shared basis; if you require a single room you must notify us at the time of booking and this will incur an additional charge.

Trek Leaders Briefing

Your trek leader will advise you of the time and location of your trek briefing which will be conducted later in the afternoon after you have settled in.

The trek briefing will cover all of the administrative and safety issues relating to your trek.  It will also include a brief on the strategic situation in Australia and New Guinea in 1942 to set the scene for your trek.

Issue of Hired Gear

You will be issued at the briefing with any equipment you might have hired.  Hired equipment is to be returned to the designated area as advised by your Trek Leader at the conclusion of your trek.

Storage and Security of your gear in Port Moresby

You will be able to store your bag with your clothing, etc at the hotel.  Your bag should be clearly marked with your name and secured with luggage locks.

There are safety deposit boxes at the hotel and you can make arrangements with your trek leader to secure your valuables (passport/tickets/wallet, etc) in a safe whilst you are on your trek.

Hotel Charges

We pay for your room on a shared basis together with dinner and breakfast on the first and last day.  

You are responsible for all other hotel charges (room service, drinks, telephone, laundry, etc) and these should be settled when you check out of the hotel to depart on the trek - and on the last day before you return to Australia.

Money Matters

How Much to Bring?

We recommend you bring A$350 to change into PNG currency which is based on the Kina ($1 is equivalent to K2.40).  You can change your money at the currency exchange booth at your departure airport to avoid the queue on arrival at the Port Moresby airport.  Sometimes the departure airport may not have the smaller notes (K10 and K5).

We recommend you ask for the following:

• $150 in 50 Kina notes
• $100 in 20 Kina notes
• $50 in 10 Kina notes
• $50 in 5 Kina notes

You will need about $70 (K160) on the Trail for welcome offerings of fresh fruit, local vegetables and village ‘sing-sings’ and $30 (K70) for a gratuity payment to your PNG support crew. If you engage a Personal Carrier you might like to offer a personal gratuity payment of up to $30 (K70) to him at the end of the trek – this is in addition to your contribution to the gratuity payment for your PNG support crew.

PNG bilum bags and other souvenirs can be purchased along the trail. Typical costs are $25-$40 (K60 – K100) for a bilum, $30 (K70) for a large carved Kokoda stick and $20 (K50) for a small carved Kokoda stick. 

Gratuities

It is customary in PNG to pay a $30 (K70) gratuity payment to PNG guides and carriers for getting us all safely across the trail. These are collected by your trek leader at the end of your trek and presented to the PNG trek leader for distribution to his team. If you engage a Personal Carrier you might like to offer a personal gratuity payment of up to $30 (K70) to him at the end of the trek – this is in addition to your contribution to the gratuity payment for your PNG support crew.

Port Moresby

In Port Moresby your meals, accommodation and transport are all included in the price of the trek.

You will only need extra money for:

• Any additional room service/telephone charges you incur in your room at the hotel.
• Drinks
• Laundry items ($20) (K50)
• Souvenirs.  We will endeavour to visit a local market where you can purchase PNG primitive art souvenirs if time permits. You will need cash for any purchases you make. There is also a good selection of souvenirs at the airport duty-free area where you can use your credit card.

Gifts for Villagers

There is no need to take gifts for villagers along the trail.  Adventure Kokoda has established Network Kokoda as a Not-For-Profit organization for the development of ‘Agricultural and Community Development Centres’ in partnership with the PNG Department of Community Services.  We were able to do this because of the support we have received from our trekkers.

Please don’t bring balloons as there are never enough to go around to all the kids - they pop after a few minutes and the rubber takes years to dissolve.  Please don’t bring sweets for the kids as some are already showing signs of tooth decay with the increasing numbers of trekkers making these types of offerings. 

If you wish to bring something along we have a ‘Yumi Helpim Pikinnini Program’ where we invite each trekker to bring an individual item or two in their backpacks.  Each of our trek groups is then allocated a village to present the items to.  This has been well received by the children in the villages.