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Road less travelled (4): Papua New Guinea (3) – Goroka

Road less travelled (4): Papua New Guinea (3) – Goroka

June 2018 · 3 min read · Eastern Highlands

I have visited a few countries that perhaps not a lot of people get to visit, mainly for my work. I thought it would be a good idea to share these experiences with you guys. After Eritrea, Somalia and North Korea, now part three of Papua New Guinea; some other countries that are on my list to be included in this series are: South Sudan, Iraq, Bhutan and perhaps a few others.

Well perhaps the title of this post, “road less travelled”, is not very appropriate for the first leg of my trip here in Papua New Guinea (PNG): from Port Moresby to Goroka.

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Source:abc.net.au

This is because there is no road.

The distance from Port Moresby to Goroka – as the crow flies – is 420 km. Google Maps will tell you: - Sorry, we could not calculate driving directions from "Port Moresby" to "Goroka". The area between the two towns is just too mountainous and densely forested for any road development. This means you have to fly, and it’s a flight of just over 1 hour with a Dash 8 aeroplane.

Goroka is famous for its colourful cultural show, held every year in September. Just google images for ‘Goroka show’ and you’ll find some extremely colourful people, people dancing, and masks.

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Source: lonelyplanet.com

Goroka has a very pleasant climate, it’s at 1,500 meters of altitude and a constant average temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius. If I say ‘constant’, I mean constant; just have a look at the average temperatures over the year shown in the below graph. Apparently, if you want to go to a place with constant temperatures, you have to go close to the equator (PNG is just below the equator) and look for any place close to the ocean, with the body of water acting as a temperature buffer.

Screen Shot 2018-06-21 at 20.35.41.png

source: meteoblue.com

There are a few hotels in Goroka: Bird of Paradise, Hotel Phoenix and Pacific Garden hotel, all three star hotels. I stayed in Pacific Garden hotel, the rooms are basic but they have a kettle for coffee / tea, the food is quite good and the gardens are beautiful! The hotel is made from wood, beautiful material of course, but it means the rooms are noisy: I woke up because my neighbour was snoring!

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“you no can come inside” – sign in my hotel room in the 'Tok Pisin' language

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@Ultrabiker


Click here for my other posts

Travel
My Sailing boat
Road less Travelled: Eritrea –-- Somalia --- North korea --- Papua New Guinea (1)

Coffee
coffee porn

Cycling
The toughest MTB races on earth Freedom Challenge --- Iditarod Trail Invitational
MTB back garden ride
Crocodile providing MTB support

Travel Resources for your trip to Papua New Guinea

Recommended by TravelFeed

Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Papua New Guinea.

Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Papua New Guinea on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.

Travel Insurance: Medical emergencies abroad can be pricey, but travel health insurance is not. We always use SafetyWing for affordable and reliable coverage.

Transportation: Use 12go and Omio to find detailed bus and train schedules, making travel planning easier.

Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.

Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!

Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.

Tickets: Save on entrance fees in Papua New Guinea with Klook and Tiquets.

Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Papua New Guinea. Chat now.

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