Port Moresby sits by the Coral Sea as Papua New Guinea’s capital and shows visitors a city of contrasts where glittering new buildings rise beside traditional villages built on stilts. One such place is Hanuabada, the original Motuan village, where roofs reach above water’s edge and everyday life still unfolds in Tok Pisin and local tongue. Nearby, the Nation's Parliament House impresses with its sharp, soaring roof and woven bilum patterns showcasing modern architecture rooted in ancestral design.
A tapestry of tastes awaits around the city too. Visitors might try mumu, which is a slow-cooked feast of meats and root vegetables that emerges rich and smoky from the earth’s oven, or kokoda, a lime and coconut‑dressed raw fish that brims with tang. Alongside these, kaukau (taro) or sweet potatoes, often served with coconut cream, are everyday comforts at street stalls and market counters.
Just beyond the city’s edge, Port Moresby opens its arms to green escapes and quiet tools of reflection. The Port Moresby Nature Park brings tree kangaroos, cassowaries, and birds of paradise close to visitors on winding paths shaded by canopy. Meanwhile, the National Museum & Art Gallery in Waigani showcases carved masks, WWII relics, and art born across Papua New Guinea’s highlands and islands. Its recent renovation has made the museum more accessible and introduced powerful new galleries.