Population: 248,794
Worst Feature: Gang Rapes
Best Feature: Tropical Weather
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea’s capital and the main entry point for international visitors, does not present an immediate picture of an ideal tropical paradise. During the winter months the National Capital District is dry, dusty and brown, while summer is wet, humid and overgrown. The area is a place of stark contrast. Ramshackle huts sit alongside glistening glass towers, dusty plains turn corners to expose a glittering harbour and fearsome frowns turn to welcome smiles. Port Moresby opens the door to the land of the unexpected.
History
The city is located in an area called the National Capital District or NCD, on the southern coast of the country, surrounded by part of Fairfax Harbour. Port Moresby was named by Captain John Moresby in 1873 and in 1874 a mission station was established at the village of Hanuabada; a traditional Papuan village and home to the Motuan people.
During World War II, the small town of Port Moresby was transformed into a large military camp, accommodating tens of thousands of troops during the Pacific campaigns. At the end of the war Port Moresby was the only town of any size left standing in Papua New Guinea and was chosen by the governing Australian administration to be the seat of government.
New Beginnings
The selection of Port Moresby as the seat of government for Papua New Guinea, saw the start of urban drift that brought people from almost every tribal group to the city, as well as attracting a large population of foreigners. Port Moresby is now a cosmopolitan city, embracing 20th century technology and development, while trying to retain the traditional values of its varied population.
Remnants of the colonial days can still be found in downtown Port Moresby and elements of traditional life have been maintained in the nearby villages. After being destroyed during the war, Hanuabada was rebuilt in the traditional style with its houses perched on stilts over the water. Parliament House exemplifies the striking harmony of modern architecture and traditional design. The National Museum and Art Gallery exhibits cultural features of Papua New Guinea's complex tribal lifestyles.
Port Moresby Festivals
The annual Hiri Moale festival held every September celebrates one of the epic trading voyages between central province villagers and the people in the Gulf of Papua New Guinea. The event is a three day festival of traditional dance, singing and drama. During the festivities, Port Moresby's Ela Beach is lined with stilt houses, canoes and swaying dancers decorated with leis of frangipani and hibiscus.
Flora and Fauna
Equally colourful is the display of native orchids found at the National Botanical Gardens. The collection of over three thousand orchid species, unique to Papua New Guinea, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The orchids flower all year round, with peak flowering season for most being between December and March. Surrounding the National Capital District is Central Province, a narrow coastal strip which rises to the 4000 metre high Owen Stanley Ranges. The ranges form the province’s northern border and divide and isolate the Province from the north. All roads out of Port Moresby lead to delightful adventure.
Things to See
Access and entry fees: Most land, beaches, lagoons, bays and islands in Papua New Guinea, are owned by a village, family or individual. You must ask permission for access and a small entry fee may be payable.
Markets: Gordon’s Market, on Gordon Court Road off the end of Cameron Road, is one of the largest in the country and always bustling. The fresh fruit and vegetables here are superb, while fish and exotic meats are also available. For the best seafood, visit Koki market, on the waterfront near the Koki shops. The Koki Market is the main seafood market and is a hive of activity on Saturdays.
Parliament House: Built in the style of a Maprik Haus Tambaran (house of spirits), this impressive building was opened in 1984. Parliament House is an interesting place whether parliament is sitting or not. A small shop in the building has books and displays of Papua New Guinea’s fantastic butterflies. Open 9.00am to 12 noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm.
National Museum & Art Gallery: Located on Independence Hill, close to Parliament House, the National Museum & Art Gallery has excellent displays of fauna, culture, geography, ethnography and history of Papua New Guinea which include examples of masks and shields, shells, and local foods. A small shady courtyard in front of the museum is a pleasant place to sit, while taking in the local wildlife. The small bookshop has a limited range of books on pre-history and culture. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm and 1.00pm to 5.00pm on Sundays. Admission by donation.
Libraries: The Michael Somare Library and the National Library are both located at the University of Papua New Guinea, on the Waigani Campus.
National Botanical Gardens: The National Botanical Gardens is a haven of greenery, with two kilometres of boardwalk threading beneath a jungle canopy, green lawns, excellent wildlife displays, and a huge collection of orchids. A shade-house in the shape of the country has plants from all regions. The gardens are located just beyond the University of Papua New Guinea on Waigani Drive. An entrance fee is applicable.
City and harbour views: For views of Port Moresby and the surrounding harbour, you head to Paga Hill, behind the Crowne Plaza or Touaguba Hill above the harbour. A tour of the city should include these lookout points as well as the stilt villages of Hanuabada Poreporena.
Bomana War Cemetery: Thousands of young Australian and Papua New Guinean soldiers are buried in this carefully tended WWII cemetery, which is a heart-wrenching reminder of the horrific campaigns in the region. The cemetery is located on the Sogeri Road not far from the Sir Hubert Murray Highway.
Hiri Moale Festival: Celebrating the traditional trading that took place along the coast, the Hiri Moale Festival is celebrated mid-September, around Independence Day. The festival involves replicas of the lakatois (giant canoes), singing and dancing.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea’s capital and the main entry point for international visitors, does not present an immediate picture of an ideal tropical paradise. During the winter months the National Capital District is dry, dusty and brown, while summer is wet, humid and overgrown. The area is a place of stark contrast. Ramshackle huts sit alongside glistening glass towers, dusty plains turn corners to expose a glittering harbour and fearsome frowns turn to welcome smiles. Port Moresby opens the door to the land of the unexpected.
History
The city is located in an area called the National Capital District or NCD, on the southern coast of the country, surrounded by part of Fairfax Harbour. Port Moresby was named by Captain John Moresby in 1873 and in 1874 a mission station was established at the village of Hanuabada; a traditional Papuan village and home to the Motuan people.
During World War II, the small town of Port Moresby was transformed into a large military camp, accommodating tens of thousands of troops during the Pacific campaigns. At the end of the war Port Moresby was the only town of any size left standing in Papua New Guinea and was chosen by the governing Australian administration to be the seat of government.
New Beginnings
The selection of Port Moresby as the seat of government for Papua New Guinea, saw the start of urban drift that brought people from almost every tribal group to the city, as well as attracting a large population of foreigners. Port Moresby is now a cosmopolitan city, embracing 20th century technology and development, while trying to retain the traditional values of its varied population.
Remnants of the colonial days can still be found in downtown Port Moresby and elements of traditional life have been maintained in the nearby villages. After being destroyed during the war, Hanuabada was rebuilt in the traditional style with its houses perched on stilts over the water. Parliament House exemplifies the striking harmony of modern architecture and traditional design. The National Museum and Art Gallery exhibits cultural features of Papua New Guinea's complex tribal lifestyles.
Port Moresby Festivals
The annual Hiri Moale festival held every September celebrates one of the epic trading voyages between central province villagers and the people in the Gulf of Papua New Guinea. The event is a three day festival of traditional dance, singing and drama. During the festivities, Port Moresby's Ela Beach is lined with stilt houses, canoes and swaying dancers decorated with leis of frangipani and hibiscus.
Flora and Fauna
Equally colourful is the display of native orchids found at the National Botanical Gardens. The collection of over three thousand orchid species, unique to Papua New Guinea, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. The orchids flower all year round, with peak flowering season for most being between December and March. Surrounding the National Capital District is Central Province, a narrow coastal strip which rises to the 4000 metre high Owen Stanley Ranges. The ranges form the province’s northern border and divide and isolate the Province from the north. All roads out of Port Moresby lead to delightful adventure.
Things to See
Access and entry fees: Most land, beaches, lagoons, bays and islands in Papua New Guinea, are owned by a village, family or individual. You must ask permission for access and a small entry fee may be payable.
Markets: Gordon’s Market, on Gordon Court Road off the end of Cameron Road, is one of the largest in the country and always bustling. The fresh fruit and vegetables here are superb, while fish and exotic meats are also available. For the best seafood, visit Koki market, on the waterfront near the Koki shops. The Koki Market is the main seafood market and is a hive of activity on Saturdays.
Parliament House: Built in the style of a Maprik Haus Tambaran (house of spirits), this impressive building was opened in 1984. Parliament House is an interesting place whether parliament is sitting or not. A small shop in the building has books and displays of Papua New Guinea’s fantastic butterflies. Open 9.00am to 12 noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm.
National Museum & Art Gallery: Located on Independence Hill, close to Parliament House, the National Museum & Art Gallery has excellent displays of fauna, culture, geography, ethnography and history of Papua New Guinea which include examples of masks and shields, shells, and local foods. A small shady courtyard in front of the museum is a pleasant place to sit, while taking in the local wildlife. The small bookshop has a limited range of books on pre-history and culture. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm and 1.00pm to 5.00pm on Sundays. Admission by donation.
Libraries: The Michael Somare Library and the National Library are both located at the University of Papua New Guinea, on the Waigani Campus.
National Botanical Gardens: The National Botanical Gardens is a haven of greenery, with two kilometres of boardwalk threading beneath a jungle canopy, green lawns, excellent wildlife displays, and a huge collection of orchids. A shade-house in the shape of the country has plants from all regions. The gardens are located just beyond the University of Papua New Guinea on Waigani Drive. An entrance fee is applicable.
City and harbour views: For views of Port Moresby and the surrounding harbour, you head to Paga Hill, behind the Crowne Plaza or Touaguba Hill above the harbour. A tour of the city should include these lookout points as well as the stilt villages of Hanuabada Poreporena.
Bomana War Cemetery: Thousands of young Australian and Papua New Guinean soldiers are buried in this carefully tended WWII cemetery, which is a heart-wrenching reminder of the horrific campaigns in the region. The cemetery is located on the Sogeri Road not far from the Sir Hubert Murray Highway.
Hiri Moale Festival: Celebrating the traditional trading that took place along the coast, the Hiri Moale Festival is celebrated mid-September, around Independence Day. The festival involves replicas of the lakatois (giant canoes), singing and dancing.
Nothing is so rank as when a city that is generally considered as one of the world’s worst, is also a Capital of a country.
Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guiana by all accounts is one of the hardest places to live, certainly with the possible exception of Baghdad it is the most dangerous capital city on the planet.
There is basically no rule of law as roving gangs run the city. Rape, murder, and armed robbery are everyday occurrences.
Car junking by thugs wielding machetes are common, and visitors are advised not to venture out on the streets after dark, and its probably a good idea to stay indoors even during the day.
The homes of the few well off in Port Moresby are virtual fortresses. The gangs known as “Raskols” say the are forced to do what they do by the poverty and oppression by the police, said one gang member, “"We don't always mean to kill people, we just tryto scare them and, if they get killed in the process, they're just getting what they deserve." Nice guys.
Why children in Papua New Guinea need your help
Papua New Guinea has a very young population, with considerable problems affecting children and families. High unemployment, poor infrastructure and the sheer inaccessibility of many parts of the country make progress incredibly difficult.
Around 80 per cent of Papua New Guinea's people live in rural areas with few or no facilities, and there are around 700 native languages spoken, making the communication of health advice a huge task.
Health, sanitation and nutrition are major issues impacting children in Papua New Guinea, as well as the alarmingly high HIV/AIDS infection rate, with diagnoses increasing by around 30 per cent annually since 1997, and an estimated 60,000 Papua New Guineans living with the disease in 2005. High levels of violence against women, erratic condom use and a lack of access to prevention education are cited as the major causes of the growing epidemic.
Children are also at great risk from malaria, with infection rates similar to those experienced in many African countries.
By worst-city.com and pngtourism.org.pg
Papua New Guinea has a very young population, with considerable problems affecting children and families. High unemployment, poor infrastructure and the sheer inaccessibility of many parts of the country make progress incredibly difficult.
Around 80 per cent of Papua New Guinea's people live in rural areas with few or no facilities, and there are around 700 native languages spoken, making the communication of health advice a huge task.
Health, sanitation and nutrition are major issues impacting children in Papua New Guinea, as well as the alarmingly high HIV/AIDS infection rate, with diagnoses increasing by around 30 per cent annually since 1997, and an estimated 60,000 Papua New Guineans living with the disease in 2005. High levels of violence against women, erratic condom use and a lack of access to prevention education are cited as the major causes of the growing epidemic.
Children are also at great risk from malaria, with infection rates similar to those experienced in many African countries.
By worst-city.com and pngtourism.org.pg
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