Things to Do in Port Moresby in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Port Moresby
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
90°F (32°C)
High Temp
74°F (23°C)
Low Temp
3.9 inches (99 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December sits at the tail-end of the dry season, so afternoon thunderstorms are short and predictable - usually 20-minute bursts that cool the air enough for evening walks along Ela Beach
- + Hotel rates drop 25-30% after the rugby league grand-final crowd clears in late November; mid-range rooms that overlook Fairfax Harbour suddenly reappear online
- + Village courts in Waigani host Friday-night basketball under floodlights - locals bring plastic chairs and sell betel nut for loose change, the only time outsiders are welcome to wander in after dark
- + Island-hopping day trips to the Loloata reef system run at half-capacity; water clarity rivals August but you'll share the boat with four fishermen instead of forty tourists
Considerations
- − Humidity still hovers at 70% - cotton shirts stay damp, camera lenses fog the moment you step outside the air-conditioned lobby, and taxi windows stay permanently half-open for airflow
- − The sun is ferocious; UV-8 means unprotected skin burns in under fifteen minutes, on the open water between Tatana and Fisherman's Island
- − City buses (PMVs) shrink their routes after 7pm. If you miss the last one along Hubert Murray Highway you're stuck paying for a hotel-arranged car that costs triple the daytime fare
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Port Moresby is hot and humid. The sky shifts fast from searing blue to grey clouds. Heat is a constant blanket of ninety degrees. Shade feels like a sanctuary. The sea breeze along Ela Beach offers real relief. This is the wet season's start. Sudden downpours drum on iron roofs. They leave the hillsides smelling of damp earth and frangipani. Locals prepare for the holidays. The month builds toward Christmas Carols on the Harbour. The night fills with saltwater and frying batter. Fairy-lit yachts bob on dark water. Choir harmonies echo across the bay. For visitors, Port Moresby in December demands you embrace this intensity. Mornings are clear and oppressively hot. They are good for the cool of a museum before afternoon clouds gather. This city is not for casual strolling. Movement is best planned. Focus on specific destinations. The real draw lies beyond the city limits. December's rains transform the Kokoda Track's jungle. It becomes a realm of dripping green and swollen creeks. Mud sucks at your boots. It is challenging. It is a profoundly immersive context for historical journeys. These are a cornerstone of travel to Papua New Guinea. The month culminates in that harbor event. Families spread mats on the breakwater. They share stories as fireworks crackle against the southern sky.
Private Port Moresby City Tour
guided_experienceProvides a secure window into the capital, covering the parliamentary precinct's murals to the crowded stalls of a local market. You will smell smoked fish and betel nut, see the Hiri Moale sculpture, and feel the cool air inside the National Museum beside spirit poles. This tour handles city logistics so you can focus on details missed from a car.
It offers essential access to Port Moresby's cultural landmarks and daily life with a private guide.
Insider tip: Request a stop at the Port Moresby Nature Park if time allows. Afternoon showers often bring out birds-of-great destination in the aviaries.
ADVENTURE KOKODA 10-Day Premium Kokoda Campaign Trek Australian Led
adventureThe most complete trekking experience with extra time for reflection at battle sites and in villages. You will taste sweet pineapple shared by villagers, smell woodsmoke from evening fires, and absorb the silence of places like Isurava. The extended itinerary allows deeper immersion.
This premium trek provides the most complete journey along the Kokoda Track, with expert guides.
Insider tip: Use the extra days to engage with your Papuan New Guinean carrier guides. Learn Motuan phrases.
This month: December's wet weather ensures river crossings are deeper. The jungle canopy drips continuously, requiring careful footwork.
11 Day Kokoda Trek From Port Moresby
adventureAn all-encompassing expedition that includes logistical bookends in the capital. The journey starts with the city's lights receding from your aircraft window and ends with hot shower water washing nine days of mud from your skin. This package manages every detail from your first night's accommodation in Port Moresby to your last.
It is a full-service expedition that handles all logistics from start to finish.
Insider tip: Pack a separate, sealed bag for your sodden trail clothes for the return flight.
11 Day Kokoda Trek Australian and Local Guides
adventureAn expedition with dual-guide leadership that blends an Australian military perspective with a Papuan New Guinean guide's cultural knowledge. You will hear a cassowary in the undergrowth pointed out locally and understand the ground's tactical significance from your Australian leader, creating a richer narrative.
This trek delivers a balanced perspective on the Kokoda story through combined guide expertise.
Insider tip: Take notes during evening briefings. The dialogue between guides reveals layers of history.
This month: In December, the local guides' knowledge of river behavior during flash floods is invaluable.
Where to Stay in Port Moresby in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid December
Christmas Carols on the Harbour
Yacht club members string fairy lights along their masts and anchor 50m (165ft) off the Royal Papua Yacht Club jetty. Locals hire banana boats to circle the fleet while choirs sing in Motu and English. Fireworks start at 9pm sharp - watch from the breakwater wall with fish-and-chips wrapped in yesterday's Post-Courier.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Port Moresby Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals judge the day's weather by the colour of the Owen Stanley Range across the bay: deep blue means storms stay inland, pale grey signals incoming harbour showers by 3pm - plan boat departures before then.
The best buai (betel nut) is sold under the big rain tree opposite the Gordons Market police post. Ask for 'daka' (mustard stick) and the vendor will fold it in pepper leaves that numb the tongue before the nut bitterness hits.
Friday is payday - ATMs at BSP Bank on Musgrave Street run dry by 11am. Walk 200m (650ft) to the Waterfront food court where the ANZ machine usually still coughs up cash.
Taxi drivers quote in PNG kina but accept AUD at 1:1 after dark - handy if you've only got Australian coins left from the flight in.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming December is 'cool' - daytime still hits 32°C (90°F) and the breeze across Fairfax Harbour feels like it's been through a hair-dryer; schedule outdoor walks before 9am.
Wearing reef shoes into town restaurants - leave them at the hotel. Locals change into closed shoes for dinner and thongs (flip-flops) mark you as fresh off a dive boat.
Booking harbor sunset cruises for 5pm - sun drops behind the Admiralty Range by 6:15pm; 4pm departure gives you golden light on the city skyline and gets you back before the evening storm cell forms.
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