Things to Do in Port Moresby in March

A guided circuit through Port Moresby's layered history works well in March. Time it for the morning. Afternoon storms roll in off the Coral Sea. The route threads from Parliament Haus, a striking building modelled on a Sepik haus tambaran spirit house. Its facade carries traditional motifs that look almost hallucinatory against overcast March skies. Next, the National Museum and Art Gallery. The air conditioning alone justifies the stop. Bomana War Cemetery sits about 19 km (11.8 miles) north of the city centre. Immaculate grounds. In March, dripping frangipani trees ring the memorials. Sweet scent mixes with wet grass after the morning's first shower. Good operators weave in Ela Beach. Fishermen haul their catch at dawn. Salt and outboard fuel hang in the still air. March's overcast mornings make this more comfortable than blazing dry-season tours. You are not squinting into equatorial sun.

Varirata sits at roughly 800 m (2,625 ft) elevation on the Sogeri Plateau. In March, temperature drops to a more bearable 25°C (77°F). The city below stays sticky at 31°C (88°F). The park's network of short trails, most under 5 km (3.1 miles), winds through montane rainforest. Wet season makes it absurdly lush. Every trunk furs with moss and epiphytes. The canopy drips long after rain stops. Prime territory for the Raggiana bird-of-paradise, Papua New Guinea's national bird. Males perform elaborate mating displays in early morning. Courtship trees broadcast their calls from 200 metres (656 ft) away. A rasping, metallic sound. Nothing like you would expect from something so visually extravagant. The lookout point offers panoramic views back to Port Moresby and the Coral Sea coast. In March, low cloud may fill the valley. Moody appeal. Trails get slippery after rain. Go early. The 7 AM to 10 AM window offers driest footing and best bird activity.

The reefs scattered across Bootless Bay, southeast of the city, sit in some of the least-dived waters in the Pacific relative to their quality. March's warm water temperatures bring out clouds of fusiliers. Parrotfish grind audibly. Reef sharks patrol Lion Island drop-offs. The visibility in March typically runs 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 ft), less than the dry season's 25-metre-plus (82 ft) clarity. Warmer water brings far fewer boats. The area also holds scattered WWII wrecks from the 1942 Japanese air raids. Aircraft and small vessels rest in shallow water accessible to intermediate divers. Surface conditions get choppy in the afternoon when the northwest monsoon kicks up. Morning departures are standard. The boat ride out from the harbour takes roughly 30 minutes. Snorkel early. The salt spray on your face is the first sensory hit. Expect neoprene, sunscreen, and the faintly sulphurous tang of exposed reef at low tide. Pack rain gear.

The drive up the Sogeri Road from Port Moresby is one of the few excursions that improves in the wet season. The road climbs steeply out of the coastal heat. Rubber plantations and patches of secondary forest appear quickly. You reach the Rouna Falls overlook, roughly 45 km (28 miles) from the city. Heat fades. The falls run with the kind of volume that makes the viewing platform vibrate under your feet. In March, the cascade is a broad white curtain dropping roughly 45 m (148 ft) into a mist-filled gorge. The air smells of wet rock and crushed ferns. The road is sealed but narrow. Blind corners trip up inexperienced drivers. PNG drivers take them with optimistic speed. A driver who knows the route is worth the cost. Villages appear. Find fresh fruit. Local vendors sell pawpaw, soursop, and the small sweet bananas the locals call kalapua. The air shifts from hot diesel exhaust to cool highland moisture. You gain altitude. Check your map. Drive carefully.

Tucked into a patch of rainforest at the University of Papua New Guinea campus, the Nature Park is the most accessible window into PNG's extraordinary biodiversity. Do not leave the city. March's humidity keeps the reptile house residents active and visible. Tree kangaroos tend to move lower in the canopy during wet weather. You spot them easily from the elevated boardwalks. The park holds cassowaries, crocodiles, and an aviary full of endemic birds including several species of bird-of-paradise. The orchid garden peaks in the wet months. Heavy air turns thick with a sweetness that is almost cloying after rain. Two hours is enough. This park is small. Wildlife shines here. A first encounter with PNG wildlife is hard to beat here. Port Moresby offers few places where walking on foot is straightforward and safe. The canopy provides natural shelter from showers. March rain cancels outdoor excursions. This park is your best backup plan. Pack light.