About the Country

People

Locals are predominantly Melanesian and Papuan with some Negrito, Micronesian and Polynesian. More than 800 indigenous languages are spoken throughout PNG. Melanesian Pigdin and Hiri Motu are the two most widely used, but English is the official language in education, business and government circles.

History

The first recorded sighting by Europeans was in 1512 by two Portuguese explorers. Dutch explorers followed and named it New Guinea because of similarities to Africa.

Interaction between regions has been largely restricted due to the topography of the land and the diversity of languages. Apart from areas where traders and missionaries exerted their influence, many tiny, independent villages account for most of the traditions and cultural heritage which is preserved today.

The country was divided between three nations, the Dutch, the Germans and the British towards the end of last century. In 1905, Australia took over the British sector naming it 'The Territory of Papua' and then captured the German sector during WW1.

The country became fully independent in 1975 and is now a member of the British Commonwealth with strong ties to Australia.

Nature

The animal life is as varied as its vegetation. High mountains and wide lowlands provide favourable environments for many kinds of animals. Sandy wallabies are found in the savanna grasslands of the south coast, and shy forest wallabies live in the forests.

There are also slow-moving cuscuses, two kinds of echidnas, seven birdwing butterflies and bats, bandicoots, possums, gliders, and tree kangaroos. Also more than 700 bird species including 38 of the worlds' 43 species of the spectacular Bird of Paradise, New Guinea eagles, and goura pigeons are to be found. There are also thousands of insects, plus more orchid species than any country in the world.

Sights

The infamous Kokoda Trail is within striking distance of Port Moresby which sprawls along the coastal bays and back into the hills. Central Province is home to the Variarata National Park, a spectacular natural mountain region.
In the delta land of the Papuan Gulf there is a maze of flooded waterways, and villages built high on stilts above the muddy river banks.

Daru is the main town of Western Province situated on a small island of the same name just off the coast, while Bensbach Wildlife Lodge, a few kilometres from the Irian Jaya border is well worth a visit.

In the northern province is Mt Lamington, an active volcano which is a favourite climb for visiting bushwalkers.

The Milne Bay islands are 160 in all and Morobe Province is a huge arc of land on the Huon Gulf which includes a number of volcanic islands between the Huon Peninsula and New Britain.

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