Best Time to Visit Port Moresby

January to April: the wet months

It's warm all year in Port Moresby, so the real split is wet and dry. From January to April the rain is heavy and steady. March is the wettest month, with about 289 mm falling over 26 days. You'll get grey skies, sticky air and roads that flood in places. Evenings stay warm, around 27°C, so there's little relief after dark.

If you're here for work, that's fine. For sightseeing, it's a harder sell. Walks at Variarata National Park, in the hills behind the city, can be muddy and the views are often hazy. Boat trips to the reefs off Ela Beach and Loloata Island can get cancelled when the weather turns. So once the rain eases, you'll want to plan your trip around the drier months.

July to September: the best window

That's why we'd come from July to September. July is the driest month, with rain on just six days. August and September are only slightly wetter. The air feels lighter, nights cool to about 25°C, and you'll see more blue sky.

It suits almost every trip. Divers and snorkellers get calmer days for the reefs near Port Moresby. Birdwatchers can head to Varirata for the morning chorus. Visiting the National Museum and Parliament House, or wandering Koki Market for fresh fish and fruit, is easier without a downpour.

Worried about crowds? Port Moresby isn't a mass-tourism place, so you won't fight queues. Hotels do fill with business and government travellers, though, so rooms can be tight whatever the month.

Festivals and shoulder months

The big date falls right inside this good weather: Independence Day on 16 September. Expect parades, music and a lively mood around the city. The Hiri Moale Festival also happens around that time of year and celebrates the old trading voyages of the Motu people. Dates move, so check locally before you book flights.

If you can't make those months, October and November are a good second choice. They're a little warmer, with showers on ten or eleven days, but you still get plenty of sun. June is also good, as the rains ease off.

At the edges, May is a fair in-between month, still humid but drying out. December brings a sharp return of rain, with 130 mm, and it's also the hottest month at 30°C. Skip December to April if you can, and aim for July to September.