Things to Do in Papua New Guinea in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Papua New Guinea
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- April sits in the shoulder season between wet and dry periods, meaning you get reasonable weather without the peak season crowds that descend in June through August. Accommodation prices typically run 20-30% lower than high season, and you'll actually be able to photograph places like Tufi without other tourists in every shot.
- The Huli Wigmen's traditional sing-sing preparations intensify in April as communities gear up for the bigger May festivals. If you're interested in genuine cultural experiences rather than staged tourist shows, April gives you access to village life without the performative aspect that comes with peak festival season.
- Diving conditions around Milne Bay and Kimbe Bay are actually excellent in April - water visibility averages 25-30 m (82-98 ft) and the water temperature sits at a comfortable 28-29°C (82-84°F). You'll encounter fewer liveaboards competing for mooring spots compared to the September-November peak.
- The humidity drops slightly from the wet season peaks, making highland treks around Mount Wilhelm and the Kokoda Track more bearable. You're still looking at afternoon cloud buildup, but mornings tend to be clearer than in February-March, giving you better chances for those mountain views everyone comes for.
Considerations
- April is genuinely unpredictable - you're in that transitional period where the northwest monsoon is weakening but hasn't fully cleared out. Some years April is brilliant, other years you'll get week-long rain events that ground domestic flights and strand you in places like Tari or Vanimo. Flight cancellations happen 2-3 times more frequently than in the dry season months.
- Road conditions in the Highlands deteriorate significantly after the wet season, and April hasn't given enough time for repairs. The Highlands Highway between Goroka and Mount Hagen can take 8-10 hours instead of the usual 5-6, and that's assuming no landslides. If you're on a tight schedule, this variability becomes a real problem.
- Some of the best festivals haven't started yet - the major sing-sings in Goroka, Mount Hagen, and Enga Province happen in August-September. April gives you preparation activities and smaller village ceremonies, which are more authentic but less visually spectacular if you're hoping for those iconic photos of hundreds of warriors in full regalia.
Best Activities in April
Milne Bay Diving and Snorkeling Expeditions
April offers some of the year's best underwater visibility before the dry season crowds arrive. Water temperatures hover around 28-29°C (82-84°F), and you'll encounter mating aggregations of barracuda and trevally that don't happen later in the year. The muck diving sites around Dinah's Beach reveal nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses that are harder to spot in cloudier water. Liveaboards typically have availability with only 1-2 weeks notice, unlike the September-November peak when they're booked months ahead.
Highland Village Homestays and Cultural Immersion
April is when you'll see the actual preparation work for the big festivals - women weaving bilums, men gathering bird of paradise feathers, kids practicing traditional dances. It's less photogenic than the main events but infinitely more genuine. Villages around Tari, Goroka, and the Wahgi Valley welcome visitors during this period, and you're participating in daily life rather than watching a performance. The weather is cool enough for comfortable walking - daytime temperatures in the highlands sit around 20-24°C (68-75°F) - but you'll want to time activities for mornings before the afternoon clouds roll in.
Kokoda Track Trekking Sections
April sits right on the edge of feasibility for Kokoda - it's technically still possible but you need to be realistic about conditions. The track is muddy, stream crossings run high, and you'll need an extra day or two compared to dry season timings. That said, if you're reasonably fit and don't mind getting properly wet, you'll have the track almost to yourself. Most trekkers wait until May-September, meaning April gives you a more contemplative experience without the conga lines of groups you'd encounter in August. Focus on the Owers Corner to Imita Ridge section if you want a 2-3 day taste without committing to the full 96 km (60 miles).
Tufi Fjord Kayaking and Village Visits
The Tufi fjords offer some of Papua New Guinea's most accessible coastal scenery, and April weather is variable but workable. You'll get 2-3 hour morning windows of calm water before afternoon winds pick up, perfect for paddling between villages and snorkeling the fringing reefs. The volcanic black sand beaches stay relatively empty, and you can organize village visits to see traditional tapa cloth making and canoe carving. Water temperature sits at 28°C (82°F) so you barely need a wetsuit for snorkeling. The isolation here is genuine - you're looking at 45-minute flights from Port Moresby on small aircraft, which actually adds to the experience.
Port Moresby Markets and Historical Sites
Most travelers rush through Port Moresby to get elsewhere, but April's shoulder season makes it worth spending 2-3 days exploring properly. The Koki Fish Market operates 5am-9am daily and gives you the most authentic slice of urban Papua New Guinea life you'll find - just go with a local guide and leave valuables at your hotel. The National Museum and Parliament House area are walkable in the cooler morning hours before humidity peaks. The Bomana War Cemetery sits 20 km (12 miles) outside the city and sees almost no visitors in April, offering genuine solitude for reflection on the Pacific War history.
Sepik River Village Canoe Journeys
April water levels on the Sepik sit between the wet season highs and dry season lows, which actually makes for ideal canoeing conditions. You can access both main river channels and smaller tributaries without the extreme currents of February-March or the mosquito swarms that intensify as water levels drop later in the year. Village houses on stilts stand partially flooded, creating those iconic reflective photographs. You'll see traditional fishing techniques, spirit house ceremonies, and woodcarving workshops operating at normal pace rather than tourist-oriented production. Temperatures hover around 29-31°C (84-88°F) with high humidity, so this is genuinely hot, sticky travel.
April Events & Festivals
Huli Wigmen Preparation Ceremonies
While the major sing-sings happen later in the year, April is when Huli communities around Tari begin intensive preparation work. You'll see men cultivating their ceremonial wigs with traditional techniques, gathering bird of paradise plumes, and practicing dance formations. These aren't staged tourist events but actual cultural maintenance that happens whether visitors show up or not. Access requires village connections and cultural sensitivity, but the authenticity far exceeds what you'd experience at the organized festivals.
Easter Services in Highland Villages
Papua New Guinea's unique blend of Christianity and traditional beliefs creates fascinating Easter celebrations, particularly in Highland villages. Churches combine hymns with traditional singing styles, and communities organize shared meals featuring both modern and customary foods. The dates shift with the lunar calendar, but when Easter falls in April, it offers genuine insight into contemporary Papua New Guinea culture rather than pre-contact traditions.