Things to Do in Papua New Guinea in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
April Weather in Papua New Guinea
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
88°F (31°C)
High Temp
74°F (23°C)
Low Temp
4.1 inches (104 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is April Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + These are the last dry days before May's monsoon - roads to Highland villages like Goroka and Mount Hagen remain passable, letting you catch sing-sing performances without the mud that turns tracks into rivers two weeks later
- + Coral spawning season hits Kimbe Bay - night dives reveal reef walls covered in fluorescent gametes pulsing like underwater galaxies, visible only during these final weeks of stable weather
- + Coffee harvest winds down - plantations around Goroka run cupping sessions where you taste beans processed that morning while watching pickers finish the final rows at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) elevation
- + Village guesthouse rates drop 30% from peak season - you'll find traditional haus tambarans with woven bamboo walls and sandalwood fires, minus the tour-group crowds of June-August
Considerations
- − Afternoon thunderstorms strike 3-4 days per week around 3 PM - they dump 25 mm (1 inch) in 30 minutes, turning Port Moresby's streets into axle-deep rivers and canceling small boat departures from Alotau
- − Malaria risk climbs as temperatures rise - the Anopheles mosquitoes that stay dormant in cooler months become active after dusk, requiring prophylaxis regardless of your itinerary
- − Domestic flight schedules shrink - Air Niugini reduces frequencies to remote strips like Tufi and Rabaul as demand drops, meaning longer layovers in Port Moresby's sticky departure lounge
Best Activities in April
Top things to do during your visit
Highland Cultural Tours
April's still-dry highlands around Goroka make this the final month for comfortable village visits. The morning air at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) stays crisp until 9 AM when the sun burns off the mist, revealing coffee plantations where pickers sing while working. Traditional singsings happen spontaneously rather than as staged performances - you'll hear bamboo flutes drifting across valleys when local men practice for upcoming ceremonies
Booking Tip: Book cultural visits 7-10 days ahead through licensed operators - see current tours in booking section below. April's low season means guides often free same-week, but Mount Hagen's weekend market draws regional performers that book up fast
Kimbe Bay Diving
The bay's famous for 40 m (130 ft) visibility in April, when plankton levels drop before monsoon runoff. Coral spawning happens during new moon phases - entire reef walls release pink gametes that drift like snow underwater. The water sits at 28°C (82°F), warm enough for two-hour dives without wetsuits, and manta rays feed in the channel mouths before May's storms scatter them
Booking Tip: Reserve dive days around new moon for spawning - operators in Kimbe run night dives on those dates. Most boats leave Walindi Plantation Resort pier at 7:30 AM to beat afternoon storms
Sepik River Village Stays
April water levels remain low enough to navigate the river's upper reaches in dugout canoes. But high enough to reach otherwise inaccessible lakes. The crocodile masks at Palembei and Kanganaman villages gleam with fresh paint for upcoming yam harvest ceremonies - the ochre pigment catches afternoon light streaming through palm-thatched roofs
Booking Tip: Arrange Sepik trips 5-7 days ahead - river operators combine travelers to fill boats, reducing costs. Pack light: personal cargo limit is 15 kg (33 lbs) including your own water
Port Moresby War History Tours
April's dry mornings suit exploring Kokoda Track memorial sites without the humidity that makes metal plaques too hot to touch by 10 AM. The Australian War Memorial at Bomana - 3,600 white crosses on 10 hectares (25 acres) - stays cool enough for extended visits before storms build over the Owen Stanley Range
Booking Tip: Morning tours starting 8 AM beat both heat and storms - most operators include hotel pickup. The track's muddy sections dry out by late March, making April prime for history-focused day hikes
Tufi Fjord Kayaking
These flooded volcanic valleys stay glass-calm until noon in April, when thermal winds pick up. Paddling through narrow fjords where mangroves meet 200 m (660 ft) cliffs, you'll hear birds that quiet during busier months - hornbills call from pandanus trees, and cockatoos squawk overhead while fishing dugouts pass silently
Booking Tip: Sea kayaks available through Tufi Dive Resort - book day-of based on weather. Afternoon storms make morning sessions essential. Most paddlers return by 11 AM before wind chop builds
Where to Stay in Papua New Guinea in April
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for April travellers.
April Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid April
Goroka Coffee Festival
Smallholder farmers bring their best beans to town for cupping competitions judged by visiting buyers. The festival spills onto Goroka's main street where women roast beans in cast-iron pans over open fires - the smell of caramelizing sugars mixes with woodsmoke as buyers haggle over micro-lot prices. Visitors can join cupping sessions at 9 AM and 2 PM daily
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Papua New Guinea Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The Highlands Highway deteriorates rapidly after April 20 - if you're driving to Goroka, leave before then or expect 6-hour delays where landslides meet road crews
PNG coffee tastes best during April harvest - visit plantation shops where beans roasted that morning sell for half airport prices
Local PMV (public motor vehicle) buses run more frequently in April's dry weather - catch the 7 AM from Mount Hagen to Mendi for 30 kina instead of charter flights
Village guesthouses often include meals - the steamed kaukau (sweet potato) and greens from garden plots taste better than restaurant food
Avoid These Mistakes
Packing only shorts - Highland mornings at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) drop to 14°C (57°F), and village stays provide no heating
Book flights with slack time; April storms routinely ground domestic legs, so pad your itinerary with buffer days.
Skip changing every kina at Port Moresby airport, town bureaux give sharper rates, and many Highland villages still have zero ATMs.
Book Experiences in Papua New Guinea
Top-rated things to do in Papua New Guinea this April
Explore More Activities in Papua New Guinea
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Papua New Guinea.
See All Papua New Guinea Tours on Viator