Things to Do in Papua New Guinea in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Papua New Guinea
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Northwest monsoon brings calmer seas along the southern coast - Port Moresby, Alotau, and Milne Bay see their best diving and snorkeling conditions of the year with visibility reaching 25-30 m (82-98 ft). The Coral Sea is genuinely stunning right now.
- Highland festivals hit their stride in December. The Goroka Show preparation activities ramp up, and smaller village singsings happen almost weekly. You'll catch rehearsals and ceremonial gatherings without the massive January crowds that descend for the main event.
- Fruit season peaks across the country - you'll find ripe mangoes, pineapples, and breadfruit everywhere. Markets in Mount Hagen and Lae overflow with produce, and locals are in genuinely good spirits. It's harvest time, which means better food experiences and more welcoming village visits.
- School holidays mean domestic tourism is low until late December. International visitors are rare. You'll have places like Varirata National Park and Tufi basically to yourself until around December 20th when Australian holiday-makers start arriving.
Considerations
- Afternoon thunderstorms are intense and unpredictable - not the gentle tropical showers you might imagine. When they hit, they dump 50-80 mm (2-3 inches) in an hour, flooding roads and grounding small aircraft. Plan important activities for mornings, and expect flight delays to remote areas.
- December heat combined with 70% humidity makes highland trekking genuinely exhausting. The Kokoda Track sees temperatures around 28-32°C (82-90°F) in lower sections, and you'll go through 3-4 liters of water daily. This isn't the best month for multi-day mountain treks unless you're very fit.
- Late December pricing jumps significantly as Australian and New Zealand tourists arrive for their summer holidays. After December 18th, accommodation rates in Port Moresby and popular coastal areas increase by 40-60%, and domestic flights get expensive. Book early or visit before mid-December.
Best Activities in December
Milne Bay and Alotau diving expeditions
December brings the calmest conditions to Milne Bay's famous dive sites. The northwest monsoon protects this southeastern region, creating 25-30 m (82-98 ft) visibility and flat seas. Water temperature sits at a comfortable 28°C (82°F). This is genuinely the best month for wreck diving - the aircraft and ship wrecks from WWII are clearest now. You'll see schools of barracuda, reef sharks, and if you're lucky, manta rays at cleaning stations. Liveaboard operators run 7-10 day expeditions that cover remote sites impossible to reach as day trips.
Mount Hagen market and cultural village visits
December is harvest season in the Highlands, and Mount Hagen's main market becomes absolutely packed with produce, bilums (string bags), and locals trading. Wednesday and Saturday are the big market days. The surrounding villages are preparing for festival season, so you'll often stumble onto rehearsals where groups practice their singsing performances. The weather up here is actually more pleasant than the coast - daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and less humidity. Cultural village tours run daily and you'll see traditional cooking methods, bilum weaving, and ceremonial dress preparation.
Tufi fjord kayaking and village stays
Tufi's dramatic volcanic fjords are spectacular in December when morning seas are glassy calm before afternoon winds pick up. Launch kayaks by 7am and you'll paddle through mirror-like water surrounded by rainforest cliffs dropping straight into the sea. The area sees maybe 20-30 international visitors all month, so village interactions feel genuine rather than performative. Water temperature is bath-warm at 29°C (84°F), perfect for snorkeling breaks. Most operators combine kayaking with village homestays where you'll learn traditional fishing methods and participate in cooking.
Varirata National Park day hikes
Just 45 km (28 miles) from Port Moresby, Varirata offers the most accessible highland rainforest experience in the country. December mornings are cool and clear - perfect for the 2-3 hour loop trails that take you through primary forest with bird of paradise sightings almost guaranteed. You'll hear them before you see them. The park sits at 600-800 m (1,970-2,625 ft) elevation, so temperatures are comfortable around 22-25°C (72-77°F). Afternoon storms roll in predictably around 2pm, creating dramatic cloud formations over the valleys. Go early, finish by noon.
Sepik River village tours and crocodile ceremonies
The Sepik is lower in December than the peak wet season months, making village access easier by boat. You'll travel in motorized canoes visiting haus tambarans (spirit houses) filled with centuries-old carvings and artifacts. December timing means you might catch crocodile scarification ceremonies if you're visiting the right villages - young men undergo initiation rites that have been practiced for generations. The river is still high enough for comfortable travel but not flooding, and temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F) with that thick humidity the Sepik is known for.
Kokoda Track day sections and WWII history sites
While December heat makes the full 96 km (60 mile) Kokoda Track challenging, day sections from Owers Corner or around Kokoda village are manageable and powerfully moving. You'll walk sections where Australian and Japanese forces fought in 1942, with local guides whose grandfathers were Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. The track is muddy in December but not the complete quagmire of January-March. Morning temperatures are bearable around 24-26°C (75-79°F) at elevation. Even a day walk gives you a sense of the terrain and the incredible difficulty of the campaign.
December Events & Festivals
Highland festival preparation activities
While the major Goroka Show happens in January, December is when Highland villages intensify their preparations. You'll see groups practicing traditional dances, creating elaborate headdresses with bird of paradise feathers, and preparing ceremonial paint. These rehearsals are actually more intimate and authentic than the main shows - you're watching the real cultural transmission happening between generations. Villages around Mount Hagen, Goroka, and Tari are all active with preparation work.
Village singsing ceremonies
Small-scale singsings happen throughout December in Highland villages, often tied to local celebrations, bride price ceremonies, or community gatherings. These aren't tourist events - they're genuine cultural practices. Your best chance is staying in villages or asking local guides about upcoming ceremonies. The singing, drumming, and traditional dress are mesmerizing, and you'll be one of maybe 2-3 outsiders present if any.