Things to Do in Papua New Guinea in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Papua New Guinea
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Incredible cultural festivals - February brings the Hiri Moale Festival in Port Moresby (typically second weekend) and the Goroka Show preparation season when you can watch sing-sing groups rehearsing in villages. These aren't tourist shows - they're the real deal, and February rehearsals mean smaller crowds and more authentic interactions than the main September event.
- Lush landscapes at peak greenery - the wet season transforms the Highlands into impossibly vibrant greens, waterfalls are at their most dramatic with 250 mm (9.8 inches) of rain feeding them, and the orchids are blooming across the mountain forests. If you're a photographer, this is actually your month despite the rain.
- Significantly lower accommodation costs - February sits squarely in low season, meaning you'll find Port Moresby hotels 30-40% cheaper than July-September peak, and Highland lodges are often negotiable. Dive operators in Milne Bay and New Britain are hungry for business and more willing to customize trips.
- Better diving visibility windows - counterintuitively, February offers excellent diving conditions between weather systems. The rain actually flushes nutrients that attract manta rays and whale sharks to spots like Kimbe Bay, and you'll have dive sites practically to yourself. Water temperature sits at a comfortable 28-29°C (82-84°F).
Considerations
- Serious rain that disrupts travel plans - those 18 rain days aren't gentle drizzles. We're talking about afternoon downpours that dump 50-80 mm (2-3 inches) in two hours, turning unpaved Highland roads into mud tracks and occasionally closing the Kokoda Track entirely. Domestic flights get delayed or cancelled roughly 20% more often than dry season, and if you've got a tight itinerary, this will stress you out.
- Highland roads become genuinely challenging - the Highlands Highway between Goroka and Mount Hagen turns into a test of nerves in February, with landslides happening weekly and sections becoming 4WD-only. That scenic drive you read about? It might take 8 hours instead of 5, or be impassable for days. Local PMVs (public motor vehicles) still run, but they're packed and uncomfortable.
- Limited outdoor activity windows - you're basically working with mornings only for trekking, birdwatching, or village visits. Rain typically starts between 1-3 PM and continues through evening, which means you're back at your lodge by lunch most days. If you're the type who wants dawn-to-dusk adventure, February will frustrate you.
Best Activities in February
Kokoda Track day sections and village stays
February is actually ideal for day-hiking portions of the Kokoda Track rather than the full multi-day trek. The track itself is often too muddy for through-hiking, but villages along the route like Owers Corner and Sogeri are accessible and the morning weather windows (typically clear until noon) give you 4-5 hours of hiking before rain hits. The vegetation is incredibly lush, and you'll see far fewer trekkers than the July-September rush. Local guides are more available and prices drop to around 350-500 Kina per day versus 600-800 Kina in peak season. The humidity sits at 85% though, so this is genuinely strenuous hiking even on shorter sections.
Port Moresby cultural sites and markets
February's wet weather actually makes Port Moresby exploration more manageable - the rain cools things down from the usual oppressive heat, and morning market visits at Koki and Gordons are less crowded. The National Museum and Parliament House gardens are at their most beautiful with wet season blooms. Most importantly, February brings Hiri Moale Festival preparations, meaning you can visit villages in the Hanuabada area and see bilum bag weaving, pottery making, and lakatoi canoe construction without the festival crowds. Morning visits between 7-11 AM give you the best weather window before afternoon storms roll in from the Coral Sea.
Kimbe Bay and Walindi diving expeditions
February is peak manta ray and whale shark season in Kimbe Bay, with water visibility ranging 20-30 m (65-100 ft) between weather systems. The rain actually creates nutrient upwellings that attract large pelagics to sites like Bradford Shoals and Hanging Gardens. Water temperature stays comfortable at 28-29°C (82-84°F), and you'll have world-class dive sites practically empty - we're talking 3-4 divers per site versus 15-20 in September. The catch is weather-dependent scheduling - expect to lose maybe 2-3 dive days per week to rough seas, so build flexibility into your trip. Liveaboards often offer 20-30% discounts in February to fill boats.
Highland village cultural experiences and sing-sing rehearsals
February through April is rehearsal season for the September Goroka Show, which means villages around Goroka, Mount Hagen, and the Wahgi Valley are practicing their sing-sing performances. This is infinitely more authentic than the actual show - you're watching communities prepare on their own schedule, not performing for tourists. The wet season also means Highland coffee harvesting is in full swing, so you can participate in picking and processing at small holder farms. Morning visits work best, typically 8 AM-1 PM before roads become problematic. Temperatures in the Highlands stay comfortable at 18-24°C (64-75°F) even with humidity.
Sepik River village expeditions and art collecting
The Sepik is high in February with 250 mm (9.8 inches) of rain feeding the system, which actually makes river travel easier - you can access villages and tributaries that become shallow in dry season. The wet season is also prime carving season, as men spend more time indoors creating the spirit masks, story boards, and crocodile carvings the Sepik is famous for. You'll find better selection and more reasonable prices than peak season when tour groups flood through. Expect hot and extremely humid conditions - 30°C (86°F) with 85% humidity feels oppressive, but that's the Sepik year-round. River lodges are quieter and often negotiable on pricing.
Tufi fjord kayaking and snorkeling
Tufi's volcanic fjords offer protected waters even during February's wet season, making it one of the few places in PNG where you can reliably plan water activities. Morning kayaking through the fjords gives you 3-4 hours before afternoon storms, and the rain actually creates dramatic waterfalls cascading down the cliff faces. Snorkeling visibility stays decent at 10-15 m (33-50 ft) in the protected bays, and you'll spot reef sharks, turtles, and healthy coral gardens without the crowds. The surrounding rainforest is incredibly lush in February, and village visits to see tapa cloth making work well in afternoon hours when you're off the water anyway.
February Events & Festivals
Hiri Moale Festival
Usually held the second weekend of February in Port Moresby, this festival celebrates the traditional hiri trade voyages of the Motu-Koitabu people. You'll see massive lakatoi canoes, traditional dancing, pottery demonstrations, and bilum bag displays. The festival happens at Ela Beach and is one of the few genuinely accessible cultural events for visitors - no special permissions needed, just show up. The lead-up week is actually more interesting than the main event, as you can visit Hanuabada village and watch preparations. Entry is typically free or minimal (20-30 Kina), and it's one of the rare times Port Moresby feels genuinely celebratory rather than just functional.