Things to Do in Papua New Guinea in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Papua New Guinea
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak diving season in Milne Bay and Kimbe Bay - visibility reaches 30-40 m (98-131 ft) as northwest monsoon winds calm down, and you'll encounter massive schools of barracuda and tuna aggregating for spawning season
- Highland festivals are in full swing - the Enga Cultural Show typically runs mid-January in Wabag, and you'll see traditional sing-sing performances without the massive tourist crowds that descend during the Mount Hagen Show in August
- Bird of Paradise lekking season is at its absolute peak - males are displaying aggressively to attract mates, making this the single best month for wildlife photography in the lowland and mid-mountain forests
- Wet season means waterfalls are absolutely thundering - places like the Waghi Valley and the Kokoda Track have streams running at full force, creating dramatic landscapes that look completely different from the dry season
Considerations
- January sits squarely in the northwest monsoon season - you'll get intense afternoon downpours that can last 2-3 hours, and these can completely shut down small airstrips in the Highlands for days at a time, wreaking havoc on tight itineraries
- Kokoda Track becomes genuinely dangerous - river crossings swell to chest-deep levels and the trail turns into a mudslide, with several sections requiring technical rope work that isn't necessary in the dry season
- Highland roads deteriorate rapidly - the Highlands Highway between Goroka and Mount Hagen can take 6-8 hours instead of the usual 4 hours due to washouts and landslides, and you might encounter complete road closures requiring multi-day detours
Best Activities in January
Milne Bay and Kimbe Bay diving expeditions
January is when the northwest monsoon calms the northern waters while the southern coast gets protected by the Owen Stanley Range. Water temps sit at 28-29°C (82-84°F), and you'll encounter spawning aggregations of barracuda, tuna, and reef sharks. The soft coral systems in Kimbe Bay are at their most vibrant, and muck diving in Milne Bay produces bizarre critters like Rhinopias scorpionfish and Wonderpus octopus. Visibility typically ranges 25-40 m (82-131 ft), which is as good as PNG gets.
Bird of Paradise tracking in lowland forests
Males are displaying at lek sites from dawn until about 9am, performing elaborate dances to attract females. January is peak breeding season, so you'll see species like Raggiana, King, and Twelve-wired Birds of Paradise at their most active. The Varirata National Park near Port Moresby and the forests around Tari in the Southern Highlands are particularly productive. You'll need to start hiking in darkness - most leks are 1-2 hours walk from road access, and you want to be in position by 5:30am when males start calling.
Highland cultural village stays and sing-sing ceremonies
January avoids the massive festival crowds but still offers authentic sing-sing performances at village level. You'll stay in basic guesthouses or homestays in places like the Waghi Valley or Tari Basin, participating in daily activities like sweet potato harvesting, bilum bag weaving, and mumu earth oven cooking. The wet season actually makes this more authentic - you'll see how locals deal with muddy conditions and swollen rivers as part of daily life. Temperatures in the Highlands sit at 18-24°C (64-75°F), which is comfortable for hiking.
Sepik River village canoe expeditions
The Sepik runs high in January, which actually makes navigation easier - you can access tributary villages that become unreachable in low water months. You'll travel by motorized canoe between villages known for specific art forms - Chambri Lakes for pottery, Korogo for masks, Palimbei for carved story boards. Water levels mean you're sleeping in village spirit houses rather than camping on sandbars. The humidity is intense, sitting around 85-90 percent, and you'll be soaked with sweat and rain most days, but this is the authentic Sepik experience.
Tufi fjord kayaking and snorkeling
The volcanic fjords around Tufi create protected waters even during the northwest monsoon. You'll paddle through narrow inlets surrounded by 100 m (328 ft) cliffs covered in jungle, with waterfalls pouring directly into the sea after afternoon rains. The coral reefs here are shallow and vibrant - 3-8 m (10-26 ft) depth - making them perfect for snorkeling. Water visibility ranges 15-25 m (49-82 ft) in January, and you'll encounter reef sharks, turtles, and massive schools of fusiliers. The isolation means you'll often have entire fjords to yourself.
WWII historical site exploration in Rabaul and Kokopo
January weather is hot and humid but manageable for exploring the extensive Japanese tunnel systems, bunkers, and aircraft wrecks around Rabaul. The volcanic landscape adds drama - you can climb to the rim of Tavurvur volcano in about 45 minutes for views over Simpson Harbor where hundreds of ships and planes rest underwater. The Rabaul Museum has artifacts recovered from jungle crash sites. Snorkeling over shallow wrecks in 8-12 m (26-39 ft) of water requires minimal training and offers incredible photography opportunities.
January Events & Festivals
Enga Cultural Show
Held in Wabag in the Enga Province, this is one of PNG's major Highland gatherings but remains relatively unknown to international tourists. You'll see dozens of clans performing traditional sing-sings with elaborate headdresses featuring Bird of Paradise plumes, cassowary feathers, and face paint made from local clays. The show includes traditional warfare demonstrations, courting dances, and pig-killing ceremonies. Unlike the massive Mount Hagen Show in August, this maintains a more authentic village atmosphere with maybe 50-100 tourists compared to thousands.