Mount Hagen
Papua New Guinea · Western Highlands · 1677 m
Description
Mount Hagen is the third city of Papua New Guinea and the hub of the Western Highlands, a place that had no contact with the outside world until Australian prospectors walked into the valley in 1933 and found a million people farming it. The Mount Hagen Show in August is the older of the two great sing-sings and draws groups from across the Highlands in feathers, shell and ochre. Around the town the Wahgi valley is intensively gardened, and the Baiyer River area is known for birds of paradise. The town itself is functional, and the reason to come is what surrounds it.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Mount Hagen Show sing-sing (August)
- Highlands feather and shell body decoration
- Wahgi valley gardens and the market
- Birds of paradise near the Baiyer River
- Rondon Ridge and the valley viewpoint
- Kuk early agricultural site (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Highlands coffee and tea estates
- Village sing-sings arranged out of season
- Mount Hagen town market
Getting there
- Airports:
- HGU