Australian type sockets at 240 V and no daylight saving. Ask before photographing anyone - in much of the country a photograph is something you negotiate and often pay for, not something you take.
- Ask before photographing anyone. In much of the country a photograph is something you negotiate and often pay for - that is normal and open, not a scam.
- Chewing betel nut and spitting the red residue is banned in public buildings, on transport and in parts of Port Moresby, with fines.
- Dress conservatively outside the resorts - shoulders and knees covered, men included - and drinking in public places is illegal.
- Sockets are Australian type at 240 V, and the country runs on UTC+10 with no daylight saving.
- Free public Wi-Fi is essentially non-existent and hotel connections are slow, which is another argument for the larger mobile data plan.
Local rules and cultural differences
- Photography: Photographing people, private houses or a ceremony without asking first is a real breach of etiquette, not a minor one. In many areas a fee is expected and that is a normal, open negotiation rather than a scam. Ask, agree, then take the picture.
- Betel nut (buai): Chewing areca nut with lime and spitting the red residue is banned in public buildings, on transport and in designated parts of Port Moresby, with fines. The red stains everywhere are what the ban is about.
- Drones: Need approval from CASA PNG. Flying near infrastructure without it gets the equipment confiscated.
- Dress: Outside the resorts, dress conservatively - shoulders and knees covered. This applies to men as well.
- Alcohol: Drinking in public places is illegal, and some provinces run their own prohibition rules.
- Wantok: Obligation to one's own language group runs deep in daily life and explains a lot about how things get arranged. It is worth knowing the word exists.
Everyday practicalities
- Power sockets: Type , the Australian three-pin plug. 240 V, 50 Hz.
- Drinking water: Bottled or boiled, always.
- Time zone: UTC+10 across most of the country, with no daylight saving. Bougainville runs on UTC+11.
- Opening hours: Banks Monday to Thursday 08:30-15:00 and Friday 08:30-16:00; government offices 07:45-16:00; supermarkets daily 08:00-18:00. Very little stays open after dark.
- Wi-Fi: Free public Wi-Fi is essentially non-existent and hotel connections are slow. The 4G network is the most reliable internet you will have, which is another argument for the larger Digicel data plan.
- Language: English is an official language, alongside Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu. Tok Pisin is the everyday lingua franca and a few words of it go a long way.
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