Papua New Guinea in August

Mount Hagen Show and Kokoda peak; book flights and lodges months ahead.

No other month rates higher than August for Papua New Guinea in this guide.

• Port Moresby and the south coast · Port Moresby, Central Province, Kokoda Trackbest weather

  Rain shadow: the capital is dry May–November and wet and humid December–April; the Kokoda Track trekking season is April–November, busiest June–September.

• Highlands · Goroka, Mount Hagen, Tari, Mount Wilhelmbest weather

  At 1,500–2,000 m days are mild and nights cool; rain falls in every month, least in June–September when the shows are held.

• North coast and Sepik · Madang, Wewak, the Sepik Riverbest weather

  Hot and humid all year; the river runs high in the wet season and villages flood, while very low water late in the dry season can stop boats on side channels.

• Islands and Milne Bay · Rabaul, Kimbe, Kavieng, Alotau, Tufifine

  Rain patterns differ by island; many dive operators rate September–December as the calmest and clearest window. Milne Bay is the only part of PNG regularly brushed by cyclones (roughly December–April).

• Highlands: Highland plateaucool

  Temperatures 15–22 °C (59–72 °F); rain year‑round, wetter Dec–Mar.Temperatures 59–72 °F (15–22 °C); rain year‑round, wetter Dec–Mar.

• New Britain: Coastal New Britain · Rabaul and Kimbe coastsrainy

  Dry season May–September offers calm seas and best diving visibility.

• New Ireland: New Ireland coast · entire islanddry

  Rainfall peaks Dec–Mar; trade‑wind season May–Oct offers steadier seas.

• Sepik: Sepik basin · lowland river and coastrainy

  Rainy season roughly December–March; dry season May–October. Temperatures 30–33 °C (86–91 °F) year‑round with high humidity.Rainy season roughly December–March; dry season May–October. Temperatures 86–91 °F (30–33 °C) year‑round with high humidity.

• Southern Papua New Guinea: Southern PNG coast · Port Moresby arearainy

  Dry season April–October offers cooler temps and reliable flights; wet season brings heavy rain and possible flight disruptions.

• Port Moresby29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
• Alotau29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 18 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 18 rain days
• Bulolo32 °C (90 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 15 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 15 rain days
• Daru33 °C (91 °F) / 27 °C (81 °F), 16 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 81 °F (27 °C), 16 rain days
• Goroka26 °C (79 °F) / 14.9 °C (59 °F), 17 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 59 °F (14.9 °C), 17 rain days
• Kainantu27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 18 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 18 rain days
• Kavieng30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 8 rain days
• Kerema29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 11 rain days
• Kimbe30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Kiunga30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 14 rain days
• Lae29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Madang31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 14 rain days
• Mendi19 °C (66 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Mount Hagen31 °C (88 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 7 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 7 rain days
• Namatanai30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 10 rain days
• Rabaul28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
• Tari Basin22 °C (72 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Tufi29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Vanimo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Wau27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Wewak31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 13 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Mount Hagen Cultural Show big impact

  Mid-August (check dates)

  Hundreds of clan groups in bilas (dress) perform; Mount Hagen hotels and Highlands flights sell out months ahead.

• National Repentance Day

  26 Aug

  Public holiday with church events.

• Hiri Moale Festival check

  Varies · Port Moresby

  Motu cultural festival; check dates with the organisers.

• Highlands shows check

  Varies · Port Moresby

  Flights out of Port Moresby fill; book early.

• Mount Hagen and Goroka shows

  Aug–Sep (varies) · Port Moresby

  Highlands festivals fill flights out of Port Moresby; book flights and hotel well ahead.

Crowds · Papua New Guinea

High

Prices · Papua New Guinea

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Papua New Guinea, side by side.

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Port Moresby and the south coast

  Best weather of the year (Port Moresby, Central Province, Kokoda Track)

• Highlands

  Best weather of the year (Goroka, Mount Hagen, Tari, Mount Wilhelm)

• North coast and Sepik

  Best weather of the year (Madang, Wewak, the Sepik River)

• Port Moresby

  Dry; the Mount Hagen Show fills flights to the Highlands.

• Daru

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season)

• Kainantu

  Best months: May–Oct

• Kerema

  Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

• Kimbe

  Best months: mid‑Aug to late‑Dec and Feb to May/Jun

• Kiunga

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, better bird activity)

• Lae

  Best months: May–Nov

• Madang

  Best months: May–Nov

• Mendi

  Best months: May–Nov