Papua New Guinea in December

Wet season returns; Christmas travel fills flights and slows services.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• JuneGreatGood for Kokoda and the Highlands; Trobriand yam harvest season begins (check).
• JulyGreatDry in the south and Highlands; National Mask Festival in Kokopo (check dates).
• AugustGreatMount Hagen Show and Kokoda peak; book flights and lodges months ahead.
• SeptemberGreatIndependence Day (16 Sep), the Goroka Show and Hiri Moale; the busiest and best-known month.

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

  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 Wilhelmrainy

  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 Riverrainy

  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 coastsdry

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

• New Ireland: New Ireland coast · entire islandrainy

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

• Sepik: Sepik basin · lowland river and coasthot

  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 areadry

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

• Port Moresby32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
• Alotau30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 14 rain days
• Bulolo30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Daru30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Goroka27.5 °C (82 °F) / 16.1 °C (61 °F), 23 rain days82 °F (27.5 °C) / 61 °F (16.1 °C), 23 rain days
• Kainantu27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Kavieng30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 13 rain days
• Kerema31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
• Kimbe30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Kiunga32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 17 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 17 rain days
• Lae30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain days
• Madang30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Mendi23 °C (73 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 12 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 12 rain days
• Mount Hagen29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Namatanai30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 17 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 17 rain days
• Rabaul29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 11 rain days
• Tari Basin27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 11 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 11 rain days
• Tufi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Vanimo31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain days
• Wau30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Wewak30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 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.

• Christmas and Boxing Day

  25–26 Dec

  People travel home; services slow down until early January.

• Christmas

  25 December · Port Moresby

  Public holiday; flights and hotels fill.

Crowds · Papua New Guinea

Medium

Prices · Papua New Guinea

Medium

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

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• Kavieng

  Best months: Nov–Apr (surf), Sep–Dec (dives)

• Kimbe

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

• Tufi

  Best months: Sep–Dec

• Vanimo

  Best months: Sep–Mar (surf season); May–Nov (dry, easier roads)