When to go · Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea in January
Mixed month. Wet season on the south coast and in the Highlands; roads and airstrips close after rain.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Papua New Guinea
- Prices
- Medium
- Papua New Guinea
Verdict
Wet season on the south coast and in the Highlands; roads and airstrips close after rain.
Is another month better than January?
January 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.
Weather in January
- Port Moresby and the south coast · Port Moresby, Central Province, Kokoda Trackrainy
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, Tufirainy
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).
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), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Alotau30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 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
- Goroka26.7 °C (80 °F) / 15.5 °C (60 °F), 24 rain days80 °F (26.7 °C) / 60 °F (15.5 °C), 24 rain days
- Kainantu28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
- Kavieng30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Kerema31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 rain days
- Kimbe30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Kiunga31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain days
- Lae30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 20 rain days
- Madang30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Mendi24 °C (75 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 12 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 45 °F (7 °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), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 rain days
- Rabaul30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
- Tari Basin28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
- Tufi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 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
Festivals and holidays
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.
New Year's Day
1 Jan
Offices closed; flights full around the holidays.
Wet season
About December to April · Port Moresby
Heavy rain, flooded roads and flight delays.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Papua New Guinea
- Low
- Prices · Papua New Guinea
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Papua New Guinea, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Mixed
Jun: Great (better)
Crowds
Jan: Low
Jun: Medium
Prices
Jan: Medium
Jun: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 2
Jun: 1
January: Wet season on the south coast and in the Highlands; roads and airstrips close after rain.
June: Good for Kokoda and the Highlands; Trobriand yam harvest season begins (check).
Papua New Guinea: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast