Papua New Guinea in May

Dry season starts in Port Moresby; quiet month before the show season.

May is rated good. 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 Trackfine

  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 Wilhelmfine

  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 Riverfine

  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 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 areadry

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

• Port Moresby31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Alotau30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 16 rain days
• Bulolo32 °C (90 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 14 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 14 rain days
• Daru32 °C (90 °F) / 26 °C (79 °F), 15 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 79 °F (26 °C), 15 rain days
• Goroka26.3 °C (79 °F) / 15.4 °C (60 °F), 22 rain days79 °F (26.3 °C) / 60 °F (15.4 °C), 22 rain days
• Kainantu32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 13 rain days
• Kavieng31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain days
• Kerema30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Kimbe31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain days
• Kiunga30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 16 rain days
• Lae31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Madang31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 13 rain days
• Mendi21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
• Mount Hagen31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain days
• Namatanai30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 13 rain days
• Rabaul30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
• Tari Basin24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 9 rain days
• Tufi30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 14 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 14 rain days
• Vanimo31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 14 rain days
• Wau30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
• Wewak31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 13 rain days

Crowds · Papua New Guinea

Low

Prices · Papua New Guinea

Medium

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

  Dry season begins.

• 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

• Mount Hagen

  Best months: May–Oct (dry season, before curfew intensifies)

• Namatanai

  Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

• Tari Basin

  Best months: May–Oct