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When to go · Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea in October

Great month. Still mostly dry; good diving conditions begin in many island areas.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Papua New Guinea
Prices
Medium
Papua New Guinea

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Papua New Guinea

Still mostly dry; good diving conditions begin in many island areas.

Is another month better than October?

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

Weather in October

  • 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 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, Tufibest weather

    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.

  • 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 coastrainy

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

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

  • Port Moresby31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 3 rain days
  • Alotau30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days
  • Bulolo31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days
  • Daru31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 14 rain days
  • Goroka27 °C (81 °F) / 15.4 °C (60 °F), 21 rain days
  • Kainantu28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 14 rain days
  • Kavieng31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 11 rain days
  • Kerema31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days
  • Kimbe31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 9 rain days
  • Kiunga32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days
  • Lae30 °C (86 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 13 rain days
  • Madang31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 12 rain days
  • Mendi21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mount Hagen30 °C (86 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 10 rain days
  • Namatanai31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 11 rain days
  • Rabaul28 °C (82 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Tari Basin24 °C (75 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days
  • Tufi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Vanimo31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 14 rain days
  • Wau29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Wewak31 °C (88 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Papua New Guinea
Medium
Prices · Papua New Guinea
Medium

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Oct: Great

    Jun: Great

  • Crowds

    Oct: Medium

    Jun: Medium

  • Prices

    Oct: Medium

    Jun: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Oct: 0

    Jun: 1

October: Still mostly dry; good diving conditions begin in many island areas.

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

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in October

Rated best or good this month

  • Port Moresby and the south coast

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

  • Islands and Milne Bay

    Best weather of the year (Rabaul, Kimbe, Kavieng, Alotau, Tufi)

  • Port Moresby

    Dry and hot.

  • Alotau

    Best months: Sep–Nov

  • Daru

    Best months: May–Oct (dry season)

  • Kainantu

    Best months: May–Oct

  • Kavieng

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

  • Kerema

    Best months: May–Nov (dry season)

  • 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