Bomana War Cemetery
Place · Waigani: National Museum & Parliament
A Commonwealth war cemetery of about 3,800 graves from the New Guinea and Kokoda campaigns, in trim gardens north of Waigani: a quiet 45-minute stop by car, best combined with a morning trip out of town.
- Kokoda campaign
- Quiet gardens
- By car
- Free entry
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Do not walk between clusters or hail taxis on the street
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Melanesia ↗Malaria is present in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and parts of Vanuatu (not Fiji or New Caledonia): ask a travel clinic about tablets before you go.
- Papua New Guinea ↗Every visitor needs a visa (an online e-visa, or a visa on arrival for a short list of passports) and must file the free Digital Arrival Card before landing: check the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority for your passport before booking.
- Papua New Guinea ↗Some governments advise against travel to parts of the Highlands provinces because of tribal fighting; check your own government's current advice before you go.
- Papua New Guinea ↗Almost all land is customary: ask permission before walking, swimming or photographing, and expect to pay fees to landowners.
- Port Moresby and Central Province ↗Check your own government's current advice for the capital and Central Province before booking; advice changes.
- Port Moresby ↗Do not walk between clusters or hail taxis on the street: use a hotel car or a driver booked through your hotel or operator, door to door, and stay in daylight.
- Port Moresby ↗Check your own government's current travel advice before you book: crime in the capital is serious and advice changes.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Quietest Mon–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Free
- Time to spend
- 45–60 min · up to 90 min if you linger
Best time to go
Very quiet; a few groups on Anzac Day and in Kokoda season.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Sun.
Opening hours
- Note
- Opening hours are posted at the gate (check); go in daylight.
- Hours note
- Desk estimate: daytime hours; confirm at the gate or with the CWGC.
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marbusy
- Aprbusy
- Maybusy
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Seplight
- Octlight
- Novbusy
- Decheavy
Quietest Jun–Oct · busiest Dec.
Estimate: desk reasoning from school-term, weekend and season patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Car to the cemetery gate; stay with the driver
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- none of note
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- YesStep-free entrance · none of note
- Check firstLifts
- Check firstAccessible toilet
- YesWheelchair
- YesStroller · ok
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
- Peak crowd1/5 Very low
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Clothing that meets the dress rule · Modest and respectful.
- A small bag · Small bag.
- Modest and respectful.
- Small bag.
- Allowed with respect; do not pose on graves.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Shelter by the cemetery entrance
- rain: Return to the car
Nearest rescue anchor: D — Grounds bench (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Quiet and respectful behaviour; this is a place of remembrance.
- Keep to paths and do not step on graves.
- Go with a driver; do not walk from the road.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- The cemetery was established after the Second World War to hold Allied servicemen who died in Papua and New Guinea, including many from the Kokoda campaign.
- It sits about 30–40 minutes north of Town by car; combine it with a morning trip toward the Sogeri plateau.
- Go in the morning, with a driver who waits, and leave before the afternoon heat.
- It is a well-kept place; keep voices low.
Best time of day
Plan 45–60 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and holidays
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Dress code
- Modest and respectful.
- Bags & lockers
- Small bag.
- Photos
- Allowed with respect; do not pose on graves.
- What's closed
- After darkcheckDo not visit after dark.
- Anzac Day (25 April) and ceremoniescheckBusy with ceremonies; check access.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | — |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
60min
p95
90min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (60 min).
Nothing else in our notes is a short enough walk from here for the time that is left.
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: yes · yesnone of note
- Lifts: check · check
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: yes · yes
- Stroller: yes · yesok
Level lawns and paved paths (check).
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| History and Kokoda visitors | good | A moving stop for anyone tied to the campaign. |
| Families | ok | Quiet and green. |
| Solo walkers | poor | Use a driver. |
Skip it if
- You have no car and driver.
With kids
- with kids
- Quiet; explain the setting before you go.
- child price
- Free
Combine with
Combine with
- 25 minPort Moresby Nature Park — Car ride
Walk the Waigani: National Museum & Parliament area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
How far is it?
About 25–40 minutes by car from Waigani or Town, depending on traffic.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it free?
Yes; there is no entry fee.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I go alone?
Go with a driver or an operator; do not walk.
Photos
Photos
Bomana War Cemetery Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Shannon Smith, Public domain
Deep dive
Sources
- officialCommonwealth War Graves Commission
- secondaryWikivoyage — Port Moresby
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Taken from the desk crowd estimate by hour. It is not a count of visitors.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.