Key topics: Port Moresby | Safety | Weather | Maps
Port Moresby
Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The city is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua. Its population is around 300,000 and growing quickly. The indigenous people of the area are the Motu-Koitabu. Moresby, as it is commonly known, got its name from Captain John Moresby who arrived in 1873 as the first European visitor.
The city is quite spread out. The original colonial settlement was by the sea and this is still the port area, as well as the main business and banking district. On the hills above are upmarket residences. Closer to the airport, separated from the original town by hills, is Waigani, a 1970s development built to house the Government offices of the newly Independent country of Papua New Guinea. Nearby are the housing areas of Boroko and Gordons, which also contain most of the large stores. Safety in Port MoresbyPort Moresby has a well-deserved reputation of being very dangerous. Car jackings, muggings and worse are common. There is a great deal of concern about the level of crime and civil disorder and about the ability and willingness of the police to cope. Police officers have been found to be complicit in major crime and police brutality against minor offenders, complainants and witnesses and this has been the subject of criticism from the international group Human Rights Watch.
You will however be safe at your hotel as it situated within a secure perimeter fence and is guarded. Travel Advice for PNG including Port Moresby: www.smartraveller.gov.au |
Driving around Port Moresby
 More information about Port Morseby can be found at the following locations on the Internet:
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