Money Matters
PNG Currency
The currency of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is kina (keena) and toea (toya) with 100 toea equal to one kina. The kina was introduced on the 19th of April 1975. The kina replaced the Australian dollar and the toea replaced the Australian cent.
The kina was so named because in Tok Pisin (neo-Melanesian) and in the Kuanua language it referred to the valuable pearl shell used widely in the highlands as traditional money. Toea, is a Motu word, meaning valuable arm-shell and has had a wide traditional use in coastal Papua for trading and brideprice payments.
During the colonial period and before the introduction of the kina and toea, the people of PNG used German marks and pfennings, Japanese yen, Australian pounds, shillings and pence and most recently up until the 19th of April 1975 Australian dollars and cents.
Illustrated at the bottom of this page are the PNG notes and coins in daily use, although the one and two toea coins have been phased out and are increasingly hard to find, as most have been returned to the bank and are not legal tender.
Australian and PNG Currency Conversion Rates
In Australia, most major cities have bank outlets that can arrange for the exchange of PNG currency. The Brisbane International Airport terminal has several money exchange companies (e.g. Travelex) who offer "okay" exchange rates and usually have the smaller banknotes required on the Kokoda Track. Get in early before they run out of smaller banknotes.
The exchange rate obviously changes with the markets but typically hovers around the 1 AUD to (1.8 to 2.5) kina. ie: $1 = 2K roughly.
Access to Cash in PNG
There is an ATM at the Port Moresby International Airport that usually has reasonable exchange rates. The hotel has an ATM and can change Australian currency however the exchange rate is not always good and sometimes they may not have the smaller denominations needed along the track. We do advise trekkers, for their own safety, not to venture out of the hotel compound which limits access to any other money exchange facilities.
The currency of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is kina (keena) and toea (toya) with 100 toea equal to one kina. The kina was introduced on the 19th of April 1975. The kina replaced the Australian dollar and the toea replaced the Australian cent.
The kina was so named because in Tok Pisin (neo-Melanesian) and in the Kuanua language it referred to the valuable pearl shell used widely in the highlands as traditional money. Toea, is a Motu word, meaning valuable arm-shell and has had a wide traditional use in coastal Papua for trading and brideprice payments.
During the colonial period and before the introduction of the kina and toea, the people of PNG used German marks and pfennings, Japanese yen, Australian pounds, shillings and pence and most recently up until the 19th of April 1975 Australian dollars and cents.
Illustrated at the bottom of this page are the PNG notes and coins in daily use, although the one and two toea coins have been phased out and are increasingly hard to find, as most have been returned to the bank and are not legal tender.
Australian and PNG Currency Conversion Rates
In Australia, most major cities have bank outlets that can arrange for the exchange of PNG currency. The Brisbane International Airport terminal has several money exchange companies (e.g. Travelex) who offer "okay" exchange rates and usually have the smaller banknotes required on the Kokoda Track. Get in early before they run out of smaller banknotes.
The exchange rate obviously changes with the markets but typically hovers around the 1 AUD to (1.8 to 2.5) kina. ie: $1 = 2K roughly.
Access to Cash in PNG
There is an ATM at the Port Moresby International Airport that usually has reasonable exchange rates. The hotel has an ATM and can change Australian currency however the exchange rate is not always good and sometimes they may not have the smaller denominations needed along the track. We do advise trekkers, for their own safety, not to venture out of the hotel compound which limits access to any other money exchange facilities.
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Please note that you will be entering a developing nation where services are not always available or may not work as efficiently as in Australia, so please don’t rely on ATM facilities in PNG being available.
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If possible, obtain kina in banknotes in Australia through your bank or money exchange prior to departing for PNG. Small denominations, 2, 5 and 10 kina notes are suggested as change is often difficult to obtain.
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How Much do I need at Port Morseby?
You will need to pay for any expenses incurred from your hotel room (phone calls, mini bar etc..), all meals (except breakfast) and drinks, snacks and memorabilia. As a rough guide, the prices of meals and drinks are similar to that in Australia.
If you arrive on day one after lunch you will need money for drinks, snacks, dinner, (breakfast paid for by room booking). Then on your last day of your trek, you will need money for drinks, snacks, dinner. On your departure day (assuming you are not staying longer for other activities), the breakfast is included in the room booking again.
How Much do I need along the Kokoda Track?
We suggest that approximately 200 to 250 kina should be taken with you on the trek to pay for fruit, soft drink and visiting local sites.This money is in addition to the money for your time in Port Moresby both before, and after the trekking component.
Credit Cards
The hotel in Port Morseby will accept most credit cards for payments. Bankcard is not accepted in PNG. Credit card facilities may not always be available or work as efficiently as in Australia, so please don’t rely on them being available to use in PNG.
You will need to pay for any expenses incurred from your hotel room (phone calls, mini bar etc..), all meals (except breakfast) and drinks, snacks and memorabilia. As a rough guide, the prices of meals and drinks are similar to that in Australia.
If you arrive on day one after lunch you will need money for drinks, snacks, dinner, (breakfast paid for by room booking). Then on your last day of your trek, you will need money for drinks, snacks, dinner. On your departure day (assuming you are not staying longer for other activities), the breakfast is included in the room booking again.
How Much do I need along the Kokoda Track?
We suggest that approximately 200 to 250 kina should be taken with you on the trek to pay for fruit, soft drink and visiting local sites.This money is in addition to the money for your time in Port Moresby both before, and after the trekking component.
Credit Cards
The hotel in Port Morseby will accept most credit cards for payments. Bankcard is not accepted in PNG. Credit card facilities may not always be available or work as efficiently as in Australia, so please don’t rely on them being available to use in PNG.
Kina Notes and Toea Coins
