Highlands

Papua New Guinea Highlands is high rugged terrain.  It comprises of steep mountain ranges, deep valleys and large major river systems.  It is divided into five different provinces with theor own cultural traditions and exotic headdresses which are derivitive of the stunning variety of bird species.  The highlands is home to many different beautiful orchids, animals, insects and particularly the incredibly brilliant birds of paradise.

Eastern Highlands

Goroka is the capital of this province where coffee grows abundantly and provides a main source of ecomony.  The Asaro Mudmen come from this region where they would wear large masks over their head made of mud to scare off their enemies.  The Goroka Show is a gathering or 'Sing Sing' where villagers and tribespeople gather and display their traditional costumes of feathers and grass skirts, the mudmen and play their kundu drums and have ground-shaking dances.

Southern Highlands

This region is the extremely remote with high valleys hidden between towering limestone peaks.  The Huli Wigmen are famous for their colourful face and body paint and elaborately decorated wigs with birds of paradise feathers.  Their culture thrives here amongst incredible and remote landscape.  Mendi is the capital which is built around the airport and has a market on Fridays and Saturdays when the locals come to town. 

The area is rich with birdlife and butterflies in virgin rainforest with 100m waterfalls and tranquil lakes.

Enga Province

Tall steep mountains and fast flowing rivers keep this region from much development.  Its produces coffee, gold and silver with a road the passes from Mt Hagen to Wabag, the capital city, at almost 3000m through spectacular views and countryside.  There is a huge orchid collection at their botanical gardens and they have the Enga Festival in August.  Lake Rau is a beatiful crater lake at 3000m to trek to from Laiagam, west of Wabag.

Simbu Province

Simbu is the heart of the highlands and home to the country's highest mountain, Mt Wilhelm at 4509m.  The climb to the summit offers panoramic views over the highlands and the capital, Kundiawa.  The town sits on a sloping ridge beneath the towering mountains next to an airstrip.  Much of these valleys are inaccessible due to incredibly steep mountainsides.  There are many caves to explore, and large caves for the more experienced caver. 

Western Highlands

This terrain drops into the broad Wahgi Valley with mist shrouded peaks descending into lowland rainforest and grasslands.  The capital is Mt hagen which proffers from coffe and tea plantations.  It is a busy town that has developed from their traditional way of life.  There are banks and offices and brightly dressed women with the men traditionally having long beards.  The Mt Hagen Show is held in August where they have a wonderful display of their traditional costumes and deaddresses.  The markets on Saturdays sell produce, pigs, feather and maybe cassawaries.