Things to See in Papua New Guinea

Varirata National Park, Papua New Guinea's first such park, has a variety of interesting and clearly marked walking trails, plus some excellent lookouts with views back to the country's capital and the south coast. Some of the trails can be quite jungle-like, which is surprising considering the park's proximity to Port Moresby.

Climbing to the 4509m (14,790ft) summit of Mt Wilhelm has long been a highlight for many visitors to the country's Highlands. It's hard work, but on a clear day you can see both the north and south coasts of the mainland. If you don't plan on tackling the summit, the region around the base offers fantastic walking and dramatic landscapes.

The Lake Kutubu area has one of just five national parks in PNG. South of Mendi, Lake Kutubu has some of the Highlands' most beautiful scenery. According to legend, the lake was formed when a fig tree was cut down by a woman looking for water. The story goes that whatever the tree touched turned to water - hence the lake.