Back to Feed
Long Read

Port Moresby: Humidity, Hibiscus, and a Whole Lotta Vibes

@Sophia Berg2/13/2026blog
Port Moresby: Humidity, Hibiscus, and a Whole Lotta Vibes

okay, so port moresby. where do i even begin? i’m your friendly neighborhood botanist, elara, and i just spent a week wrestling with humidity and trying to identify every single hibiscus variety i could find. it was…an experience.


let’s just say my usual fieldwork gear needed a serious overhaul. i’m used to dry, dusty landscapes, not this…this soup. i just checked and it’s clinging to everything like a lovesick octopus - there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. seriously, my notebook is permanently damp.

a large boat floating on top of a large body of water


my main mission was to document the native flora around *Port Moresby, specifically focusing on the hibiscus family. it’s surprisingly diverse! i found some absolute stunners - deep crimson ones, sunshine yellow ones, even a few with these crazy, ruffled edges. i’m still working on classifying them all, but my preliminary findings are…well, let’s just say i’m going to need a bigger herbarium.

a person with headphones on in front of a desk with a computer


getting around was…interesting. i relied heavily on taxis and the occasional PMV (Public Motor Vehicle). those things are an adventure in themselves. crammed full of people, chickens, and the occasional bag of potatoes. it’s a whole vibe. i even tried haggling for a ride once. didn’t go well. apparently, my bargaining skills need some serious work.

“Don’t even try to haggle with the PMV drivers, love. They know what they’re doing. Just pay the price and hold on tight.”


Speaking of locals, they were generally incredibly friendly, if a little wary at first. i spent a lovely afternoon chatting with a woman selling fruit at a roadside stall. she gave me some amazing tips on where to find the best mumu (traditional earth oven cooking - seriously, try it!). I’m adding it to my list of things to learn.

a man walking on a dock


Food. Oh, the food. I ate so much fresh seafood. Grilled fish, prawns, lobster…it was heaven. I also tried saksak, a type of steamed bread, and it was surprisingly good. Someone told me that the best saksak is found near Bomana, but i didn’t have time to check it out. Next time!

I did hear some…interesting things. Apparently, the National Museum and Art Gallery is worth a visit, but “watch your bag.” Drunk advice, probably, but still worth noting. And someone else mentioned that the Port Moresby Nature Park is a must-see for anyone interested in local wildlife. I didn’t make it there myself, but it’s definitely on my list for a return trip. Check out their website: https://www.pngnaturepark.org.pg/.

If you get bored, Goroka and Lae are just a short drive away. I didn’t have time to explore them, but i’ve heard they offer a different perspective on Papua New Guinea.

Gear List (because, you know, botanist things):

 Waterproof notebook (essential!) - i went through three.
High-powered magnifying glass - for those tiny flower details.
 Mosquito net - seriously, the mosquitos are relentless.
Sunscreen (even on cloudy days!) - the sun is sneaky.
 Quick-drying clothes - because humidity.
* A sense of adventure - you’ll need it.

Overall, Port Moresby was…challenging. But also incredibly rewarding. It’s a place that gets under your skin, a place that stays with you long after you’ve left. I’m already planning my return trip. Maybe next time i’ll tackle the highlands.

For more info on planning your trip, check out TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g298343-Port_Moresby_Milne_Bay_Province-Vacations.html and Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Port%20Moresby&find_loc=Port%20Moresby%2C%20Papua%20New%20Guinea. You can also find local forums and discussions here: https://www.pngindustry.com/.

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Sophia Berg

Exploring the intersection of technology and humanity.

Loading discussion...