World Country Guide

The Highlands

The majority of the country’s population lives in this least accessible part of Papua New Guinea.
This region has the longest history of contact with the West. Kainantu is reached from Lae through the Kassim Pass. It has a large cultural centre, selling traditional artefacts; it also provides training in print-making and weaving. The largest town is Goroka, an agricultural and commercial centre for the entire Highlands region. The JK McCarthy Museum has a comprehensive display of regional artefacts; the Leahy wing contains photographs taken by early explorers. In the town centre the Raun Raun Theatre company provides contemporary performances of traditional stories and legends. Bena Bena Village, 10km (6 miles) from Goroka, is the largest handweaving organisation in the Highlands. Also nearby is Asaro, where the men coat themselves with grey mud and re-enact for visitors their historic revenge on a neighbouring village. The legend has it that, having been defeated in battle, the resourceful villagers covered themselves in mud and successfully frightened the opposition, who ran away in fear of being visited by ghosts.
Kundiawa, a small town, is the capital of Simbu Province. Some of the local caves are used as burial places; others are popular with cavers. Rafting down the Wahgi and Purari rivers is also exciting. Mount Wilhelm, 4509m (1480ft), is in Simbu Province and is the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea.
In some ways Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands resembles a town from the Wild West. Its expansion is only recent and the local population organise a number of sing-sing celebrations to mark a diverse variety of events ranging from payment of a bride-price to the opening of a new road. There is also a cultural centre in the town. The Baiyer River Wildlife Sanctuary lies 55km (34 miles) north of Mount Hagen and is one of the best places to see the famous birds of paradise. Possums, tree kangaroos, parrots and cassowaries are also part of the natural habitat.
The Mendi Valley of the Southern Highlands is noted for its spectacular scenery and limestone caves. It is home to the Huli Wigmen who wear red and yellow face-paint and elaborately decorated wigs made of human hair.
Wabang in Enga Province has a large cultural centre with an art gallery and a museum. Young artists can be seen working on sand paintings. War shields, wigs, weapons and other artefacts from all over Papua New Guinea are on display. Enga is the most primitive of the Highland Provinces.