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Manus
I
New
Ireland
I
North
Solomons
I
Sandaun
I
East
Sepik
I
Madang |
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East
New
Britain
I West
New
Britain I
Miline
Bay
I
Simbu
I
Morobe
I
Oro |
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Western
Highlands
I
Southern
Highlands
I
Eastern
Highlands
I
Gulf
I
Enga |
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Central
Province
I
Western
Province
I
National
Capital
District |
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From
the
lowland
rainforest,
to
alpine
grasslands,
to
the
shrouded
misty
peaks,
Western
Highlands
Province
is a
land
of
colour
and
vibrancy.
The
capital
city,
Mt
Hagen,
is a
bustling
commercial
centre
where
wealth
from
coffee
and
tea
plantations
has
brought
rapid
change
to
traditional
life
style.
Old
and
new
ways
live
curiously
together,
not
always
harmoniously.
Mt
Hagen
has
a
reputation
as
the
wild
frontier
of
the
Highlands. |
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The
Saturday
market
in
Mt
Hagen
is a
focal
point
of
local
life
and
provides
a
meeting
place
for
traders
from
all
over
the
province.
It
is a
kaleidoscope
of
fruit
and
vegetables,
birds,
animals,
people
in
bright
shirts
and
skirts,
some
wearing
flowers
or
grass
in
their
hair.
The
men
traditionally
wear
a
long
beard
and
the
women
wear
an
array
of
brilliant
scarves
and
carry
their
brightly
coloured
string
bags.
These
bags,
called
bilums,
are
used
to
carry
everthing
from
babies
to
firewood
and
are
made
by
treading
an
entire
length
of
string
through
each
loop.
Traditionally
the
string
is
made
from
tree
bark,
although
these
days
many
women
buy
synthetic
yarn
from
the
local
stores
for
their
bilums.
Handicrafts
can
also
be
found
at
the
Western
Highlands
Cultural
Centre
in
Mt
Hagen.
It
features
a
reconstructed
village
hut
and
has
a
museum
with
exhibits
of
artefacts
and
curios. |
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Singsings
are
held
regularly
throughout
the
province.The
Mt
Hagen
market
is
an
opportune
place
to
purchase
tradionally
made
bilums.
These
are
gatherings
of
clans
in
traditional
costume
where
ritualistic
dancing
and
singing
is
perfomed
for
ceremonial
reasons.
However
there
are
many
opportunities
throughout
the
year
to
watch
a
ceremonial
singsing.
The
most
popular
time
to
visit
Mt
Hagen
is
August
when
the
annual
show
is
held.
Hundreds
of
different
Highland
tribes
are
represented,
each
wearing
their
distinctive
tribal
head
dresses
of
feathers
and
flowers
and
body
paint.
It
is a
wonderful
opportunity
to
se a
glimpse
of
the
richness
of
traditional
Highlands
social
structure. |
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Things
to
see |
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Mount
Hagen:
Set
in
the
large
Wahgi
Valley,
with
its
neat
villages,
gardens,
coffee
plantations
and
groves
of
casuarinas,
this
busy
town
has
a
wild-west
feel
about
it.
All
main
banks
and
airlines
have
offices
here.
The
market,
located
at
the
corner
of
Wahgi
Parade
and
Kum
Road,
is
the
place
to
see
colourfully
attired
locals,
particularly
on
Saturdays,
as
well
as
fresh
produce,
pigs,
feathers,
and
maybe
cassowaries.
The
men
traditionally
grow
a
long
beard
and
the
women
wear
an
array
of
brilliant
scarves
and
carry
their
brightly
coloured
string
bags,
or
bilums.
Bilums
are
used
to
carry
everything
from
babies
to
firewood.
Mount
Hagen
Show:
Held
the
third
weekend
in
August,
this
amazing
show
is
the
place
to
see
the
fantastic
traditional
costumes
and
headdresses
decorated
with
bird
of
paradise
plumes
and
the
cuscus
fur
that
Wahgi
people
wear.
Art
&
Craft:
Traditional
weapons,
bilums
and
Highlands
hats,
decorated
with
cuscus
fur,
are
available
from
the
larger
hotels
and
around
the
town.
The
Cultural
Centre
has
a
reconstructed
village
hut
and
a
museum
with
artefacts.
Archeological
Sites:
The
Kuk
Valley
is a
site
where
land
was
first
cultivated
for
gardening.
Check
with
the
Cultural
Centre
or
hotels
for
permission
to
visit. |
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Things
to
do |
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Walking/trekking:
Walks
of
various
lengths
can
be
done
from
Haus
Poroman
Lodge,
phone
(675)
542
2722,
through
forest
or
to
villages
and
plantations.
Longer
and
more
strenuous
hikes
can
be
taken
from
the
city
to
the
towering
peaks
of
Mount
Hagen
(3791m),
Mount
Ongo,
Mount
Kubor,
Mount
Kini
Kaino
Ku,
and
Mount
Giluwe
(4368m).
Trans
Niugini
Tours,
on
Kongin
Street
behind
the
hospital,
can
also
organise
tours
and
treks,
as
well
as
Paradise
Adventure
Tours
(675)
542
1696.
Birdwatching:
Baiyer
River
Wildlife
Sanctuary
north
of
Mount
Hagen
is
one
of
the
best
places
to
see
Papua
New
Guinea’s
colourful
birds
of
paradise. |
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