Varirata National Park

Varirata National Park Review

You'll need your own transport to get here, and also to bring your own supplies, because although this park is officially staffed by rangers, in practise they can often be hard to find (meaning you may also avoid the park entry fee). About 24 km (15 miles) east of Port Moresby, this is the country's first national park. It only covers an area of around 10 square km (4 square miles), but it reaches a height of around 760 meters (2,500 feet), and the vegetation varies from woodland and grassland to rain forest. It has six well-marked walking trails that take from 45 minutes to around 3 hours to hike, and none are too taxing, although the going can be oppressively humid. Along the way are viewpoints looking back down over Port Moresby and to the coast. Birdwatchers may be rewarded with a glimpse of kingfishers, bower birds, and maybe even a rare bird of paradise. Officially, it's possible to camp here, but safety is an issue and thus this is not recommended except for large groups.