Overview
Lae is a city in the Huon Gulf region of Papua New Guinea. Lae is PNG's second city, after the capital Port Moresby and its main economic hub as most of the production from the country's Highlands area is exported through the city, transported along the Highlands Highway.
Understand
With no road connections between Port Moresby and much of the rest of the mainland, Lae's port is also the main way by which food from the Highlands (potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbages, etc.) reaches the capital. Coastal shipping from Lae also offers a cheaper transport option for those who cannot afford to fly to Port Moresby. Known as the "gateway to the Highlands", this does Lae a disservice as it has much to offer in its own right.
In the 1920s, Lae was the busiest airport in the world - it was there that aviators in the gold mining industry first proved that it was commercially feasible to ship cargo (and not just people) by air. Lae was the last known stop of aviator Amelia Earhart on her attempted around-the-world air journey in 1937. She did not reach Howland Island, her next planned refuelling stop.
During World War II, Lae was a major base for Japanese troops.
Get in
By plane Lae's airport is at Nadzab, about 40 km north of the city. This was a major US base towards the end of the war. It is served by:
Air Niugini has several daily flights from the capital Port Moresby, as well as connecting Lae with several other centers in PNG. PNG Air has flights from Goroka, Mt. Hagen and Port Moresby and a wide range of other towns in the country. It also has flights to Brisbane and Cairns in Queensland.
By car Lae can be reached by car from most cities in PNG's Highlands, via the Highlands Highway, and also from Madang on the north coast.
By boat It is possible to get a berth on a coastal freighter from Port Moresby.
Get around
Take care when driving around Lae. Although the roads are improving, there are many pot holes.
It is advisable to leave a good space between yourself and the car in front of you so you can make a quick getaway if need be.
See
Lae Botanic Gardens. Right in the heart of Lae city the gardens give a good appreciation of some of PNG's vegetation and attract a wide range of birds.
Lae War Cemetery. Contains 2,818 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 444 of them unidentified. Morobe Show. This is held on the "weekend closest to the full moon in October". It is both an agricultural and industrial show as well as a cultural event that attracts many tourists, with emphasis on the culture of Morobe province. The Rainforest Habitat. This is a self-funding display on 10 hectares at the Lae University of Technology and has a large collection of animals and birds, including a dozen of the 30 species of Bird of Paradise found in Papua New Guinea. The Habitat has around 80 Birds of Paradise, many on display in a 3,000-m² rainforest enclosure.
Do
Game fishing. Marlin, Wahoo, Sailfish, Yellowfin and Spanish Mackerel are commonly caught. The Yacht Club can arrange boat charters.
Eat
Lae Garden Restaurant. A mix of Australian, Chinese and local cuisines.
Sleep
Huon Gulf Motel. Multiple restaurants and bars.
Lae International Hotel. Has a swimming pool suitable for adults and children.
Make Lae your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 4873841 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2024-05-01. This is not a date of field verification.
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