A lot of PNG's freight is bound somewhere other than Port Moresby or Lae: a mine in Enga, a store in Rabaul, a school in Manus, a plantation in West New Britain. Getting it there means planning the last leg as carefully as the first, because in PNG the last leg is often the longest.
This guide covers the regional port network, how cargo reaches it, and how freight gets into the Highlands. It's part of our complete guide to shipping from Australia to PNG.
Key points
- PNG Ports Corporation's declared ports include Lae, Port Moresby, Kimbe, Madang, Alotau, Rabaul, Kavieng, Oro Bay, Kieta, Buka, Vanimo, Lorengau, Wewak, Daru and Aitape.
- Many regional ports are reached by transshipment through Lae or Port Moresby and domestic coastal shipping.
- The Highlands are supplied through Lae and the Highlands Highway; Port Moresby has no road link to the Highlands.
- The Highlands Highway is vulnerable to landslides and damage, so allow extra time.
- Domestic air freight is often the practical option for remote centres.
PNG's port network
PNG Ports Corporation manages the country's declared ports: Lae, Port Moresby (Motukea), Kimbe, Madang, Alotau, Rabaul, Kavieng, Oro Bay, Kieta, Buka, Vanimo, Lorengau, Wewak, Daru and Aitape. Lae and Port Moresby handle most international containers. The others vary widely in facilities, depth and frequency of calls, and a sector profile by Business Advantage PNG notes that only Lae, Port Moresby and Kimbe are profitable.
There are also specialised private facilities, such as Ok Tedi Mining's inland port on the Fly River at Kiunga, and the oil and gas terminals near Port Moresby.
Which port serves which region
| Province or region | Main port |
|---|---|
| East New Britain | Rabaul |
| West New Britain | Kimbe |
| New Ireland | Kavieng |
| Manus | Lorengau |
| Bougainville | Buka and Kieta |
| Milne Bay | Alotau |
| Oro | Oro Bay |
| Madang | Madang |
| East Sepik | Wewak |
| Sandaun | Vanimo and Aitape |
| Western Province | Daru, and river transport to inland areas |
For the two main ports, see our guide to choosing between Port Moresby and Lae.
How cargo reaches regional ports
Some regional ports receive direct calls from international services, particularly the larger ones in the New Guinea Islands. Many others are reached by transshipment: the container is discharged at Lae or Port Moresby and loaded onto a domestic coastal vessel for the final voyage. Lae is widely used as a transshipment hub, both within PNG and for other Pacific destinations.
Transshipment adds time, handling and cost, and it adds a second chance for a delay. As one example of the cost difference, published reference rates for shared container freight from China show Rabaul costing roughly double Port Moresby per cubic metre. The pattern from Australia is similar: the further from the main ports, the more the last leg costs.
Ask your forwarder for the full routing and an all-in price to the final port. Our guide to what shipping from Australia to PNG costs explains what to include.
Getting freight into the Highlands
The Highlands are home to millions of people and some of PNG's biggest mines and agricultural districts, yet the capital has no road link to them. Freight for the Highlands goes to Lae and up the Highlands Highway, which links Lae to Goroka, Mount Hagen and the provinces beyond and connects to a wider network of regional roads.
The highway is the region's commercial artery, but it's a mountain road that suffers from landslides, potholes and damaged bridges. A long-running investment programme, backed by international development banks, has been rehabilitating sections and replacing dozens of bridges. Major mines, which depend on the highway for equipment and supplies, have historically spent considerable time and money keeping it open.
In practice, that means:
- allow extra time, particularly in the wet season
- use transport companies that run the highway every week and know current conditions
- plan security for valuable loads
- for oversized or heavy items, arrange route surveys, permits and escorts, as covered in our guide to shipping project cargo and mining equipment.
When air is the answer
For remote centres, small urgent consignments or places where roads and shipping are unreliable, domestic air freight is often the practical last leg. Air Niugini and PNG Air fly from Port Moresby to many provincial centres, including Lae, Mount Hagen, Goroka, Rabaul, Kavieng, Wewak and Alotau. Our guide to air freight from Australia to PNG covers how international and domestic air cargo connect.
Planning a regional shipment
- Confirm the exact delivery location and how it's reached: by road from Lae, by sea from a regional port, or by air.
- Choose the international discharge port that gives the shortest, most reliable last leg.
- Ask for an all-in price and routing to the final port or door, including transshipment.
- Allow realistic time for coastal connections, which may run less often than international services.
- Pack for extra handling, with strong packaging and clear marks on every piece.
- Make sure your insurance covers the domestic legs, not just the voyage from Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship directly from Brisbane to Rabaul or Kimbe?
Sometimes, depending on which services are running. Many shipments to regional ports transship through Lae or Port Moresby, so ask your forwarder for the current routing.
Is there a road from Port Moresby to the Highlands?
No. Port Moresby isn't connected by road to Lae or the Highlands. Highlands freight goes through Lae and up the Highlands Highway.
How long does freight take from Lae to Mount Hagen?
It depends on the load, the carrier and road conditions. Allow extra time in the wet season, and ask a carrier who runs the route regularly for current timings.
Part of our complete guide
This article is one step in Shipping from Australia to PNG: The Complete Guide. Other guides in the "arrival, fees, and delivery" stage:
This guide is general information, current at the date of last review. Rates, schedules, duty rates and procedures change, so confirm the details of your shipment with a licensed freight forwarder or customs broker before you act.