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Back to Daru

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Voykit pocket guide · Papua New Guinea

Daru

Fly to Daru for a day of fishing and local food; stay one night at Kuki Hotel.

Daru is the provincial capital on an island at the Fly River mouth. Flights from Port Moresby land daily, and the town offers a few basic hotels and fishing trips. With limited attractions, one full day plus an overnight stay is enough.

Port MoresbyAlotauBuloloGorokaKainantuKaviengKeremaKimbeKiungaLaeMadangMendiNamatanaiRabaulDaru200 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Papua New Guinea
Best months
May–Oct (dry season)
Avoid
Dec–Apr (heavy rain)
Stay
1 night

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
PGK
Money
Currency is the kina (PGK, K). Cards work at larger hotels and some shops in towns; everywhere else is cash.
Daily spend
Budget PGK 5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid PGK 8,000–11,000 excl. bed · High PGK 12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Digicel has the widest coverage; Vodafone PNG and bmobile cover towns. Buy a SIM in Port Moresby with your passport.
Emergency
Police 112 · Ambulance 111 · Fire 110
Plugs
Types I · 240 V · 50 Hz · Same angled flat pins as Australia; bring a power bank, since lodges run generators for set hours.
Tipping
Restaurants and hotels: Not expected.; Guides and drivers: K50–100 a day as thanks if service was good (2026 estimate).; Kokoda porters: Operators set a tip pool; also give gear you no longer need, as many trekkers do.; Villages: Pay agreed custom fees rather than tipping individuals.
Water
Not safe from the tap. Drink bottled, boiled or filtered water; lodges supply rainwater that should be treated.
Toilets
Western toilets in hotels and lodges; long-drop pit toilets in villages and on treks. Carry paper and hand gel.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Barramundi (restaurant)PGK 15–25
Sago dishPGK 5–10
Local beerPGK 3–5

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

DAU · Daru Airport
Airlines PNG daily from Port Moresby

Typical fares

Port Moresby → Daru (Airlines PNG)
about PGK 300 one‑way, 1 h flight (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Walk or hire a local boat for fishing trips; no public transport.

See and do

Known for

  • Barramundi fishing trips
  • Sago dishes

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Lake MurrayBoat charter from Daru (check availability)2–3 h round trip
KiungaFlight via PNG Air (check schedule)1 h flight + 30 min ground

Sleep

Kuki Hotel
Basic rooms, phone +675 645 9476, suitable for one night
New Century Hotel
PO Box 290 Daru, phone +675 645 9169

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloGutpela deigoo-tpeh deh
How much?Hau hamas?how ha-mas
I would like fishMi laik kisim pismee liek kee-sim pis

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Shake hands lightly; greet everyone in a group; avoid: Crushing handshakes or ignoring elders
  • Village visit: Arrive with your guide, meet the leaders first, bring a small gift if advised; avoid: Walking into gardens or houses uninvited
  • Money and gifts: Pay agreed fees to the right person; avoid: Handing out money or sweets to children
  • Anger: Stay calm and let your guide negotiate; avoid: Shouting; public shame can escalate quickly
  • Sunday: Expect church and quiet; join a service if invited; avoid: Noisy activities near villages
  • Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; a laplap (sarong) works; avoid: Swimwear or short shorts in villages

Scams and watch-outs

  • Limited services and supplies; bring cash and essentials.
  • Heavy rain can make roads impassable; check weather before travel.

Generally safe for day visitors; stay in town after dark and keep valuables secure.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Daru yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Barramundi fishing trips
  • Sago dishes

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Daru

Plis go long dispela adres

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

Australian High Commission in Port Moresby (check for consular services).

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/daru). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.