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Major city · Papua New Guinea

Daru

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

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

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.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
PGK
Best months
May–Oct (dry season)
avoid Dec–Apr (heavy rain)
Airport
DAU
Nights
1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Daru: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Melanesia ↗Malaria is present in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and parts of Vanuatu (not Fiji or New Caledonia): ask a travel clinic about tablets before you go.
  • Papua New Guinea ↗Every visitor needs a visa (an online e-visa, or a visa on arrival for a short list of passports) and must file the free Digital Arrival Card before landing: check the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority for your passport before booking.
  • Papua New Guinea ↗Some governments advise against travel to parts of the Highlands provinces because of tribal fighting; check your own government's current advice before you go.
  • Papua New Guinea ↗Almost all land is customary: ask permission before walking, swimming or photographing, and expect to pay fees to landowners.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Daru112 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Daru, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Barramundi fishing tripsSago dishes
Airports
DAU Daru Airport (Airlines PNG daily from Port Moresby)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  5. May

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jun (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F) low), wettest Jun (16 rain days), driest Jan (12). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Daru: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

Feb

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

Mar

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

13 rd

Apr

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

14 rd

May

32°C (90°F)

26°C (79°F)

15 rd

Jun

33°C (91°F)

27°C (81°F)

16 rd

Jul

33°C (91°F)

27°C (81°F)

16 rd

Aug

33°C (91°F)

27°C (81°F)

16 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

26°C (79°F)

15 rd

Oct

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

14 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

13 rd

Dec

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

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

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Lake Murray

go

Door to door: 2–3 h round trip

Boat charter from Daru (check availability)

Largest lake in PNG, expands in rainy season.

Kiunga

caution

Door to door: 1 h flight + 30 min ground

Flight via PNG Air (check schedule)

Transit point for Ok Tedi mine; limited visitor facilities.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Kuki Hotel

Basic rooms, phone +675 645 9476, suitable for one night

New Century Hotel

PO Box 290 Daru, phone +675 645 9169

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
PGK 5,000–7,000 excl. bed
Mid
PGK 8,000–11,000 excl. bed
High
PGK 12,000+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Kuki Hotel room1 × 1 night × PGK 6,000PGK 6,000
Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × PGK 8,000PGK 8,000
Flight Port Moresby → Daru (round trip)1 × PGK 300 · PNG Air, check schedulePGK 300
Fishing trip (Barramundi/Black Bass)1 × PGK 200 · Arranged via Kuki HotelPGK 200
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgePGK 1,450
Trip total≈ PGK 15,950 per person per day, bed includedPGK 15,950

basic amenities, check availability

2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

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

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Generally safe for day visitors; stay in town after dark and keep valuables secure.
  • Limited services and supplies; bring cash and essentials.
  • Heavy rain can make roads impassable; check weather before travel.

Emergency numbers

Police
112
Ambulance
111
Fire
110

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

DaruDaru

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Plis go long dispela adresTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police112
  • Ambulance111
  • Fire110

Embassy

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

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Port Moresby → Daru (Airlines PNG): about PGK 300 one‑way, 1 h flight (check)

Say or show

  • Gutpela dei — Hello (goo-tpeh deh)
  • Hau hamas? — How much? (how ha-mas)
  • Mi laik kisim pis — I would like fish (mee liek kee-sim pis)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Daru. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct (dry season) · avoid Dec–Apr (heavy rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 2 day-trips, door to door
  6. 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Fly Port Moresby → Daru daily; book with Airlines PNG.
  2. Arrange fishing trip through Kuki Hotel.
  3. Consider extending to Lake Murray if weather permits.

Meanwhile

Back to Papua New Guinea

Sources

Ask about Daru

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