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Voykit pocket guide · Papua New Guinea
Tufi
Tufi is a 4–5 night add-on for divers, fjord scenery and village stays; fly from Port Moresby twice a week, skip if you cannot book a package or lodge.
Tufi is a remote coastal town on Papua New Guinea's 'Fjordland', known for deep fjords, WWII dive sites, tapa cloth and rainforest. Access is by twice-weekly flight or unreliable ferry; most visitors book a package through Tufi Resort or Ecotourism Melanesia. The area suits divers, kayakers and travellers who want a quiet village-based stay rather than sightseeing.
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Best months
- Sep–Dec
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (wet season, rough seas)
- Stay
- 4–5 nights
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
- Package (resort + flights + meals) K800–1,500 · Independent (village stay, self-cater) K200–400 (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
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| PNG Air flight Port Moresby–Tufi (return) | K1,000–1,500 |
| Full-board meal at Tufi Resort (per day) | K200–300 |
| Dive (single, incl. gear) | K150–250 |
| Tapa cloth (small piece) | K50–150 |
| Boat transfer to Cyclone Reef (per person) | K100–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TFI · Tufi Airport
- PNG Air flights from Port Moresby twice a week; check
Typical fares
- PNG Air Port Moresby–Tufi
- about K600–800 one way, twice a week (check)
- Boat transfer to Cyclone Reef
- about K100–200 per person (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
On foot or by boat; the resort arranges transfers and tours. No public transport.
See and do
Known for
- Fjord scenery
- Tapa cloth
- WWII dive sites (PT boats)
- Cyclone Reef diving
- Queen Alexandra Birdwing butterfly
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cyclone Reef | Boat from Tufi Resort, about 30 min | About 1 h |
| WWII PT boat dive sites | Boat from Tufi Resort, about 15 min | About 45 min |
| Village tapa-making demonstration | Walk or short boat ride | About 30 min |
Sleep
- Tufi Resort
- 10 deluxe bungalows, 9 standard air-conditioned bungalows, 8 single fanned rooms; main dining with fjord view.
- Village guest houses
- Arranged through Tufi Resort; a few kilometres from Tufi.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Gudegoo-deh |
| Thank you | Tenkyuten-kyoo |
| How much? | Hamas?ha-mas |
| Yes | Yes |
| No | Nogatno-gat |
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
- Flights are twice a week and weather-dependent; book a package to avoid being stranded.
- The ferry from Popondetta or Lae is unreliable; check before planning.
- Seas are best Oct–mid Jun for diving; Jan–Mar can be rough.
- Queen Alexandra Birdwing is very rare; do not expect to see it.
Tufi is remote and safe within a resort or village stay; crime is low but medical evacuation is difficult. Always travel with a local operator or lodge.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tufi yet. Suggested stay: 4–5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fjord scenery
- Tapa cloth
- WWII dive sites (PT boats)
- Cyclone Reef diving
- Queen Alexandra Birdwing butterfly
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- PNG Air: pngair.com.pg/
- Wikivoyage: Tufi, revision 4873846 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4873846
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Tufi
Long dispela adres, plis
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US Embassy is in Port Moresby; most other countries have consulates there. Tufi has no diplomatic presence.
Tok Pisin is widely spoken; English is understood at the resort.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/tufi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.