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Back to Wau

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Voykit pocket guide · Papua New Guinea

Wau

Spend 2–3 days for the market, Wau Motel and a short visit to the Ecology Institute; longer only if you trek the Black Cat trail (4‑5 days).

Wau sits at 1,100 m in Morobe province, historic gold‑rush town with WWII sites. Road links to Lae take about five hours; a weekly Lae‑Wau flight exists. Services are basic, so a short stay covers the market, motel and Ecology Institute; trekking requires extra days and preparation.

Port MoresbyAlotauBuloloDaruGorokaKainantuKaviengKeremaKimbeKiungaLaeMadangMendiNamatanaiWau200 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, check local conditions)
Avoid
Nov–Apr (rainy season, road may be harder)
Stay
2 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
Budget PGK 30–45 excl. bed · Mid PGK 45–70 excl. bed · High PGK 70+ 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.

Get in

By air

LAE · Lae Nadzab Airport
Main gateway to Morobe Province; weekly flight to Wau

Typical fares

PMV Lae → Wau
about PGK 20 per person, 5 h (check schedule)
Flight Lae → Wau
about PGK 120 one‑way, weekly (check availability)
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

Road: PMV buses from Lae (≈5 h, multiple stops). Air: one weekly North Coast Aviation flight from Lae (Island aircraft). Within town walk or hire a local guide for trekking.

See and do

Known for

  • Gold mining history
  • Battle of Wau (WWII)
  • Black Cat trail to Salamaua

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Black Cat Trail (Wau → Salamaua)Hire local guide; start from Wau, walk 8‑9 h daily, 4–5 days total4–5 days trek, includes river rafting to Salamaua

Sleep

Wau Motel
Basic rooms, appears dilapidated; book ahead if possible.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloGutpela degoo-tpeh de
How much?Hau hamamas?how ha-mah-mas
Where is the market?Maket i stap we?mah-ket i stap we

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

  • Trekking the Black Cat trail is physically demanding (8‑9 h walking per day) and involves live munitions and remote village stays.
  • Limited food and medical facilities; carry supplies and a first‑aid kit.
  • No regular restaurants; rely on market stalls or small shacks for drinks.

Generally safe in town during daylight; remote trekking areas have unexploded ordnance and limited medical help – use extreme caution.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Wau yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Gold mining history
  • Battle of Wau (WWII)
  • Black Cat trail to Salamaua

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.

Wau

Plis bringim i go long dispela adres

To this address, please

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

US consular services are in Port Moresby; ask your lodge for the nearest contact.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

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