Varirata National Park: Port Moresby's Best Kept Secret - Must See

The park is less than an hour’s drive from Port Moresby, Varirata National Park covers 1,063 hectares inhabited by all the main iconic species of Papua New Guinea.

I visited several fun places both within and outside Port Moresby but my recent visit stood out - Varirata National Park. To be honest I did not think the visit was going to be fun. It, however, turned out to be an enjoyable trip. 

Other fun places to visit in Port Moresby 

• Port Moresby Adventure Park
• Sunset Lodge
• Loloata Island Resort
• Koitaki Country Club
• Varirata Natioanl Park
• Kokoda Track Memorial
• Bomana War Cemetry
• Tutu Beach

Varirata National Park is at an elevation between 600 and 900 metres. The park is rich with a variety of ecosystems and landscapes and plants and animals.

The Park offers four tracks to explore its untamed nature, discover its unique plants and observe its extraordinary wildlife.

 New buildings are erected to serve as the Information Centre 

As I mentioned earlier, the park is a must-visit as is the best way to get away from Port Moresby. There are five important things that make Varirata  National Park special.

1. The road condition can be described as excellent. From the turn-off to the look-out and all around the park was sealed and in superb condition. Grasses are trimmed neat and tidy. 

2. The BBQ areas and huts are well kept and in very good condition.

3. Cheap to visit - residents pay only K2.00 per head and external visitors pay K5.00 per head. The caretakers of the park will be happy to show you around.

4. Beautiful view of the surrounding places from the look-out; looking out to Loloata, Port Moreby, Jacksons Airport and the nearby mountain ranges. 

5. Nature Walk and Fresh Air - nothing beats the fresh air from the forest. There are lots of animals and plants to see and adore.

View towards Port Moresby from Main Lookout  (accessed by car) others are walking distances away

Bush Walking 

Varirata National Park is a fantastic place for bushwalking. A great variety of vegetation from woodland to rainforest, beautiful butterflies, huge ferns, wild orchids, fresh air and lookouts with its spectacular views of Bootless Bay.

Five out of the thirty-five species of birds of paradise live in the park, and PNG’s National Emblem, the Raggiana, is without any doubt, is the guest of honour. 

Between April and October, during peak breeding season, there is an excellent chance of seeing some males in full breeding plumage dancing to attract female attention.

Top tip: If you really what to get the best out of your trip to Varirata National Park, I would recommend enlisting a local guide to take you around the walks through the forest. You can ask for guides or assistance at the main entrance.

Go prepared with cash, food, water, sunscreen and bug repellent. As for the serious walkers, this could be a recurring visit once you've done it the first time. 

You've got to visit Varirata National Park if you have been living in Port Moresby, but have not visited the park yet. 

Bird Watching 

Varirata National Conservation Park is famous among birdwatchers for its birds of paradise, accessible by road. Here are some species of birds you can see at the park:

• Raggiana bird of paradise, 
• cassowaries, 
• hornbills, 
• kingfishers, 
• cuscus,
• forest wallabies, 
• echidna, 
• bandicoots, 
• possums,
• green pythons...

Infomation about Varirata National Park 

The Varirata National Park recently opened its new Information Centre at Sogeri outside of Port Moresby. The modern information centre will enhance visitors experience of the nature park. 

The park is already popular with schools excursions, bird watching, weekend outings for city residents and nature tours. PNGTPA is a partner in the development of the Variarata National Park through setting up signboards and working with JICA to develop bird watching attractions in the nature park.

Contact PNGTPA for Varirata Visits

• Media Coordinator/ TPA Board Secretary : Colin Taimbari
• For further information, contact the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s on Phone: +675 320 0211 or email: info@papuanewguinea.travel

Here are earlier posts about the things to do when in Port Moresby:

• Nature Park
• Adventure Park
• NEW Loloata Island Resort (re-opened 2019)

There are also other places out of Port Moresby for the more adventurous spirits like the Koitaki Country Club, March Girls Resort and Sunset Lodge, including Varirata National Park

About PNG Insight

PNG Insight is an education blog. It aims to highlight the key developments in the education sector in Papua New Guinea. Started in 2014 on Google's blogger (now self-hosted on WordPress), PNG Insight strives to be a platform for critical thinking and discussions; and a source of information.

Leave a comment and let us know about your visit. 

Grade 12 Students Admissions and Selections for UPNG, UOG, UNRE, Unitech, DWU and PAU

The Grade 12 Online Selection 2018 (for tertiary institutions) in the country can be described as the best change the DHERST (Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology) has implemented. 

The result of the selection process had shown that the method was time-and-money saving, fast and efficient. 

We also provide some background information on the 6 PNG universities here. Find out about the admissions and selections  for UPNG, UOG, UNRE, Unitech, DWU and PAU:

• UPNG, University of Papua New Guinea
• UOG, University of Goroka
• UNRE, University of Natural Resources and Environment
• Unitech, University of Technology
• DWU, Divine Word University and 
• PAU, Pacific Adventist University.

The tables below contained raw data compiled from the selection document (PDF) published on the DHERST website. The raw data simply aims to show readers and stakeholders the number of spaces (and the spaces available per program of study) at the 6 universities.

Perhaps it is important to know that no significant increase in the number of spaces had been observed across the 6 main universities.

For example, previous records indicated 594 students in 2016, 495 students in 2017 and 599 students selected to UNITECH Lae three Campus; and 286 students in 2016, 297 students in 2017 and 280 students selected to Divine Word University four campus. In fact, spaces at universities remain relatively the same. 

*Note that this is the online selection done by DHERST - not by the universities. Each selected student will be issued an offer letter and formally invited to the academic year at the selected university. 

**Also note that figure 3204 does NOT include other tertiary institutions in the country. It is indicative of the 6 universities mentioned here.

To check out the latest articles on PNG university's selections, click here.

Unity Song: Papua New Guinea our Motherland (WORDS in Motu)

Papua New Guinea

Our land is the island of high mountains,

Of sunlit palms and coral sea,

Where our people sing while the drums are beating,

For our land is strong and free.

Papua...........New Guinea.........

GET THE FULL ENGLISH LYRICS CLICK HERE

Eda…........Eda

Tano….     Tano

Eda Tano

Aita goada laia

Ina hari’hari, aita.

Toreisi, aita abiaisi

Memero kekeni, iboumuiai

Ini aoma, aita me gaukara,

Dahaka okaramu

Asio mahuta,

Ini baita gwau toma..

Chorus

Eda….........Eda

Tano….......Tano

Eda Tano

Aita goada laia

Ina hari’hari, aita.

Toreisi, aita abiaisi

NEW INTAKES SELECTION LIST AVAILABLE - Press Statement DHERST

The Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) is delighted to provide the complete list of the Grade 12 school leavers who have been selected through the Online Selection System to registered tertiary institutions for the 2018 academic year is listed below. This is the complete list and it is available on the DHERST website.

Check out the latest post on DHERST Selections and Grade 12 results here.

With the inaugural use of the Online Selection System, a total of 12,234 students have been allocated to a study program (47% of the 25,848 who applied).  

All students with a GPA of 2.3 and above that met respective GPA and subject related entry requirements were allocated space within a Higher Education Institution (HEI). First and Second Preferences indicated by the Grade 12 School Leavers were used to allocate a place at a HEI while GPA and subject related entry requirements were used for ranking of the selection list. 

All other Grade 12 School Leavers that selected the option to be considered for alternate offers were allocated space in the program to which they exclusively met the entry requirement and also to which additional space was available.

New intakes from this list will receive admissions offer letter or notice from Universities and their respective tertiary institution. 

We also would like to advise the public that one institution initially provided the DHERST with incorrect student quota. The institution overestimated its own capacity hence it will enroll less students.   

Note that this list is not a Tertiary Education Scholarship Assistance Scheme (TESAS) awards list. The DHERST will inform all TESAS awardees through separate offer letters. Any selected student who does not receive a TESAS offer letter from DHERST should consider himself/herself to be a self-sponsored student.

Any offers given outside of theOnline Selection Systemwill not be considered for national scholarship (TESAS).

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Lenita Mike on the phone 301 2078, email Lenita.Mike@dherst.gov.pg or Shirley Isaiah on 301 2087, email Shirley.Isaiah@dherst.gov.pg.

This selection would not be possible without the commitment of our Universities and other Higher Education Institution as well as the staff at the DHERST and our partner PCG Academia a company that successfully serves higher education sectors in the USA, Canada, Europe and now PNG. I sincerely thank you all for your collaboration and assistance offered.

I would very much appreciate if Universities and other Higher Education Institutions could provide their input by end of March 2018 on how we could further improve on the selection processes and the most important what additional criteria your Institution would like to add to this software. Thus, next year we will provide you with better services. Please forward your input to the Deputy Secretary Operation Mr Steven Matainaho on this email: Steven.Matainaho@dherst.gov.pg or  steven.matainaho@icloud.com

I take this opportunity to wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a fulfilling New Year. May the light of Christmas give you love, peace and happiness. 

God Bless Papua New Guinea!

Pila NININGI 

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology