Young Pioneer Tours
Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Independence Day Tour
Papua New Guinea – one of YPT’s all-time favourite destinations – is gearing up for a monumental celebration: the 50th Anniversary of its Independence. This landmark event promises to be the most spectacular in the nation’s history, marking half a century of pride, culture, and unity.
Your adventure begins with a morning arrival in Port Moresby, the vibrant capital of Papua New Guinea. From the moment you land, the excitement kicks off with one of the country’s most electrifying events: the PNG Rugby League Grand Final. As the national sport, Rugby League holds a special place in the hearts of Papua New Guineans, and this grand final is more than just a game – it’s a cultural phenomenon. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or completely new to the sport, the atmosphere is guaranteed to captivate.
The following day is dedicated to the spectacular “1000 Tribes Festival,” where you’ll witness and take part in a vibrant celebration of Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural diversity. Tribes from across the country will converge on the capital, adorned in traditional regalia, to perform a “sing-sing”, dance, and storytelling. This tribal festival is on par with iconic celebrations held in Sepik, Mount Hagen, and Goroka, typically following National Day. Given its scale and significance, the government will be heightening security, with both international tourists and foreign delegations expected to attend.
The journey culminates in the highlight of it all, the 50th Independence Day Celebrations. The day begins with the official flag raising ceremony, followed by a chance to explore the day’s preparations before heading to the main event. While the full program is still being finalised, we expect it will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display and feature appearances by international dignitaries, including Papua New Guinea’s head of state, King Charles III.
All the while, we’ll be soaking up the vibrant atmosphere, exploring the highlights of Port Moresby, and making the most of this truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
This trip can be done as a standalone trip, with YPT able to arrange extensions and extra activities, as a part of our Papua Overland Tour, or combined with our trip to the Goroka Festival in which case we are able to offer further discounts.
Sunday 14th September – Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- Arrival at own leisure into Port Moresby where you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel
- Pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 12:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travellers and YPT guide.
- Lunch at the hotel
- We’ll begin to head to the PNG National Football Stadium for the biggest event of the year for the country – whether you’re a die-hard fan or completely new to the sport, the atmosphere is guaranteed to captivate.
- Dinner and drinks at Port Terrace Restaurant
- Overnight in Port Moresby
Monday 15th September – Port Moresby
- Breakfast in the hotel
- We start the day early by going to attend the ‘NCDC Thousand Tribes Festival’. This is a well-managed event with high levels of security that aims to promote the tribes of the region in a similar way to the Mount Hagen festival
- We will spend the majority of the day here, with us having a panic lunch provided by our local partners
- We will then head back to the hotel for a quick rest and a change of clothes before heading out for the evening
- In the evening we head out to Mumu Restaurant for a somewhat Papua New Guinean feast!
Tuesday 16th September – Port Moresby
- Today is the big the day, the 50th birthday of Papua New Guinea so we head out early for the flag raising ceremony at independence hill overlooking the national parliament, which we expect to be at around 10 am.
- This will be followed by us taking part in a number of cultural performances, musical displays and overall celebrations that will be happening throughout Port Moresby. And while we are still waiting for confirmation of the exact itinerary, we will be front and centre for everything taking place. This will be a HUGE day with dignitaries from around the world, such as head of state King Charles in attendance
- We will take lunch around the many food stalls that are being set up for the festivities
- The festivities will culminate in you watching the sky illuminate from Ela Beach as the country puts on its biggest ever fireworks display.
- We finish the evening at Rapala Restaurant, one of the best in Port Moresby
- Dinner and drinks at our hotel as we see in the last of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Birthday
Wednesday 17th September – Port Moresby
- End of tour, with YPT able to arrange ongoing tour services and transportation. Alternatively join us for the next part of the trip, as we take part in the Goroka Festival.
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