Our Papua New Guinea Highlights tour has been specifically crafted to take in the region’s very best sites, from Mount Hagen and Rondon Ridge to the lowlands of Varirata and Kiunga, and is designed for those with less time to spare in the field, yet still wishing for a comprehensive overview of this exceptional land. We bird in areas rich with avian diversity giving ample opportunity for finding many of the area’s most sought-after species. Fabulous birds-of-paradise will feature highly, while we will also enjoy some incredible fruit doves, kingfishers, parrots, honeyeaters, bowerbirds and a couple of endemic families such as berrypeckers and longbills. This tour can also be linked with our New Britain Endemics Extension for a wonderful two week exploration.

Top Birds

Papuan Eagle, 15+ Bird-of-paradise species!, Zoe’s Imperial & Pheasant Pigeon, Wattled Ploughbill, Crested Satinbird, Painted Quail-thrush, Brehm’s Tiger Parrot, Papuan Lorikeet, Lesser Melampitta, Emperor Fairywren, Crested Berrypecker & Mountain Firetail

Top Mammals

Spectacled Dasyure, Black-tailed Giant Rat, Agile Wallaby

Habitats Covered

lowland and montane rainforest, secondary forest, Eucalyptus savanna, mangroves, grasslands, wetlands

Expected Climate

hot and humid with tropical showers, cooler in the highlands

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

moderate pace with some longer hikes

Accommodation

comfortable to luxurious hotels and lodges

Ease of Birding

moderate, can be challenging at times

Other Attractions

traditional carvings, spectacular forest vistas and mountain scenery

Photographic Opportunities

good

What our clients say about us

Paul Varney
KH, Papua New Guinea 2023

This was my first birding tour ever, so I wasnt sure what to expect. The tour leader, Paul, was so amazing, there are not enough superlatives. All of the other participants had been on birding trips before, and Paul was very gracious to make sure I had the opportunity to see as many birds as possible and know what to expect. He was very conscientious, and prepared for almost anything. The trip was physically challenging due to the steep muddy trails, high and low temperatures, and oh yeah, the earthquakes. I wasnt sure what to expect, although the descriptions were pretty accurate, but I was ready to stop hiking by the 11th day. Thank you for the recommendation of collapsible walking sticks. Those were very useful. I am very glad I had the opportunity to take this trip. I cant say enough good things about Paul as the trip leader. I hope he gets to lead all of his first choice tours in the future!

Lev Frid
IC - PNG 2022

Both Lev Frid and Andre Bernon were excellent guides. Lev was particularly emphatic about the vagaries of travel in PNG and the propensity for things to go wrong. Despite his warnings, the trip went extremely smoothly; the accommodation was all great be it the highly rustic (Kwatu) or high end (Walindi); the Papuan guides and ground team were very good; it was nice to see that Rockjumper was clearly supporting the local organisations; and overall both the Rockjumper guides and the Papuan bird guides were very knowledgeable. Overall, a really excellent experience on the ground.

André Bernon
IC - PNG 2022

Both Lev Frid and Andre Bernon were excellent guides. Lev was particularly emphatic about the vagaries of travel in PNG and the propensity for things to go wrong. Despite his warnings, the trip went extremely smoothly; the accommodation was all great be it the highly rustic (Kwatu) or high end (Walindi); the Papuan guides and ground team were very good; it was nice to see that Rockjumper was clearly supporting the local organisations; and overall both the Rockjumper guides and the Papuan bird guides were very knowledgeable. Overall, a really excellent experience on the ground.

Stephan Lorenz
JG & GG - PNG Tailor-made 2022

Birding in PNG was a little more challenging that expected, ..... the birds are as shy as anything I've experienced and the bird densities were extremely low. Of course that is not the fault of Rockjumper or the guides. The tour was excellent overall. The main guide, Stephan Lorentz, was really top class. His knowledge of the birds and calls and the fine id details was exceptional and his field skills were awesome, outdoing the local guides at times. And he is extremely personable and friendly. The local guides were also excellent and provided an exceptionally high level of field skill and support, and great enthusiasm in getting pax onto the more challenging birds. And physical support also, including even helping some of the pax on slippery slopes and cutting stairs on river landings at times!! The landed arrangements were generally slick and the accommodation of good quality. Some delays in getting collected at Kiunga airport were I think down to some communication issues with the local agent (Samuel) regarding the rerouting of our flights from Mt Hagen. And the offloading of three of our bags from the plane at Kiunga and delay in getting them back to us in Port Moresby was an Air Niugini issue. Overall it was an exceptional and really memorable tour with superb birds and birding, much or most of which would not have been possible without the Rockjumper team, slick tour planning and arrangements, Stephan and the local guides.

Glen Valentine
AH, Papua New Guinea 2018

Glen Valentine was excellent, seeing and hearing most of the target birds, despite a very chatty, enthusiastic group that must have been very challenging at times.

Papua New Guinea - Highlights II 2024

02 Sep 2024 - 12 Sep 2024 (11 days)

PGK25,950 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: André Bernon

Tour price (Per person): PGK25,950 * USD6,687 * GBP5,282 * EUR6,157 * AUD10,023

Single Supplement: PGK3,100 * USD799 * GBP631 * EUR736 * AUD1,197

Flight costs: PGK3,750 * USD966 * GBP763 * EUR890 * AUD1,448

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2024

Papua New Guinea - Highlights I 2025

30 May 2025 - 09 Jun 2025 (11 days)

PGK25,950 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Julian Parsons

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Tour Leader: Paul Varney

Tour price (Per person): PGK25,950 * USD6,687 * GBP5,282 * EUR6,157 * AUD10,023

Single Supplement: PGK3,100 * USD799 * GBP631 * EUR736 * AUD1,197

Flight costs: PGK3,400 * USD876 * GBP692 * EUR807 * AUD1,313

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain I 2025

Papua New Guinea - Highlights II 2025

04 Jul 2025 - 14 Jul 2025 (11 days)

PGK25,950 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Amanda Guercio

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Tour Leader: Lev Frid

Tour price (Per person): PGK25,950 * USD6,687 * GBP5,282 * EUR6,157 * AUD10,023

Single Supplement: PGK3,100 * USD799 * GBP631 * EUR736 * AUD1,197

Flight costs: PGK3,400 * USD876 * GBP692 * EUR807 * AUD1,313

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain II 2025

Papua New Guinea - Highlights III 2025

06 Aug 2025 - 16 Aug 2025 (11 days)

PGK25,950 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

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Tour Leader: Robert Williams

Tour price (Per person): PGK25,950 * USD6,687 * GBP5,282 * EUR6,157 * AUD10,023

Single Supplement: PGK3,100 * USD799 * GBP631 * EUR736 * AUD1,197

Flight costs: PGK3,400 * USD876 * GBP692 * EUR807 * AUD1,313

Can be linked with: Papua New Guinea - New Britain III 2025

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