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Cars 4 Rental Information on  Papua New Guinea

General Area: 462,840 sq km (178,704 sq miles). Population: 5,130,365 (2000). Population Density: 11.1 per sq km. Capital: Port Moresby. Population: 188,089 (1990). GEOGRAPHY: Papua New Guinea consists of over 600 islands and lies in the middle of the long chain of islands stretching from mainland South East Asia. It lies in the South Pacific, 160km (100 miles) north of Australia. The country occupies the eastern half of the second-largest non-continental island in the world, as well as the smaller islands of the Bismarck Archipelago (Admiralty Island, Bougainville, New Britain and New Ireland), the D’Entrecasteaux Island group and the three islands of the Louisiade Archipelago. The main island shares a land border with Irian Jaya, a province of Indonesia. The mainland and larger islands are mountainous and rugged, divided by large fertile upland valleys. Fast-flowing rivers from the highlands descend to the coastal plains. A line of active volcanoes stretches along the north coast of the mainland and continues on the island of New Britain. To the north and south of this central mountain range on the main island lie vast stretches of mangrove swamps and coastal river deltas. Volcanoes and thermal pools are also found in the southeast of other islands. Papua New Guinea offers the greatest variety of terrestrial ecosystems in the South Pacific, including five types of lowland rainforest, 13 types of montane rainforest, five varieties of palm and swamp forest and three different mangrove forests. Two-thirds of the world’s species of orchids come from Papua New Guinea. Birds include 38 species of the bird-of-paradise, and the megapode and cassowary. Marsupials and mammals include cuscus, tree kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, spiny anteaters and, in the coastal waters, the dugong. There are between 170 and 200 species of frog and 450 species of butterfly. Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from Australia in 1975. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Sir Silas Atopare since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare since 2002. Language: The official language is English, which is widely used in business and government circles. Pidgin English and Hiri Motu are more commonly used (an estimated 742 other languages and dialects are also spoken). Religion: 90 per cent Christian. Time: GMT + 10. Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Australian-style three-pin plugs are in use. Some hotels provide 110-volt outlets in guest-rooms. Communications: Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 675. Outgoing international code: 05. There are no area codes in Papua New Guinea. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network is in use. The only network provider is Pacific Mobile Communications (website: www.pacificmobile.com.pg). Coverage is likely to be limited. Fax Services are available at all major companies and government departments. Internet Main ISPs include Daltron (website: www.daltron.com.pg) and Global (website: www.global.net.pg). However, services tend to be slow and sometimes unreliable. Telegram Facilities are available in main centres. Post Airmail to Europe takes 7 to 10 days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0900-1200. Press Two daily newspapers are published in English: The National and Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. The most popular daily is Niugini Nius. Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. Back to Top Money Currency: Kina (Kina) = 100 toea. Notes are in denominations of Kina50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Kina1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 toea. Currency exchange: Exchange facilities are available through trade banks. Credit cards: American Express is the most widely accepted credit card. Holders of this and other cards should check with their credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Accepted by most shops and hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Australian Dollars. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import of local or foreign currency. The export of local currency is restricted to Kina200 and of foreign currency to Kina 10,000; if more, approval is required from the Bank of Papua New Guinea. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Kina against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May '04 £1.00= 5.43 5.59 5.95 5.70 $1.00= 3.40 3.29 3.26 3.19 Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0845-1500, Fri 0845-1600. Back to Top Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera 2 No Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over 1 year of age if arriving within 6 days of leaving/transiting infected areas. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Papua New Guinea. However, cholera is a risk in this country and precautions are advisable. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix for further details. 3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised. 4: Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country below 1800m (5760ft). The predominant falciparum strain is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Hepatitis A and B are endemic. Dengue fever and typhoid fever can occur in epidemics. Japanese encephalitis occurs sporadically. Poisonous fish and sea snakes are a hazard to bathers. Health care: The main hospitals are Port Moresby General (Papuan region), Goroka Base (Highlands) and Angau Memorial. Visitors can use any of the private doctors or public consultation clinics. Doctors and hospitals are not free and often expect immediate payment for medical services. Hospitals are poorly equipped and sudden shortages of common medications can sometimes occur; travellers who may need ongoing or routine medical treatment are advised to obtain visas for Australia, where medical facilities are more reliable, before leaving their country of origin. Dental care outside the main centres is limited, but pharmacies in the major centres are well stocked. There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Health insurance is essential and must include evacuation facilities. Back to Top Climate Hot, tropical climate at sea level, cooling towards the highlands which also cause climatic variation from one area to another, affecting the southeast trade winds and the northwest monsoons. The majority of the rain falls between December and March due to the northwest monsoon, although Port Moresby enjoys a dry season at this time. There is frost and there are occasional snow falls on the highest mountain peaks. Required clothing: Tropical, lightweights and cottons are recommended. In the highlands, warmer clothing is needed. Rainwear is advised for the monsoon season (December to March). Back to Top Passport   Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required British Yes Yes Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes Yes Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes Note: On receipt of a stamped, self-addressed envelope, the High Commission can supply information sheets on how to apply for visas for Papua New Guinea. The information below should be considered as a guide, as visa requirements may be subject to change at short notice. PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months after entry required by all. VISAS: Required by all. Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £7. Business (multiple-entry): £175. Costs vary for special categories of visitors (including consultants, yachtsmen and those engaged in medical, research or expedition activities). There will also be charges for extensions and costs incurred in processing documents. Validity: Up to 60 days for tourists; up to 12 months for business trips with 60 days maximum per stay. Details of renewals or extensions are available from the Embassy or High Commission. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. In emergency cases, Tourist visas can be obtained at Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby or at Mount Hagen on arrival, but only for a maximum period of 60 days in any 12-month period, which cannot be extended. However, visitors are strongly advised to obtain visas in advance (which is also the cheaper option). Application requirements: Tourist: (a) Completed application form (one per passport submitted). (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Passport with minimum 1 year remaining validity from date of entry. (d) Return ticket. (e) Postal applications should be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped, registered envelope. (f) Fee, payable by postal order or bank drafts if applying by post or in cash if applying in person. Business: (a)-(f) and, (g) Confirmed itinerary from travel agent. (h) Detailed letter in support of application covering curriculum vitae and confirmation of ongoing project in Papua New Guinea. (i) For visas issued at the airport, a letter of guarantee from sponsor must have been sent in advance to the Director of Immigration at the airport. Contact the nearest Papua New Guinea representative office for further information. Working days required: 48 hours minimum for Business and Tourist visas. Temporary residence visas take up to 6 weeks or more. It is advisable for visa applications to be made 1 week or more before departure date, depending on type of visa. Temporary residence: Available for those entering for employment purposes, usually professional persons or those undertaking research, consultancy, etc. Applications should be made to the nearest High Commission or Embassy in the first instance. Back to Top

Car Hire Papua New Guinea

Cars 4 Rental can provide car hire vehicles in all the popular locations throughout Papua New Guinea.

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