Goroka Show: Things to Know Before You Go

Last Updated on February 13, 2024 by Travelationship

Are you ready for THE BEST cultural and human experience of your life? I hope you said “YES!” because the Goroka Show in Papua New Guinea is it.

We attended the show in 2016 but have continued to verify our information is up to date through 2021, and before our arrival, we had a hell of a time finding useable information to plan our trip. If you choose to travel with a tour group, you will avoid some of the headaches we did, but don’t expect zero issues. Although satisfied with their tour operators, we met group travelers who had flight, car, and confusion delays during their stay.

If you plan the trip on your own, we have compiled a list of information and recommendations to help you get started and have the most enjoyable time possible. This year’s festival is set for September 17th through the 19th.

The Goroka Show

Tips Before Arriving

Book accommodations early! Goroka is a growing city, and the show gets more popular every year. The accommodation choices are limited, and some are very difficult to find online. Also, email replies can be quite slow or non-existent. If you can call a location, do so. We found prices increased the closer we got to the show date, so make sure to book early to ensure you have a place to stay at a reasonable price.

Book your airfare early! There are limited small flights daily from Port Moresby. PNG Air, Air Niugini, and SouthWest Air are the current airlines flying in/out of Goroka. The trips fill up fast. We recommend arriving a day or so early because fog can be a factor in delayed or canceled flights. Goroka is building a new airport, which may increase the number of flights available for future shows.

Buses and hired cars are available for transport between Port Moresby and Goroka. We don’t have much information on transportation between the two areas because we were advised several times by different locals driving between the two is not recommended. Poor road conditions and slow driving times came up the most.

Papua New Guinea is on the expensive side. Expect to pay US or European-type prices for some accommodations, airfare, and food. Expect basic lodging and spotty wifi. We did purchase a sim card & data at the airport and only had an issue with service when it was raining.

Invest in the VIP passes (general/public admission is your other option) for all three days of the show — no need to buy your tickets before arrival. We recommend waiting to buy your tickets in person to avoid any confusion. We bought our tickets at the Birds of Paradise hotel reception desk. You can purchase tickets from the gate windows at the showgrounds, but the lines can be long. Some other accommodations may sell tickets, but the most relaxed purchase location is at Birds of Paradise. It’s within walking distance from the airport and in the central part of town.

The show is three days long. Friday highlights local agriculture and children’s tribal dress. The day is low-key and easy to navigate. It’s a great introduction to the entire festival. Saturday and Sunday are all about the tribes. Over one hundred tribes will sing and dance for hours. The majority of the tribes participate on both days. There are a few tribes that may only participate for one day. Each year participation varies.

Food is available on the general/public (non-VIP) side of the festival and outside the showground gates. Prices ranged from reasonable to expensive. Food varied from traditional bamboo cooking to muffins to BBQ skewers. We found the food to be quite tasty, but we recommend asking for freshly cooked meat options.

Always keep in mind – The Goroka Show participants are real people. They are not at the show for you to disrespect, treat poorly, or push around. Each will gladly pose for photos and videos and interact with you. Treat each member and their belongings with respect and kindness. Interested in seeing more of our photos from the show? Check out our Goroka Photo Essay.

What to Bring

• Layerable clothing. We attended the 2016 show, and it was the first time it had rained during the festival. The first day was cloudy, cool, and rainy. The last two days were sunny and hot. Also, if rain is in the forecast, expect extremely muddy and slippery conditions.
• Camera with extra batteries
• Backup Camera with extra batteries
• Extra SD cards
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Small zippable carry bag

*Pick-pocketing can be an issue at the show, so bring as few valuables as possible.

Tips for Day of the Show

• Bring water to the show with you. Food and drink are not sold within the VIP area but are sold in the public area.
• Drink your water. It’s easy to get caught up in the festival and forget to eat or drink.
• Arrive early and walk the streets around the showgrounds. The tribes arrive as early as 5:00 am. We don’t necessarily recommend going that early, but at least an hour or two before daily opening times. It allows for more time to interact with locals, and some fun candid moments are sure to occur.
• Hang out with some locals before the show starts. The streets are less busy, and the vibe is more relaxed. Streets around the show are lined with vendors selling food, and drinks, playing games, face painting, and lingering until the show opens.
• The show grounds are divided into sections: a VIP area, two Public areas, and a Vendor area.
• The VIP area is the main show area. VIP ticket holders are allowed until about 2:00 pm on Friday and Saturday and about noon on Sunday. After those times, the VIP area is open to the public.
• The two Public areas surround the VIP area on two sides. The public areas contain vendor booths selling food and drink and provide education on physical abuse, conservation, jobs, etc… Games, contests, and alternate talent shows, such as gymnastics, riding horses, and greasy pole climbing, can be found in public areas.
• The Vendor area has a plethora of locals selling handmade crafts for every taste.
• We recommend browsing the public area and vendor areas on Friday and early mornings on Saturday or Sunday.

Tips for Inside the Show

• The tribes will enter parade-style through the main gate. It’s quite fun to line up and watch as the tribes come in, but it takes hours for all the tribes to enter. Don’t stand at the gate the whole day. WALK AROUND!
• The best photo opportunities are on the street outside the showground before the show starts or in the showgrounds as the tribes are dancing in their chosen location away from the entrance gate.
• Take breaks to assess your surroundings. It’s easy to get caught up with taking photos, but if you spend your whole time obsessed with that perfect shot, you miss the entire true gift of this festival. Stop and listen to the songs’ words, stop and watch the dance steps, and stop and watch the tribes interact with each other. There are so many small wonderful moments to be found throughout each day.
• Put your camera down and interact with the tribe members. Say Hello, ask questions, and get to know a few members. The majority speak some English or at least have someone in their tribe that speaks English. Our favorite memories are connecting with a few different small groups of individuals.
• There is no need to pay money to any participant to take their photo. Part of the VIP package benefit is free photos within the showgrounds.
• Share your photos or videos with entrants. The videos are entertaining to share!

Most Importantly, Be Kind!

• Ask for up-close photos. Don’t just shove a camera in someone’s face; take a photo and walk away.
• Say thank you, Smile, and acknowledge each tribe member as a human being.
• Don’t poke at, pull, push, or yell at the participants or other tourists. Understand and accept the location is crowded, and your missed photo opportunity is not the end of the world.
• DO NOT TOUCH any headdress without permission from the owner. These pieces are family heirlooms and are priceless.

Goroka Hospitality

Places to Stay

These are the names and contact information for the guesthouses we saw around town. We didn’t go inside most of these locations but made a note of each for the list only. This list does not include all of the accommodations available, but it’s quite a few. It’s common for a lodge to refer you to a different location if they are full. Extended family members and friends own some of these locations, and they all know and assist each other when needed. If you choose a location with religious affiliations, check for any special check-in/out times and restaurant hours. * If you are serious about attending, I recommend starting your hotel search with a phone call.

• Bendam Lodge – This is the place we stayed. Website, Email: veronicamerimba@gmail.com, Phone: +675 532 1862
• Birds of Paradise Hotel – Website, Email: thebird@coralseahotels.com.pg
• Emmanuel Lodge – Website, Email: emmanuellodge@global.net.pg, Phone: +675 7040 8185
• GK Lodge – Website, Email: gkklos@global.net.pg, Phone: +675 532 3819
• Good Samaritan Lodge – Email: gsl.goodsamaritanlodge@gmail.com, Phone: +675 532 1651
• Kanda Resthouse – Website, Email: kanda@global.net.pg, Phone: +675 532 2944
• Lutheran Guesthouse – Website, Email: luthguesthausgka@global.net.pg, Phone: +675 532 1171
• National Sports Institute Hostel – This place is located across the street from the show grounds. Email: info@pngnsi.org.pg, Phone: +675 532 2391
• Nimba Lodge – Email: ncklmerimba6@gmail.com, Phone: +675 532 1882
• Pacific Gardens Hotel – Website, Email: pacificghotel@gmail.com
• Red River Lodge – Website, Email: redriverlodge@live.com, Phone: +675 525 1842

Where to Eat

Currently, there are four main restaurants intended for visitors. All are located in the main part of town within walking distance from the airport. Goroka is growing quickly, so expect to see more restaurants coming soon.

• Bird of Paradise Hotel Restaurant
• The Mandarin Restaurant
• The Steak House
• The Café
• Most guest houses or lodges have restaurants for their guests. Typical menu options are meat, vegetables, and starch-type dishes, priced per plate.
• Food booths are available Friday – Sunday in the general/public section of the festival, and prices range from reasonable to expensive.
• Street food is available along the roads leading to the showgrounds Friday – Sunday.

What Else to Do in Goroka

• J.K. McCarthy Museum – To get the full impact of this museum, we recommend taking a guided tour. Walking in, we were a bit apprehensive and didn’t have high expectations, but our tour guide, John Waters, was fantastic. The museum is next to the showgrounds. Give yourself at least 45 minutes to explore the museum.
• Local Outdoor Market – The market runs daily from early morning to about dusk. The market is packed and chaotic. Be sure to walk under the open roof to see the vendors dedicated to selling PNG traditional foods.
• Local Village Tour – There are a few local village tours to choose from. The Asaro Mud Men are the most popular. We took a tour of Mondo and loved it.

The Negatives

We were told over and over to watch our belongings while anywhere in town or in the show. Carry as little as possible with you and carry it in a zipped small crossbody bag. We had no issues with anyone trying to steal our stuff or negatively approaching us.

We were warned several times not to walk around town alone after dark. There isn’t much to do in the city after dark other than eat and see the fireworks show on Friday and Sunday nights. We didn’t have any issues, but we didn’t stay out late.

We did notice a very different vibe in town from Tuesday before the show started to showtime. As the influx of people increased, the smiles and greetings we received were much less than earlier in the week. A female friend and I especially noticed more men stared at us and grumbled at us in ways that made us feel uncomfortable. We didn’t have any direct issues with anyone on the streets, but females are advised to make an extra note of their surroundings.

The number of rude tourists at the festival was more than we anticipated. We saw quite a few foreigners treat participants, locals, and other travelers so poorly it aggravated several locals and us. The times we saw and heard tourists yelling at each other for stepping into each other’s photos were too many to count. One man even hit me instead of just asking me to stop walking. The participants cannot call you out for being an asshole, but in no way does that mean your negative behavior is acceptable. Be aware of your behavior and treat everyone nicely.

Travelasics

Website – The Goroka Show website seems to be updated yearly, but the information, in general, is hard to come by and often heads nowhere. There are contact emails listed on the site. We tried to email a few times before the show and never heard back from anyone. In talking with other festival-goers, they experienced the same lack of response when requesting information.

Visas – Check with your local government for details. For US citizens, you can obtain a 30-day free visa at the Port Moresby Airport. The process took less than 5 minutes for both of us, but I am sure it varies depending on the day.

Transportation – Transportation to Goroka can be frustrating and expensive. We flew from Port Moresby to Goroka via PNG Air. We could not find any reliable public transit options from Port Moresby, as there are no roads that directly connect the two towns. Several tour operators can arrange transportation for you, but we were not interested in joining a group tour.

Weather – In the past, the weather has always been hot and sunny on the weekend of the festival. 2016 was the first year of rain. Check weather details before your departure to PNG. There are a few shade options inside the festival, but they get crowded, so a hat or umbrella is advisable for relief from the sun.

Language – Over 800 dialects are spoken in PNG. Goroka alone has three main languages. Most PNGers speak at least a bit of English, but where ever you are, someone is willing to help translate if needed.

Money – Prices throughout PNG were expensive. Basic hotel rooms and food plates were some of the most expensive we encountered on our round-the-world trip. Be careful not to withdraw too much Kina (PNG’s local currency), as when you are set to leave, they will gouge you on the exchange rate. Two ATMs are available in town – One at the bank and one at Birds of Paradise Hotel.

Travelationship Rating:

5 out of 5 Travelationship High Fives. Traveler rating – Culture, adventure, romance, relaxation, partier, historical, bucket lister

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