Highlands

Situated 2,600 metres above sea level, the Highlands offer breathtaking views and a pleasant climate. The region has the most extensive road system in the country and major towns like Kainatu, Mt Hagen, and Mondi are as much traditional as modern. Despite all this, the contact of the local people with the outside world is very recent. It is one of the most densely populated and agriculturally productive regions of the county. The natural beauty of the countryside is dramatic with numerous rivers, craggy mountains, and wide, fertile valleys. The local handicrafts like intricately decorated bows and arrows, kina shells, basketry, and coarse woollen goods are as much interesting as many of the physical attractions. Some of the places that should not be missed are Mt Gahavisuka Provincial Park, Mt Wilhelm (the tallest mountain in the country at 4,500 metres), and Lake Kutubu.