Ela Beach

Ela Beach curves along the southern edge of central Port Moresby below Touaguba hill, and it was redeveloped in the 2010s with a widened beach, a promenade, seating and lighting, which turned it into the city's main public space; people walk it in the evening and it fills at weekends. The craft market held there, traditionally on the last Saturday of the month, brings sellers from the Sepik, the Gulf, Milne Bay and the highlands with carvings, bilum bags, masks, shell work and pottery, and it is the best single place in the country to buy craft without travelling to the provinces. Swimming is possible though the water is not clean by beach standards.

History

The beach was once called Era Kone, "turtle beach" in the Motu language, and the Motu-Koita people held an annual Hiri Moale festival here to celebrate the ancient Hiri trading voyages that set out from Era Kone; the festival is still hosted on the beach (Wikipedia, Ela Beach).

The main sights

• The promenade - the rebuilt seafront and its evening use.
• The craft market - the monthly gathering of sellers from across PNG.
• Bilum bags - the woven and looped bags from the highlands and coast.
• The bay - the harbour and the hills around it.

When to go

The last Saturday of the month for the craft market, which is the reason to time a visit; May to October for the drier weather. Evenings are when the promenade is used.

Before you go

Water quality is poor for swimming. Movement around Port Moresby should be planned with local advice and the beach is best visited in daylight with company. Market prices are negotiated. The market schedule can shift.

Nearby

Hanuabada lies west along the harbour; the Waigani institutions are north.

Key facts