Lae

Lae sits at the head of the Huon Gulf where the Markham river reaches the sea, and it is the industrial and shipping centre of Papua New Guinea: the main port, the head of the Highlands Highway carrying goods up to the interior, and the country's manufacturing base, which gives it a working character rather than a scenic one. The Lae Botanic Gardens, laid out over around fifty hectares in the centre, hold orchids, palms, rainforest trees and a collection of PNG flora, and are the reason most visitors stop; the Rainforest Habitat at the university is another. Amelia Earhart left from the airstrip here in 1937 on the leg from which she disappeared.

History

The Lutheran missionary Johann Flierl landed at Finschhafen on 12 July 1886 and reached Lae soon after. In 1927 the gold prospector Cecil Levien had an airstrip built at Lae to serve the goldfields around Wau, the town was declared on 31 March 1931 as cargo was flown inland from here, and in July 1937 Amelia Earhart was last seen taking off from its airport (Wikipedia, Lae).

Highlights

• The Botanic Gardens - the orchid and rainforest collections in the centre.
• The Rainforest Habitat - the enclosed forest exhibit at the university.
• The port - the shipping and container operation on the gulf.
• The Earhart connection - the airfield she left from in 1937.

When to go

May to October for the drier weather; Lae is one of the wettest cities in the country and rain falls in any month. The Morobe Show falls in October. Mornings are best for the gardens.

Things to know

Lae is an industrial port city with limited visitor provision. Rainfall is high year round. Movement is by arranged transport. The gardens have been through periods of neglect.

Nearby

Salamaua lies south across the gulf; the Highlands Highway runs northwest.

Key facts