Varirata National Park

Central Province, near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

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Varirata National Park is Papua New Guinea’s first national park, established in 1969 and officially opened in 1973 on the cool Sogeri Plateau just northeast of Port Moresby in the Central Province.

Covering about 1,000–1,063 hectares at elevations between roughly 630 and 830 meters, it protects a mix of eucalypt savannah, secondary forest with native casuarina, and patches of tropical rainforest. The park is known for its scenic walking trails, lookout points that offer sweeping views over Port Moresby and the coast, and rich birdlife including several species of birds‑of‑paradise, cassowaries, hornbills, and other native wildlife.

It also holds cultural significance as a former Koiari hunting ground and contains sites such as rock art, making it both a natural refuge and a place to experience local heritage on an easy‑access day trip from the capital.