Holiday houses in Eastern Highlands Province

I received so much support and felt like a part of the family during my stay. When I lost my wallet and when my return flight was canceled, the hosts were incredibly helpful and supportive. I was truly moved by their kindness. The area around the hotel is safe, and I was able to walk around alone. I had many opportunities to communicate with the local people in Goroka, which made my experience even more special. It was such a wonderful stay that I plan to recommend this place to my friends. (However, I was very disappointed that on the last day, my guide, Jon, broke our promise and never showed up. Please be cautious when choosing a guide.)

We stayed at Elijah’s apartment during the Goroka Show. The apartments are right opposite the showground so we were able to arrive at the event before the crowds and had the added advantage of being able to pop ‘home’ for a break. The apartment itself is basic but clean and comfortable and had all that we needed for self catering - fridge, stove microwave, utensils etc. A big bowl of fruit and several packets of local coffee were also provided. Elijah’s manager David and his staff were brilliant - friendly and helpful. They met us at the airport and took us into town when we wanted to visit the market or shops. (Though we could also walk into town in about 20 mins.) Would definitely stay here again.

The host went above and beyond, picking us up at the airport, driving us to town each day, essentially providing security for us. Ekesu became more like a friend than a property manager. As a source of information and assistance, he was invaluable. The house is very roomy and the bed was very comfortable. The house was kept neat, but we chose not to use the kitchen. Goroka in Papua New Guinea is not Paris or New York City, so temper your expectations -- this is a PNG experience. For example, the shower delivers hot water, but in a very light stream. The fact is, there are not many accommodations in Goroka, and this home is not walkable to the city center; however Ekesu more than made up for any minor issues by being the best host one could hope to meet, taking us anywhere we wished to go at any time. As a result we had many conversations, and he gave us a lot of insight into daily life in Goroka. Priceless!