Varirata

Varirata National Park lies on the Sogeri Plateau about 23 km northeast of Port Moresby and covers roughly 1,063 hectares^[1]. It is described as Papua New Guinea's first national park and is best known for birdwatching, with six species of birds-of-paradise including the Raggiana, the national bird^[1].

Birds are the main draw: six bird-of-paradise species occur here, along with hornbills and kingfishers^[1]. Mammals and reptiles recorded include wallabies, echidnas, bandicoots, possums and green pythons, and cassowaries are also listed^[1].

The vegetation is a mosaic of eucalypt savannah, secondary forest dominated by native casuarina trees, and tropical rainforest^[1].

The park sits on the Sogeri Plateau at elevations of about 630 to 833 metres above sea level, with lookouts over the coastal plain and Port Moresby^[1].

Port Moresby and its hinterland lie in a tropical region with a pronounced wet and dry season. At the park's 630 to 833 m elevation the plateau is somewhat cooler than the coastal city below^[1].

Before it became a park, the area was a hunting ground known as Wodobonomu to the Koiari people^[1].

The park was declared on 10 December 1969 and officially opened on 8 October 1973^[1]. In 2015 the Japan International Cooperation Agency worked with PNG's Conservation and Environment Protection Authority on a biodiversity conservation project in the park^[1].

Five well-marked trails lead to the Koiari Tree House and several lookouts. The Main Lookout gives panoramic views of Port Moresby and the coastline^[1].

The park is reached by sealed road and is an easy day trip from Port Moresby. It is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM and has picnic areas with barbecue facilities, toilets, water taps and an information centre on the park's history and biodiversity^[1].

As a small national park close to the capital, it protects savannah, secondary forest and rainforest habitat for its bird-of-paradise populations. A 2015 biodiversity project involving JICA and CEPA was carried out here^[1].