Lae Botanic Gardens

Lae Botanic Gardens is a botanical garden in Bumneng spanning 38 hectares of lowland forest with natural waterways running through dense vegetation and massive buttressed trees. The site includes specialized greenhouses for orchids and aroids, a herbarium housing about 300,000 plant specimens, and a research building.

The gardens were founded in the 1980s and developed into a research station supporting the Papua New Guinea Forest Research Institute. The main research building was constructed in 1989 and has served as the central hub for botanical studies since then.

The gardens display living orchids and aroids in their greenhouses, reflecting the diverse plant life of the region. Visitors can observe these plants in naturalistic settings and learn about the vegetation that surrounds local communities.

The site is best explored on foot, with paths leading through different sections and greenhouses accessible year-round. Wear comfortable shoes as the terrain is uneven, and allow time to wander through the forested areas at a leisurely pace.

The gardens house between 1500 and 2000 different plant species and rank among the largest botanical collections in Southeast Asia. This diversity makes it a rare place where visitors can study Pacific flora in one location.

GPS coordinates: -6.71951,146.99536

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:44