Local city markets in Port Moresby are always busy with vendors, buyers, pedestrians, and street hustlers. In a city with 27-32 degrees Celsius temperature all year around, it can be humid and hot to get around the local markets to buy much needed local produce. Also the problem of looking for safe and convenient parking space when designated public carpark space is full. Port Moresby city council does not have a parking fee system so people park at will and take their time. Even public taxies try to take up the parking space and wait for passengers. So, if you are looking for a relaxing family trip to the local market, one option is to try drive up to Banana Market in front of the popular Adventure Park recreational park at 14 Mile, along the Sogeri Road.
Banana Market
For some reason the local market was named as Banana Market. Maybe because of the many types of bananas that are sold there. Road leading to the market is recently paved as double-lane highway and the market itself has amble parking space. The parking space is right under the big trees, makes it a nice spot enjoy a bunch of fresh local bananas, other fruits or peanuts.
Although the market area is small, during weekends, it’s busy and you can buy almost any local produce. Some of the popular items include bananas, sugarcane, peanuts, kaukau, yam and etc. Certain section of the market is allocated to sale of live chickens. Prices of live chickens range from K45-K50. Buy a bag of local produce and top with a live chicken and you have a good weekend meal to cook.
Also, inside the market is shelter which is used by vendors to sell cooked snacks like popcorns, cakes, doughnuts, cooked vegetables and etc.
For those who love flowers, some vendors usually sell local fresh or dried fresh flowers at the market.
Security at Banana Market Adventure Park
The market is fully secured as it is located inside the recreational facility and manned by security guards. So there is not so many street hustlers and etc except vendors and buyers making it a nice place visit.
Connect to Sunday market at Pacific Adventist University.
If you visit the market on a weekend Sunday morning, you can extend the trip by driving into Pacific Adventist University campus and visit the Sunday Market in the campus. PAU drive in entrance is right opposite the Banana Market. PAU Sunday Market closes open at 6:30 am and closes at 10:00 am so plan to go early if you want to go there as well.
At PAU Sunday market you can have a full breakfast and also shop at the University’s Farm shop right next to Market. Campus residents sell all sorts of cooked and baked foods. Soft drinks like Coke and other soda drinks and animal meat like chicken, sausage, beef or lamb are not allowed for sale there. Just bear that is mind. PAU is run by the SDA Christian Church organization so they try to keep the market sales towards more vegetarian kind of foods.
Drive time to Banana Market or PAU Sunday Market is around 20-30 minutes from the city and both markets are frequented by city residents.
Adventure Park Location.
Pacific Adventist University (PAU)-Koiari Park Campus
Koiari Park Seventh Day Adventist English Church-Pacific Adventist University (PAU)
