Month by month
| Month | Afternoon | Sea | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29.9 °C | 30.2 °C | 23 days | Unfavourable season |
| February | 30 °C | 30.1 °C | 20 days | Unfavourable season |
| March | 29.7 °C | 30 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| April | 28.7 °C | 29.8 °C | 27 days | Unfavourable season |
| May | 28.3 °C | 29.5 °C | 27 days | Unfavourable season |
| June | 27.5 °C | 28.9 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| July | 27.2 °C | 28.5 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| August | 27.3 °C | 28.3 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| September | 27.4 °C | 28.6 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| October | 28.4 °C | 29.2 °C | 26 days | Unfavourable season |
| November | 29 °C | 29.8 °C | 23 days | Unfavourable season |
| December | 29.5 °C | 30 °C | 25 days | Unfavourable season |
Nearby in December
Before you go
Three things to check once you have picked your dates.
Entry
E-visa to apply for online before departure. Passport valid for at least 6 months. Apply online before travel; visa on arrival at Port Moresby exists for certain categories; free Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours of arrival.
For a British passport, per the UK Foreign Office on 17 August 2026. Rules change: check before booking.
Safety
Outside the areas advised against
Parts of the country are advised against (Hela, Southern Highlands and Enga provinces (except Wabag district)); Lae is not one of them.
Official advice updated 17 August 2026
Health
CDC level 2 notice: Polio (global)
Vaccines · typhoid recommended for most travellers; hepatitis A and hepatitis B if you are not already vaccinated; Japanese encephalitis and polio depending on activities and areas visited. Routine vaccines up to date (measles in particular).
Yellow fever · No yellow fever locally, vaccine not recommended. Certificate required only if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk.
Malaria · Present. Areas: Throughout the country in areas <2,000 m (<6,500 ft) elevation. Preventive medication recommended: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine — prescribed before departure.
Mosquitoes · dengue and Zika reported: protect yourself from bites.
Per the CDC (page reviewed 25 August 2026); see a travel clinic a few weeks before departure.
Beau Fixe is not a safety or health authority. These notes summarise dated public texts and link to their source: France Diplomatie (Licence Ouverte 2.0), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Source: CDC). Only the competent authorities are authoritative.
FAQ
Can you swim in Lae in December?
The sea averages 30°C in December — yes, pleasant swimming.
How hot is Lae in December?
Expect 29.5°C in the afternoon and 23.9°C at night, averaged over the last 10 years.
Does it rain a lot in Lae in December?
Around 25 days with rain (≥ 1 mm) in the month — 82% of days.