East New Britain

Rabaul Travel Guide

Rabaul sits on the edge of Simpson Harbour inside one of Papua New Guinea's most dramatic volcanic settings. The old provincial capital is now defined by Tavurvur's ash fields, WWII tunnels and bunkers, sweeping harbour views and the living Tolai culture of the Gazelle Peninsula.

Explore volcanic Rabaul Compare Kokopo

Rabaul was devastated by twin eruptions in September 1994
Simpson Harbour is part of the flooded Rabaul caldera
WWII tunnels and relics remain throughout the area
Kokopo is now the main provincial service base

Why Rabaul is different

A town rebuilt around memory, ash and an active caldera

Rabaul was once the provincial capital and one of the South Pacific's best-known harbour towns. That changed on 19 September 1994, when Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted within hours of each other. Ash buried much of the town and damaged or collapsed a large share of its buildings.

Most provincial services later shifted to Kokopo, but Rabaul did not disappear. Its harbour, streets, surviving buildings and volcanic slopes now form one of Papua New Guinea's most unusual destination landscapes. History is not separated into a museum district here; it is visible in the shape of the town itself.

Volcanic conditions can change. Treat Tavurvur and other volcanic sites as active natural environments. Local advice, access conditions and the guidance of experienced operators should take priority over an old route description.

The land of fire

Tavurvur, Vulcan and the Rabaul caldera

Rabaul's landscape is dominated by the flooded caldera around Simpson Harbour and by volcanic vents that have repeatedly changed the town's history.

Active volcanic landscape

Mount Tavurvur

Tavurvur is the best-known volcanic vent on the eastern side of Simpson Harbour. The 1994 eruption destroyed much of Rabaul, and Tavurvur later erupted again, most recently in 2014.

Visitors are drawn to the stark ash fields, steaming ground and views across the harbour. Access should be arranged with local guidance rather than assumed to be permanently open or safe.

Tavurvur Volcano guide PNG safety guide

Viewpoint

Rabaul Volcano Observatory

The observatory occupies high ground overlooking the caldera and Simpson Harbour. It is one of the best places to understand the town's geography and the relationship between the harbour, vents and surviving urban areas.

Old town

Ash-buried Rabaul

Parts of the old town still reveal the physical impact of the 1994 eruption: altered streets, buried structures and volcanic deposits. The effect is quieter than a formal attraction and often more powerful for that reason.

World War II

Rabaul was one of Japan's major Pacific strongholds

Japan captured Rabaul in 1942 and transformed the harbour and surrounding hills into a heavily fortified military base. The scale of that occupation is still visible in tunnels, bunkers, gun positions and wartime relics.

Japanese barge tunnels

Cliffside tunnels around Karavia Bay were used to conceal barges and supplies from Allied aircraft. Some still contain rusting remains and are visited as part of guided war-history tours.

Yamamoto bunker

Rabaul contains underground command structures associated with Japanese wartime leadership. Interpretation is much better with a local historian or guide who can explain what survives and how the sites were used.

Kokopo War Museum

Nearby Kokopo preserves a large collection of military objects, artillery and aircraft remains. It pairs naturally with Rabaul's field sites and helps give context to what is seen in the tunnels and harbour area.

Living culture

Tolai traditions and Baining fire ceremonies

East New Britain is not only a history destination. Tolai and Baining traditions remain central to the region's identity and to some of its most important annual events.

Mask & Warwagira Festival

The National Mask & Warwagira Festival is held in Kokopo and brings together Tolai, Baining and Pomio traditions. The 2026 festival is scheduled for 8–10 July at Takubar Showground.

One of its signature moments is the dawn Kinavai ceremony, when Tolai Tubuan and Duk-Duk groups arrive by canoe. Festival programmes can change from year to year, so confirm the current schedule before booking around a specific performance.

Baining Fire Dance

The Baining Fire Dance is performed at night in communities in the mountains of East New Britain. Masked dancers move through flames and embers in a ceremony tied to Baining cultural traditions.

This is not a casual roadside spectacle. Visits should be arranged through recognised community or tour channels, with respect for local rules around photography and participation.

Simpson Harbour

Harbour views, diving and coastal excursions

Simpson Harbour is a sheltered harbour within the Rabaul caldera and one of the defining features of the town. The combination of volcanic slopes, wartime history and deep water gives the coastline a character unlike any other PNG city.

Diving around East New Britain includes coral walls, reef systems and wartime wrecks. Conditions and site access vary, so use an established dive operator rather than assuming every wreck is suitable for recreational divers.

Duke of York Islands Weather Travel safety

Practical Rabaul

Fly to Tokua, base in Kokopo or stay in historic Rabaul

Travel element	What to know
Getting there	Tokua Airport (RAB) is the main airport for East New Britain. Air Niugini lists the airport about 12 km from Kokopo, and Papua New Guinea Tourism describes Kokopo as roughly a 10-minute drive away.
Rabaul transfer	Rabaul lies farther around the coast from Kokopo. Road time varies with traffic and stops, so treat it as a separate transfer rather than an airport-adjacent town.
Where to stay	Kokopo has the larger concentration of modern hotels and services. Rabaul also has accommodation, including the long-established Rabaul Hotel, for travellers who want to stay closer to the old town and harbour.
Getting around	PMVs operate between Kokopo and Rabaul, while hotels and tour operators can arrange private vehicles. A vehicle with a local guide is the simplest way to combine volcanic, wartime and cultural sites in one day.
Volcano visits	Use local guidance for Tavurvur and volcanic areas. Access can depend on current activity, landowner arrangements and road or track conditions.
Boat trips	For diving or island trips, confirm the operator, boat type, safety equipment, departure point and return plan before leaving the waterfront.

Kokopo or Rabaul?

Choose your base by travel style

Most visitors can see both towns. The decision is really about where you want to sleep, where your tours begin and how much you value modern services versus being close to old Rabaul.

Base in KokopoBest for a wider hotel choice, easier airport access, restaurants, the museum and organised tour departures.

Stay in RabaulBest if volcanic landscapes, harbour views and old-town atmosphere are the central reason for your trip.

Split the stayUseful for longer visits: spend the first nights in Kokopo, then move to Rabaul for a more immersive historic stay.

Day-trip RabaulPractical for short itineraries when your hotel and airport logistics are already centred on Kokopo.

Sample route

A practical three-day Rabaul and Kokopo itinerary

Day 1

Kokopo arrival

Land at Tokua, settle into your hotel, visit Kokopo's market or museum and confirm the next day's Rabaul vehicle and guide.

Day 2

Volcanoes and old Rabaul

Explore the observatory viewpoint, old-town ash landscape, Tavurvur area and hot-spring zone where access is permitted.

Day 3

WWII or marine day

Choose barge tunnels and wartime sites, or switch the focus to diving, harbour travel or a Duke of York Islands excursion.

Extra night

Culture or slower travel

Add a Baining cultural experience, festival event or simply more time around Simpson Harbour rather than compressing every site into one day.

Travel with local guidance

Volcanic terrain, customary land and remote sites need more than a map

Rabaul's main attractions are spread across active volcanic terrain, old military areas and customary land. Local operators help with access, current conditions and respectful entry to sites.

Volcano safety

Do not approach vents or geothermal areas solely because other visitors have done so. Conditions can change and some zones may be restricted.

Customary land

Ask before crossing private or customary land. A guide can handle access and local expectations far more effectively than arriving unannounced.

Current travel advice

Check current government travel advice and local hotel guidance for transport, night movements and any disruptions before setting out.

Continue planning

Build Rabaul into a wider East New Britain trip

Pair Rabaul's volcanoes and WWII sites with Kokopo's services, island excursions and cultural events, then confirm your PNG entry requirements before booking non-refundable travel.

Explore Kokopo Check visa route

Planning references

Useful Rabaul sources

Volcanic access, airline schedules and festival programmes can change. Check current local conditions before travel rather than relying on an old itinerary.

PNG Tourism: East New Britain: https://papuanewguinea.travel/east-new-britain-province/Mask & Warwagira Festival: https://papuanewguinea.travel/events/mask-warwagira-festival/Air Niugini airport information: https://www.airniugini.com.pg/plan/airports/How VisaPNG uses sources