Visiting Rabaul
How to get there
Note: The US State Department does have a Level 3 Travel Advisory for some areas in Papua New Guinea, but it is important to note that Rabaul area is not one of them. Canada has an "avoid non-essential travel" warning for all of PNG, as does the UK.
The easiest way to visit Rabaul is to arrive on a cruise ship as a part of a longer South Pacific itinerary. For those who wish to stay more than a day, then Rabaul needs to become the destination, and this makes it a place almost as remote as it was in 1913.
After the 1994 volcanic eruptions destroyed the city’s airport, a new facility was built near Kokopo with the help of the Japanese government. The new airport only offers domestic service at this point, but there are plans to expand it to accommodate international flights. Until that happens, visitors need to make their way to Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, from where there is nonstop service to Rabaul twice a day. Papua New Guinea’s national carrier, Air Niugini, offers international service to a surprising number of destinations, including Brisbane, Fiji, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. International carriers serving Port Moresby include Qantas and Philippine Airlines.
What to do once there
The source of Rabaul’s rebirth and continued livelihood remains its deep-water port and the maritime economy which surrounds it. For the visitor, however, the focus quickly becomes the stunning scenery, volcanology, history, and tropical water tourism. An outing to the Volcanological Observatory, which is responsible for monitoring Papua New Guinea’s 15 active and 22 potentially active volcanoes is a must, as is a visit to the Rabaul Museum with its focus on World War II. Nearby stands the bunker of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who commanded the Japanese Southeast Fleet Headquarters in 1943.[2] It was a part of the vast labyrinth of tunnels and fortifications the Japanese built around Rabaul during the war. Up the hill from Yamamoto’s bunker stands the Japanese Peace Memorial honoring all those who died in the Pacific during World War II. It offers another great view of the harbor and its surroundings. There are plenty of photographs online of people climbing Mt. Tavurvur with local guides, but this is not to be undertaken lightly. Wreck diving in the area is excellent, and many of the reefs around the Gazelle Peninsula remain vibrant and healthy for snorkeling. There are several local tour companies that can help with all of the necessary arrangements. A day trip to Matupit Island offers a chance to experience Tolai village life.
Elsewhere on the Gazelle Peninsula, there is a lot more war materiel to see at the Kokopo War Museum. Nearby, stands the site of Queen Emma's estate, Gunantambu, Destroyed during World War II, there isn’t a lot to see there beyond the entrance pillars and the remnants of the accompanying grand staircase, but sometimes a pilgrimage satisfies even when the destination isn’t particularly impressive.
(Image courtesy of Ian_126, Flickr and Wikimedia Commons.)
Accommodations
Rabaul’s oldest and best accommodation is the Rabaul Hotel. It survives because its employees remained and shoveled ash off its roofs during the September 1994 eruptions of Mt. Vulcan and Mt. Tavurvur. There are, however, more upscale places to stay in the area, including the beachfront Rapopo Plantation Resort near Kokopo,which is about four miles from Queen Emma’s once-proud estate, Gunantambu.
(Image courtesy of the Rapopo Resort.)
