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Voykit pocket guide · Papua New Guinea
Rabaul
Spend 2–3 days: volcano views, war‑site tours and a dive day; reach via Tokua (RAB) airport, then bus or taxi to town.
Rabaul offers volcanic scenery, WWII heritage and good diving. A short stay covers the main sights; longer only for multiple dive trips.
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Best months
- Jun–Oct
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PGK
- Money
- Currency is the kina (PGK, K). Cards work at larger hotels and some shops in towns; everywhere else is cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget K30–45 excl. bed · Mid K45–70 excl. bed · High K70+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Digicel has the widest coverage; Vodafone PNG and bmobile cover towns. Buy a SIM in Port Moresby with your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Ambulance 111 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types I · 240 V · 50 Hz · Same angled flat pins as Australia; bring a power bank, since lodges run generators for set hours.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and hotels: Not expected.; Guides and drivers: K50–100 a day as thanks if service was good (2026 estimate).; Kokoda porters: Operators set a tip pool; also give gear you no longer need, as many trekkers do.; Villages: Pay agreed custom fees rather than tipping individuals.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap. Drink bottled, boiled or filtered water; lodges supply rainwater that should be treated.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and lodges; long-drop pit toilets in villages and on treks. Carry paper and hand gel.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus 1A ticket | K3.5–K5 |
| Volcano parking | K5 |
| War cemetery entry | Free |
| Museum entry | K5–K10 |
| Taxi from airport | K40–K60 |
| Meal at local kai bar | K8–K15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RAB · Tokua Airport
- Rebuilt after 1994 eruption; occasional ash closures.
Typical fares
- Tokua (RAB) → Rabaul Hotel, taxi
- ≈ K45 (check)
- 1A bus RAB → Rabaul
- K3.5 (rain K5)
- Dive day package
- K800–K1,200 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
1A bus between Kokopo and Rabaul (≈40 min, K3.5, K5 in rain); taxis similar cost; hire cars K240 day + fuel, 4WD advised on damaged roads.
See and do
Known for
- Mount Tavurvur volcano
- WWII war cemeteries and tunnels
- Scuba diving and snorkelling
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Tavurvur & hot springs | Hire car or tour from town, 15 min drive | ≈30 min round |
| Bitapaka War Cemetery | Bus or car, 20 min from town | ≈45 min |
| Japanese Barge Tunnel | Car or organised tour, 30 min drive | ≈1 h |
| Kokopo War & Cultural Museum | Bus or walk, 10 min | ≈20 min |
Sleep
- Rabaul Hotel
- 34 rooms, central, near bus stop.
- Kokopo Village Resort
- Mid‑range, Kokopo centre.
- Rapopo Plantation Resort
- Resort with beach access.
- Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort
- Beachside, rooms from K550+.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorisori |
| Thank you | Tenkyutenkyu |
| How much? | Hau ham?hau ham? |
| Where is the bus? | Bus i stap?bus i stap? |
| Can I have water? | Mi want wara?mi want wara? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Shake hands lightly; greet everyone in a group; avoid: Crushing handshakes or ignoring elders
- Village visit: Arrive with your guide, meet the leaders first, bring a small gift if advised; avoid: Walking into gardens or houses uninvited
- Money and gifts: Pay agreed fees to the right person; avoid: Handing out money or sweets to children
- Anger: Stay calm and let your guide negotiate; avoid: Shouting; public shame can escalate quickly
- Sunday: Expect church and quiet; join a service if invited; avoid: Noisy activities near villages
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; a laplap (sarong) works; avoid: Swimwear or short shorts in villages
Scams and watch-outs
- Volcanic ash can close Tokua Airport – check alerts.
- Roads to the volcano can be muddy; 4WD recommended.
- Airport fees often K40+; confirm with lodge.
Generally safe for tourists; monitor volcanic alerts and use reputable transport; road conditions can be poor after rain.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rabaul yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mount Tavurvur volcano
- WWII war cemeteries and tunnels
- Scuba diving and snorkelling
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Rabaul: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Papua New Guinea tourism board: www.papuanewguinea.travel/
- Wikivoyage: Rabaul, revision 5296827 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296827
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/rabaul). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.