In a nutshell

Gain experience of our local informative knowledge of all Volcano sites, WWII history in the area and local touch of Papua New Guinea.

Main stops

Old Rabaul airport area
Yamamoto Bunker
Submarine base
Rabaul Caldera systeme
Rabaul Volcano Observatory center
Rabaul Market

The programme

At the old Rabaul airport devastated by volcano eruption in 1984. Next to the old airstrip is a wreck of a Japanese warplane grounded by the Allied forces during the war). In the same area at Matupit Island, there’s quite a smattering of Japanese aircraft wreckage scattered among the palm trees and now semi-buried in earth. The airport was completely destroyed during the 1994 eruption. The Japanese Zero Fighter plane now sits buried in the volcanic ashes.

Yamamoto Bunker was the control bunker for all Rabaul town's Anti-Aircraft defenses and searchlights. It is an impressive concrete structure that has sustained punishment from aerial attacks, and in 1994 was covered in volcanic ash. It is rumored the Admiral Yamamoto spent his last night in Rabaul at this bunker, before he was shot down over Bougainville.

Japanese Submarine Base used this area to provision submarines. It's located on the northern side of Rabaul, about 10 minutes from the town and it's a vertical reef wall that drops over 75 meters underwater. Japanese used it to provision submarines here during the war from a network of tunnels dug into the side wall.

The Rabaul caldera, or Rabaul Volcano, is a large volcano, derives its name from the town of Rabaul inside the caldera. The caldera has many sub-vents, Tavurvur being the most well-known for its devastating eruptions over Rabaul, the outer flanks of the highest peak, a 688-metre-high asymmetrical pyroclastic shield.
Rabaul town and area is continually threatened by volcanic activity because it is on the edge of Rabaul caldera. Rabaul was planned and built around the harbor area known as Simpsonhafen (Simpson Harbor) during the German New Guinea administration which controlled the region between 1884 and formally through 1919.
A visit to the Rabaul Volcano Observatory center will give your insight into the Caldera systems and view all the Caldera systems and vents.

The best way in which to glean a glimpse of local culture is to attend the market places in Rabaul , busy, colourful scenes with best fruit and veges.