About the Port
Set on Blanche Bay within a partly submerged volcanic caldera, Rabaul sits in the shadow of Tavurvur and its sibling cones, whose periodic activity has reshaped the town more than once, most notably in a major 1994 eruption that buried much of the old center in ash. Today the surrounding landscape of steaming vents, black-sand shorelines, and coconut plantations makes this corner of East New Britain one of the more striking natural settings in the Pacific.
The area also carries deep World War II history, having served as a major Japanese base, with wartime tunnels, gun emplacements, and shipwrecks still found nearby. Much of daily life and administration has shifted to nearby Kokopo, which lies a short drive away and makes a practical base for exploring markets, war relics, and volcano viewpoints in a single visit.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Rabaul.
Approach Tavurvur Volcano
Head out by vehicle and short walk toward the smoking cone for close-up views of steaming vents and ash-blackened slopes; local guides know current safe viewing distances.
Explore Japanese Wartime Tunnels
Duck into the hand-dug barge tunnels and gun emplacements around Rabaul's shoreline, remnants of the town's role as a key Japanese base—best visited with a local guide who knows the network.
Browse Kokopo Market and War Museum
Spend an hour in Kokopo's lively produce market, then walk through its small war museum of rusted relics and photos documenting the region's WWII history, a practical single stop given the short drive from Rabaul.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Rabaul
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 23 | $21,870 | |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 22 | $20,509 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Holland America | Westerdam | 42 | $7,174 | |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Holland America | Westerdam | 28 | $4,789 | |
| Jan 6, 2027 | Princess | Coral Princess | 129 | $21,532 | |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Princess | Coral Princess | 110 | $19,109 | |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Princess | Coral Princess | 114 | $20,317 | |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 32 | $25,600 | |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 18 | $15,890 | |
| Jul 13, 2027 | Regent | Seven Seas Navigator | 21 | $16,049 | |
| Jul 25, 2027 | Regent | Seven Seas Navigator | 9 | $5,099 | |
| Aug 16, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 81 | $93,497 | |
| Aug 16, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 63 | $75,798 | |
| Aug 16, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 32 | $41,798 | |
| Aug 16, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 44 | $56,898 | |
| Aug 26, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 34 | $41,498 | |
| Aug 26, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 71 | $78,097 | |
| Aug 26, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 53 | $64,323 | |
| Aug 26, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Pursuit | 22 | $29,298 | |
| Sep 25, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 28 | $25,500 |
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