Attractions in Islands (New Ireland, Bougainville)
Volcanoes, history, and island paradise 🌋🏝️
Showing 13 attractions · Sorted by importance
Mount Tavurvur
📍 Rabaul
🏛 LandmarkAn active and iconic stratovolcano that offers families a dramatic view of ash plains and natural hot springs along the shore.
Old Rabaul Town Area
📍 Rabaul
🏘 Town / VillageA haunting historic area partially buried by volcanic ash, offering a unique glimpse into the power of nature and WWII history.
Bita Paka War Cemetery
📍 Kokopo
🏛 LandmarkA beautifully maintained Commonwealth war cemetery honoring soldiers from the Pacific campaigns of WWII with serene landscapes.
Boluminski Highway
📍 Kavieng
🥾 Hiking & Cycling264km moderate 4-6 day cycling route from Kavieng to Namatanai. Mostly flat, featuring a mix of paved and crushed coral surfaces along the scenic coastline. Minimal elevation gain. Bike rental: Rubio Village (rubiovillage.com).
Buka Passage
📍 Buka
🏛 LandmarkA striking natural landmark featuring a narrow, deep channel with powerful currents that separates Buka Island from Bougainville.
Numa Numa Track
📍 Wakunai
🥾 Hiking & Cycling62km challenging 3-5 day trek across the Crown Prince Range from Wakunai to Torokina. A historic WWII route through dense tropical rainforest and river crossings with approximately 1,500m elevation gain. Requires local guides.
Admiral Yamamoto's Bunker
📍 Rabaul
🏰 CastleAn underground concrete command post used by the Japanese Imperial Navy during WWII, featuring maps and a look into wartime strategy.
Dawapia Rocks (The Beehives)
📍 Rabaul
🏔 Scenic ViewTwo iconic volcanic rock formations rising steeply from the center of Simpson Harbour, providing a striking landmark for boat tours.
Kokopo War Museum
📍 Kokopo
🏰 CastleAlso known as the East New Britain Historical & Cultural Centre, it features an extensive collection of WWII vehicles, planes, and artillery alongside cultural artifacts.
Kokopo-Rabaul Coastal Road
📍 Kokopo
🚗 Road Trip30km paved coastal route (1 hour). Connects the current provincial capital Kokopo to the historic ruins of Rabaul. Highlights include panoramic views of the active Tavurvur volcano, Japanese WWII barge tunnels at Karavia Bay, and the dramatic scenery of Simpson Harbour.
Libba Village
📍 Kavieng
🏘 Town / VillageA traditional village famous for its intricate Malagan woodcarvings and rich cultural heritage along the Boluminski Highway.
