Rabaul Cruise Port
Rabaul, Papua New Guinea · Pacific
Cruise ships dock at Rabaul Main Wharf — Berths 1 & 2 (Blanche Street & Bay Road), Rabaul.
Plan my port daysDocked port about 1.6 km from Rabaul's small town centre: walk to the market, Yamamoto's bunker and the New Guinea Club, or take a local tour van to Tavurvur's hot springs, the observatory lookout and Kokopo's WWII sites.
At a glance
Port summary
Cruise ships berth at Rabaul's main commercial wharf on Simpson Harbour (Berth 1 on Blanche Street or the longer Berth 2 on Bay Road). There is no terminal building: you walk down the gangway onto the quay and out through the port gate, where tour sellers, craft stalls and often a singsing group welcome the ship. Rabaul is still recovering from the 1994 eruption of Tavurvur and Vulcan, which buried most of the town under ash and sent the provincial capital to Kokopo, 25–30 km away. The market is a 5-minute walk from the gate; Mango Avenue, the Rabaul Hotel, Admiral Yamamoto's bunker and the New Guinea Club museum are about 1.6–1.8 km east along the waterfront (20–25 minutes on foot in serious heat). The big sights are out of town: Tavurvur's ash fields and boiling hot springs (about 25 minutes by road), the Volcano Observatory lookout above town (10 minutes), the Japanese barge tunnels on the Kokopo road, and Kokopo's war museum, market and Bita Paka war cemetery (45–60 minutes). Local operators sell 4–6 hour van tours at the gate for about A$85–100 per person; agree the route and return time before you go. Bring kina in small notes, water, sunscreen and sturdy shoes for the ash.
Cruise dock
Rabaul Main Wharf — Berths 1 & 2 (Blanche Street & Bay Road)
Rabaul's commercial wharf on Simpson Harbour, with Berth 1 (Blanche Street, 122 m) and Berth 2 (Bay Road, 252 m); PNG Ports says both take passenger ships. The market is a 5-minute walk and the Mango Avenue town centre about 1.6 km (20 minutes) east along the waterfront.
Latitude: -4.201969, Longitude: 152.166674
See dock on port map →Getting to Rabaul
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Buy kina on board or before your cruise if you can. K150–200 (about €35–45) in small notes covers entry fees, megapode eggs, market snacks and crafts. Tour sellers often take Australian dollars, sometimes US dollars, at a poor rate.
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Typical weather
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Excursions compared
3 comparedVolcanic Rabaul: Observatory lookout, Tavurvur hot springs and buried-airport air wreck
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€135$152
Do it yourself
€61$68
Save ≈ €74Save ≈ $83 (55% off)
Walk off the ship to the local tour sellers at the wharf gate, or pre-book Rabaul Scenic Tours' 4-hour Rabaul & Volcano Tour (A$85 ≈ €49 pp), which covers ruined Rabaul and the market, Tavurvur's hot springs and Matupit, the observatory, Yamamoto's bunker and the New Guinea Club museum. Expect a small community fee at the hot springs (≈K10–20) and megapode eggs for about K2; the bunker is a small cash fee. Ask to be dropped on Mango Avenue at the end, then walk 20–25 minutes back along the waterfront to the wharf.
See the DIY plan →
Rabaul's War & Colonial History: barge tunnels, Kokopo War Museum and Bita Paka
≈ 4.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€135$152
Do it yourself
€62$70
Save ≈ €73Save ≈ $82 (54% off)
Pre-book or buy at the gate a local van tour to Kokopo, such as Rabaul Scenic Tours' 5-hour Islands Memories tour (A$90 ≈ €51 pp: barge tunnels, Kokopo museum, Queen Emma's Steps, Bita Paka and Kokopo market). The road to Kokopo is 25–30 km, about 45 minutes each way, and Bita Paka is another 15 minutes inland. Budget small cash fees at the barge tunnels (≈K10) and the museum (≈K10–20); the cemetery is free. PMV minibuses (K4–5) reach Kokopo market but not the tunnels or cemetery, so a van is the realistic DIY.
See the DIY plan →
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Rabaul?
- Your ship docks directly at the Rabaul cruise terminal in Papua New Guinea.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Rabaul?
- Yes. Rabaul is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Rabaul centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Other transport, Taxi, Local bus. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Rabaul?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Rabaul independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Rabaul and are cards accepted?
- Rabaul uses the Kina. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Rabaul cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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