Region

New Britain

Base in Rabaul or Kimbe for 4–6 nights; dive reefs and visit WWII war relics as the main draws.

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Key facts · Papua New Guinea

Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Kina (PGK, K)
Language: Tok Pisin
Plugs: I · 240 V
Time zone: UTC+10, no daylight saving

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 6

Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
Melanesia ↗Malaria is present in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and parts of Vanuatu (not Fiji or New Caledonia): ask a travel clinic about tablets before you go.
Papua New Guinea ↗Every visitor needs a visa (an online e-visa, or a visa on arrival for a short list of passports) and must file the free Digital Arrival Card before landing: check the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority for your passport before booking.
Papua New Guinea ↗Some governments advise against travel to parts of the Highlands provinces because of tribal fighting; check your own government's current advice before you go.
Papua New Guinea ↗Almost all land is customary: ask permission before walking, swimming or photographing, and expect to pay fees to landowners.

New Britain offers WWII heritage sites around Rabaul and some of the Coral Triangle's richest diving in Kimbe Bay. Stay 4–6 nights in either town and use them as bases for dives or war‑relic tours.

Where to sleep

3 places in this region

Sleep base

RabaulCity guide
Gateway town, airport, volcanoes and war tunnels.
Best Jun–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Rabaul →
KimbeCity guide
Coastal town, Hoskins Airport, dive hub for Kimbe Bay.
Best Feb–Jun, Aug, Dec
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Kimbe →

Day trip

KokopoGuide: planned
New capital, short road link to Rabaul.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights: Rabaul 2 nights, Kimbe 2 nights – dive and war‑site tours.
6 nights: Rabaul 3 nights, Kimbe 3 nights – extended dive packages and volcano hikes.

No road connects Rabaul and Kimbe; travel between them by air or coastal boat only.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Rabaul war tunnels	Rabaul	30 min	unknown	Guided tours, wear sturdy shoes.
Kimbe Bay diving	Kimbe	45 min	unknown	Two‑day dive packages common; bring reef‑safe sunscreen.

Bags between cities

Check local operators for inter‑island luggage transfer; most services require booking at the hotel or dive centre.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Rabaul	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok
Kimbe	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	go	ok	ok	ok	go
Papua New Guinea (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Coastal New BritainRabaul and Kimbe coasts	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	wet	wet	wet	wet	dry	dry	dry

wet: daily rain

Coastal New Britain: Dry season May–September offers calm seas and best diving visibility.

Rainy season peaks Dec–Mar; some dive sites may have reduced visibility.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Port Moresby	Rabaul	Air Niugini flight	~1 h 15 min door‑to‑door	Daily flights; check schedule before booking.
Port Moresby	Kimbe (Hoskins Airport)	Air Niugini flight	~1 h 20 min door‑to‑door	Daily flights; limited seats in peak season.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next

Go next

Papua New Guinea

Main country overview

Plan your broader itinerary.

Rabaul

Explore volcanoes and war sites

Detailed guide for the town.

Kimbe

planned

Diving and reef activities

Things to do in Kimbe.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 2, 30 min to 45 min
Nights suggested: 4–6 nights
Ways in: 2 listed
Best months: No month rated best

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Plan your PNG trip Up to Papua New Guinea

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialAir Niugini – flight schedules
secondaryWikivoyage: New Britain, revision 5259474 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about New Britain

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