When to go · Rabaul

Rabaul in May

Good month. Outside the best window (Jun–Oct). Across Papua New Guinea: Dry season starts in Port Moresby; quiet month before the show season.

Key facts

Verdict: Good
Temperature: 30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C) / 24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C); average high / low
Rain days: 9
Crowds: Low; Papua New Guinea overall
Prices: Medium; Papua New Guinea overall

Plan around it

Verdict

GoodPapua New Guinea month rating

Outside the best window (Jun–Oct). Across Papua New Guinea: Dry season starts in Port Moresby; quiet month before the show season.

May is rated good. These months rate higher:

Long-term averages

RabaulHighs around 30 °C (86 °F), lows around 24 °C (75 °F), rain on about 9 daysHighs around 86 °F (30 °C), lows around 75 °F (24 °C), rain on about 9 days
Islands and Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea · Rabaul, Kimbe, Kavieng, Alotau, Tufifine
Rain patterns differ by island; many dive operators rate September–December as the calmest and clearest window. Milne Bay is the only part of PNG regularly brushed by cyclones (roughly December–April).

Papua New Guinea overall: Dry season starts in Port Moresby; quiet month before the show season.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Rabaul, side by side.

First month

Second month

May: Outside the best window (Jun–Oct). Across Papua New Guinea: Dry season starts in Port Moresby; quiet month before the show season.

June: Inside Rabaul's best window: Jun–Oct.

Rabaul: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.