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Papua New Guinea
> East New
Britain Province |
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Manus
I
New
Ireland
I
North
Solomons
I
Sandaun
I
East
Sepik
I
Madang |
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East
New
Britain
I West
New
Britain I
Miline
Bay
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Simbu
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Morobe
I
Oro |
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Western
Highlands
I
Southern
Highlands
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Eastern
Highlands
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Gulf
I
Enga |
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Central
Province
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Western
Province
I
National
Capital
District |
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The
history
of
Rabaul
is
one
of
wreckage
and
regrowth.
Modern
historians
will
find
a
treasure
trove
of
World
War
2
relics,
tunnels
and
caverns
to
explore
within
driving
distance
of
Rabaul.
Close
to
the
now
thriving
centre
of
Kokopo,
are
the
remnants
of
Gunantambu
mansion,
built
in
the
1880s
by
the
legendary
Queen
Emma.
After
the
eruption
of
Tavurvur
and
Vulcan
in
September
1994,
most
Rabaul
services
were
relocated
in
Kokopo,
which
is
strung
along
the
edge
of
Blanche
Bay.
The
town
has
grown
rapidly
and
the
busy
market,
selling
fresh
produce,
local
cigars
and
betel
nut,
is
located
on
the
main
road
from
Tokua
Airport
near
Supabake
Bakery.
The
waterfront
is
the
place
to
find
boats
for
travel
to
the
outer
islands
or
for
a
spot
of
fishing.
The
drive
from
the
airport,
now
located
at
Tokua
about
an
hour
from
Rabaul,
is
along
a
narrow
road
winding
its
way
around
the
glittering
waters
of
the
Gazelle
Peninsula.
Through
the
coconut
trees
villages
of
thatched
huts
surrounded
by
colourful
flowerbeds
and
tropical
fruit
trees
look
out
over
calm
waters.
East
New
Britain
has
a
fascinating
World
War
2
history
and
visitors
can
explore
Japanese
caved
systems,
barged
tunnels,
aircraft
wrecks
and
submarines. |
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Culture
The
people
of
East
New
Britain
have
been
seen
as
culturely
diversified
with
rich
and
unique
traditions.
The
"tumbuan"
seen
above
signifies
spiritual
dancers
and
traditional
cermonies
that
demonstrates
a
history
well
kept
and
used
in
todays
society.
The
Tolai
people
of
the
Gazelle
Peninsulla
have
continued
to
use
the
traditional
shell
money
called
"tabu".
They
use
the
tabu
as a
contribution
to
the
Tolai
male
secret
society
of
tumbuan
and
dukduk,
for
distribution
to
people
at
death
ceremonies,
as
payment
of a
bride
price,
for
settling
disputes,
to
purchase
land
or
even
garden
food
from
local
markets.
Flora
and
Fauna
The
tropical
nature
of
the
province,
with
its
evergreen
rainforest
vegetation
and
rugged
mountain
ranges,
the
imposing
volcanoes
which
surrounds
the
town
of
Rabaul
and
the
beautiful
Simpson
harbour
have
made
East
New
Britain
an
attractive
and
adventurous
place
to
visit.
The
marine
resources
are
diverse
and
the
tropical
environment
provides
opportunities
for
bush
trekking,
mountain
trekking,
mountain
climbing
and
cave
exploration.
Attractions
War
wrecks
also
litter
the
surrounding
reefs.
The
excellent
visibility
makes
this
an
exciting
dive
spot
all
year
round.
Dive
trips,
day
tours
as
well
as
charter
boats
for
fishing
can
be
organised
through
any
of
the
accommodations
or
tour
operators.
Forty
five
minutes
by
boat
from
Kokopo
are
the
Duke
of
York
Islands
offering
sport
diving,
snorkelling
and
picnics
under
the
coconut
trees.
The
lagoons
around
this
historical
group
of
islands
provide
all-weather
canoeing,
wind
surfing
and
water
skiing
and
are
a
haven
for
visiting
yachts.
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Things
to
see |
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Kokopo:
East
New
Britain
Historical
&
Cultural
Centre:
Located
across
the
road
from
the
golf
course,
this
has
good
displays
and
collections
of
historical
relics
and
photographs,
with
plenty
of
information.
Open
8am-1pm
and
2pm-4pm
week
days;
1pm–5pm
weekends.
Small
admission
charge.
Vunapope
Catholic
Mission:
Pleasant
views
and
old
colonial
buildings
in
the
hospital
grounds
are
interesting.
The
mission
is
located
at
the
eastern
end
of
Kokopo.
Bitapaka
War
Cemetery:
The
graves
of
more
than
1000
allied
war
dead
are
in
these
well-kept
grounds
and
gardens.
Located
several
kilometres
inland,
turning
off
the
coast
road
past
Vunapope.
Malmaluan
Lookout:
Fantastic
views
over
the
volcanoes
surrounding
Simpson
Harbour
can
be
enjoyed
from
this
inland
highpoint.
Take
Burma
Road,
off
the
Kokopo-Rabaul
Road.
Japanese
Barge
Tunnels:
At
Karavia
Bay
between
Kaluana
Point
and
Vulcan
are
a
network
of
tunnels
and
tracks
connecting
barges
and
buildings
dating
back
to
the
war.
In
the
main
tunnel
are
five
barges
lined
up
end
to
end.
Take
a
torch.
Rabaul:
Some
parts
of
Rabaul
still
function
but
most
of
it
remains
an
eerie
desolate
wasteland
covered
by
metres
of
ash.
Beautiful
Simpson
Harbour
is
still
the
main
port,
guarded
by
the
grumbling
volcanoes.
A
market
and
a
few
shops
still
operate
at
the
eastern
end
of
town.
Tunnels
and
war
relics:
Some
of
the
580km
of
tunnels
built
by
the
Japanese
are
still
open
and
aircraft
wreckage
can
be
seen
beyond
the
old
airport.
Duke
of
York
Islands:
These
beautiful
islands
are
undeveloped
but
are
easily
visited.
Some
have
accommodation
and
tiny
Mioko
Island
has
an
interesting
history.
Swimming,
snorkelling
and
canoeing
are
good. |
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Things
to
do |
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Diving
and
snorkelling:
In
Simpson
Harbour
there
are
World
War
II
boat
and
plane
wrecks,
good
walls,
and
the
Beehives
(a
small
group
of
craggy
islands)
to
explore.
At
Tavui
Point
is
Submarine
Base
where
Japanese
subs
pulled
right
up
to
the
edge
of
the
reef.
It’s
superb
for
snorkelling
on
the
flat
coral
beds
and
along
the
edge
of
the
75m
drop-off,
which
is
also
good
for
diving.
Most
resorts
can
arrange
dive
trips.
Climb
a
volcano:
The
island
of
New
Britain
is
dominated
by
both
active
and
dormant
volcanoes,
some
of
them
bellowing
great
clouds
of
black
ash-laden
smoke.
All
the
volcanoes,
except
Tavurvur,
can
be
climbed.
Be
aware
that
heavy
rain
can
make
the
ground
slippery
and
cause
landslides.
Vulcan
is
best
tackled
on
the
northern
side,
and
the
deep
fissures
can
make
it a
difficult
climb.
Take
plenty
of
water.
Canoeing:
Taklam
Tours
in
Kokopo
can
arrange
paddling
experiences
around
the
Duke
of
York
Islands.
Fishing:
Sport
fishing
for
blue
and
black
marlin,
sail
fish
and
dog-tooth
tuna
is
good
in
the
waters
around
New
Britain
and
the
Duke
of
York
Islands.
The
Blanche
Bay
area
is
good
for
casual
line
casting.
Boats
operate
from
Rabaul
and
hotels
and
guesthouses
can
organize
trips.
Swimming:
Beaches
near
Kokopo
are
good.
Hotels
in
Rabaul
have
pools
and
there
are
good
beaches
at
Pila
Pila
and
Ratung
villages
in
Talili
Bay
north
of
Rabaul.
Trekking:
Suggested
areas
are
the
Bainings
Mountains,
the
Pomio
area,
where
you
can
walk
from
Pomio
to
Navu,
and
the
Wide
Bay
area,
walking
between
Milim
and
Sampun
or
Tokua
and
Merai. |
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