Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Current status Tavurvur + accommodation & transfer to volcano + dolphins

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea

Hello everyone,

As far as I read there is something like a public transportation, correct? If yes, is this my chance to get away from Tokua airport?

I am photographer specialised in volcanic activity and planning to spend a couple of nights near or even at the crater, not for sleeping purposes of course... Getting in contact with the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory to get detailed information on seismic activity is still pending. Before I would like to know if Tavurvur is ejecting ash clouds at the moment. This is to verify a story I heard about a lava dome growing inside the crater. Regularly ejected smoke/ash clouds are an indicator if that is true or not.

Do you think it’s possible to camp around Rabaul and Kokopo? My idea is to rent an aboriginal rowing boat and have a stroll along the coast line of Blance Bay and the Rabaul caldera itself. Of course I need bottled water etc. I presume there's something like a store in Kokopo to get all things called food and water, right? What about fishing, is it generally allowed? Maybe you know a cool local guide who wants to spend a couple of days out there...

Once being in PNG I would LOVE to swim with dolphins. Can I do that when being in Rabaul/Kokopo, or would it be better to get to Duke of York or Pisin Islands?

At last: How much do I have to calculate roughly for a boat trip from Kokopo to Duke of York Islands using a motor boat?

Many thanks in advance
Florian