Rabaul & East New BritainEast New Britain Province is a tropical paradise of lush secondary rainforest vegetation common to the wet tropical lowlands. Wonderful displays of colourful plants and flowers thrive on the rich volcanic soil, attracting all kinds of insects and wild life to their perfume and brilliance. The People of East New Britain are of Melanesian descent, speaking Austronesian languages of which there are sixteen on the island. “Kuanua”, which the Tolai speak, is the main language of the Gazelle Peninsula. The Peninsula is inhabited by five major ethnic groups consisting of Tolai, who dominate the Peninsula, followed by the Baining, Sulka, Taulil and Pomio. The population of East New Britain at the 2000 census was 220,133. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in East New Britain province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of feet into the air. It caused rain which caused 80% of the buildings in Rabaul to collapse. After the eruption the capital was moved to Kokopo, about 20 kilometres away. Rabaul is continually threatened by volcanic activity due to being built on the edge of Rabaul caldera, a flooded caldera of a large volcano. Rabaul was the headquarters of German New Guinea until captured by the British Commonwealth during World War I, when it became the capital of the Australian mandated Territory of New Guinea until 1937. During World War II it was captured by the Japanese in 1942, and it became the main base of Japanese military and naval activity in the South Pacific. Settlements and military installations around the edge of the caldera are often collectively referred to as Rabaul despite the old town of Rabaul itself being reduced to practical insignificance by the volcanic eruption in 1994. As a tourist destination, Rabaul is popular for scuba diving and for snorkelling sites and a spectacular harbour; it had been the premier commercial and travel destination in Papua New Guinea and indeed in the wider South Pacific during much of the 20th century until the eruptions. There are still several diving operators based there. Rabaul Airport was completely destroyed in the 1994 eruption. The airport was in direct path of the falling ash from the nearby vents. It was later rebuilt at Tokua, farther away outside the caldera to the southeast, but has occasionally been closed by ashfall from the continuing volcanic activity in the Rabaul caldera. Rabaul has a large, nearly-perfect circular harbour, Simpson Harbour, one of the best in the South Pacific region for shipping. Use of this harbour for the Imperial Japanese Navy was one of the motivations for the Japanese invasion in 1942. Many large wrecks are scattered in the harbour and are popular dive sites. Rabaul is set below two volcanoes in a magnificent harbour. It radiates a mystical ambiance as Mt Tarvuvur continues to smoulder and great clouds of ash billow from its depths. Hot springs bubble fueled by volcanic activity and this is all set on a beautiful harbour to frame the magnificent view and scenery of the Gazelle Peninsula. The town and countryside is host to an intricate network of tunnels dug by the Japapnese for refuge against allied bombing. Some of these tunnels carry Japanese writing and are visible from the roadside. Rabaul offers crystal clear warm waters, expansive islands, numerous wrecks and virgin coral reefs make diving the jewel in New Britains crown. The waters teem with everything from colourful coral fish to deep-water Marlin. Two World Wars in the area has left a litany of warcraft, both navy & airforce, wrecked on the sea floor- some only 5 metres from the shore line. Facilities exist for snorkelling from most sea-side accomodation. Rabaul offers spectacular coral and wreck dives, Marlin, Black Bass and reef fishing, volcanoe harbour cruises WW2 history tours with an abundance of tunnels, relics and fabulous museum. You can even trek across the Baining mountains on the same route the Allied forces fleed from the Japanese. After the eruption of Tavurvur and Vulcan in September 1994, Kokopo developed as the service centre, along the edge of Blanche Bay. It is now the main centre, with busy produce markets, selling fresh produce, local cigars and betel nut, is located on the main road from Tokua. 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. It is truly an amazing place that has so much diversity and beauty to offer.
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