Day 1: Arrive in Rabaul
Welcome to Rabaul. Your local tour leader will arrange for your complimentary airport shuttle from Tokua Airport to your hotel. Check into your hotel and meet in the foyer at 630 pm for your tour briefing, which will be held at a suitable location within the hotel grounds. Make sure you have your insurance details ready for collection by your guide this evening. After dinner, settle into the hotel for the evening.
Day 2-3: Firedance Festival
Today we head up to the mountains of the Gazelle Peninsula where we will spend the next two days at the Firedance Festival. As we near the Village Show Grounds, we will witness a traditional Melanesian welcoming ceremony. It is common within a Melanesian culture that a host welcomes guests into the village; it shows the rest of the villagers that these are welcomed strangers. There are no hostilities between the village and the visitors. Once at the showground, you are encouraged to walk around and enjoy the interaction with the local villagers. Stay near your guide, who will be explaining every dance that performs throughout the today. We ask you to observe the cultural rules and laws when it comes to certain dance groups. Your guide will also inform you of the do's and do not's when it comes to conducting yourself around the performers.
Today's performances are from the Bainings region. Over 25 different masks will perform culminating in the Linganga the famous Firedancers. Each performance has a significance to the final spectacle, which is the Linganga. Your tour guide will explain this to you as the performers emerge to perform. This evening will culminate in the Firedance which will be performed shortly after sundown.
The next day we head up to the mountains of the Gazelle Peninsula once again. This time, we will be witnessing the Tolai tribes performances of the Gazelle Peninsula. Once again, as we near the Village Show Grounds, we will see a traditional Melanesian welcoming ceremony. The Tolai's have a secret men's society which only initiated men are allowed to perform or take part in the dances. These performances are very sacred from this area, and there are stringent rules when it comes to interactions with uninitiated men and females. Please stick with your guides and near your designated area when performances are taking place. For those wanting to take photos - your guides will also let you know what you can and can't do. Please observe our responsible tourism ethos and respect the cultural
boundaries today. There will be designated photograph taking areas where you can take those champion shots; please stick to these areas at all times. Today will finish in the late afternoon where we will head back to Kokopo to freshen up. This evening we will be head to a local country club where we can share a drink with the local community.
Day 4: Duke of York Island Tour
Each island around East New Britain has its own personality, its own story and its own set of traditions. The Duke of York Islands is the place to really explore and experience the real Papua New Guinea. We will cruise round the islands and hear some of the history whilst taking in the wonderful array of colours and vibrancy of this small archipelago. On our voyage watch out for dolphins, the fanciful dugong and local fishing canoes. The waters round here are crystal clear, azure blue lagoons with white sandy beaches and lush green vegetation, paradise in its truest form! On the Island we will be hosted by the village and learn more about traditional weaving, cooking and fishing. Your leader will arrange for an island tour. It is advised to wear some comfortable water shoes such, as crocs are sandals. After our tours relax and unwind and forget about the world for the evening and enjoy the hospitality of the Local Duke of York Islanders. This includes a traditional sing sing and overnight stay in the village.
Day 5: Duke of York Island Swim & Village Experience
Wake up early to take in sites of the island life. Take a quiet stroll around the village again and interact with the locals. After an early breakfast your guide will give you a brief on what to expect today before we depart the Duke of York Islands. Your guide will choose a reef that would be best suited for snorkelling according to the days weather conditions. The Boat Skipper will also take in considerations the weather when determining when you will be departing the island. We will then check into the hotel and rest for the afternoon.
Day 6: Rabaul Tour
Today we will be taking in a historical tour of Rabaul town. You will need good walking shoes or waterproof sandals today, as there will be some walking on uneven surfaces. Our lunch destination will be a village called Baai Village where we will be treated to a mini cultural show performed by 6 tribes within the region. We will be staying in Rabaul this evening.
Our Rabaul tour today will include:
Rabaul Markets - A stops off at Rabaul Markets. Here we take a stroll around the markets to explore. Make sure that you have some small denominations of Papua New Guinea's Kina (5-10 kina notes) so you can pick up some trinkets here as well as try some local fruits or snacks.
Volcano Observatory - A stop off at this site to take in the wonderful views of Simpson
Harbour
Yamamoto’s Bunker - Yamamoto’s bunker. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the genius behind Japan's early naval successes during World War II. He was based in Rabaul for a long period and commanded the Japanese Pacific fleet from a small bunker in the centre of town.
Old Niugini Club - Across the street from Yamamoto's bunker we visit the remains of the Old Niugini club where we will gain some insight of Rabaul Pre –eruption and Pre Independence.
Japanese Submarine Base - The Submarine Base where the Japanese stored their Submarines during the war before a stop off at the Volcano Observatory – a look out over Old Rabaul and a fantastic photo spot.
Japanese Tunnels and Barge Tunnels at Karavia Bay - The Japanese Tunnels. We take a walk in the maze of tunnels, which goes down around 20 m deep. The tunnels consist of 3 stories, including a kitchen and a myriad of escape routes.
Day 7: Baravon Tour
Located directly across the bay from the currently active Tavurvur volcano and Vulcan volcano, Baravon is a small seaside community. On arrival, you will be greeted by the islanders with frangipani leis (garlands), and you will be taken through the village stopping by the church, here the village choir will perform some hymns for us.
After our church visit, we will take a short stroll along the coast visiting the locals. You will have the opportunity to make purchases and also participate in traditional handcrafts and activities. Another revenue stream is the coconut, which today is used in many ways to make this community sustainable; they use it for food, shelter, cooking, medicinal purposes and weaving.
Please help with the preparation of traditional cuisine with hot stones called Agir, which we will be having for lunch. For those wanting to learn to scrape coconut, this will be your opportunity. Today's lunch is prepared by a women's fellowship group who help with small community projects in the village. Feel free to ask about the beautiful work they do in the community. Make sure you wear suitable footwear. We will have a traditional lunch right on the beach, and you may swim if you wish.
Day 8: Kokopo Tour
This morning we will be treated to a swim with the resident spinner dolphins of East New Britain. As truly magical experience you will never forget. We will swim with the dolphins for around 1 hour before we head back for breakfast. You will need good walking shoes or waterproof sandals today, as there will be some walking on uneven surfaces.
Our tour of the area today will include:
- A visit to Bitapaka War Cemetery, where the first Australians who fought here in World War I and World War II have been laid to rest. Hear about the 2nd 22nd Battalion and the rich war history of Rabaul.
- A stop off at Kokopo Markets. Here we take a stroll around the markets to explore. Make sure that you have some small denominations of Papua New Guinea's Kina (5-10 kina notes) so you can pick up some trinkets here as well as try some local fruits or snacks.
- Blue Lagoon where we see some Japanese Barge Tunnels built by the Japanese to conceal their Barges and to protect them from the bombing raids of the Allies in WWII.
Day 9: Depart from Rabaul
Today your journey comes to an end and you will depart Rabaul.
