Things to do & places to visit in Islands Region, Papua New Guinea

Islands Region #2 destination in Papua New Guinea 2023. The average rating score is 4.63 based on 712 traveler reviews, of 14 attractions. Timezone: Pacific/Port_Moresby, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 16:52.

Top things to do (30)

Top places to visit (21 attractions)

5.0 Rabaul - Kokopo Dive (165 reviews)
- Swimming with dolphins and snorkelling - amazing!
Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins • Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours

Our family recently booked a swim with the dolphins and snorkel tour with Rabaul-Kokopo Dive and couldn't recommend Gavin and his team highly enough! Their communication, service and the overall experience really made our trip to Kokopo one to remember. We have small kids and were so happy with their easy going, friendly crew who were flexible and tailored the experience so both parents and kids could enjoy it. The gear provided was top quality and they took care and time to make sure everyone was 100% comfortable and happy. Swimming with the dolphins is one of the best water experiences I've ever had - a must do activity for anyone visiting this beautiful part of the world. See more..
5.0 Rabaul War Cemetery (58 reviews)
- Beautiful grounds ☘️
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Cemeteries

Rabaul War Cemetery is located 50km south of of Rabaul & just 10mins drive from Kokomo. We hired a taxi for the day to take us around numerous sites around Rabaul & Kokomo. The war memorial grounds are immaculately kept & contain 1,120 Commonwealth burials of WW2 soldiers . Many of them are also unidentified. Many of the graves were also from prisoners of war camps. We were highly impressed with the level of care of all the grounds & memorials. The beautiful flame trees blowing in the hot afternoon breeze certainly created a beautiful silent ambience . See more..
5.0 Scuba Ventures (51 reviews)
- Total pros, great dives
Scuba & Snorkelling

I’ve done hundred of dives all over the tropics and these guys are total pros providing excellent diving. Go do this! See more..
5.0 Rabaul Dive Adventures (30 reviews)
- Great divers diving experiences
Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins • Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching

I recommend diving with Joe who is very professional, friendly and gives useful informations about each sites. The team loves to share their experiences and do their best to make customers happy. Thanks again for this unforgettable dives! See more..
5.0 South Sea Horizons (28 reviews)
- Kokoda 4 Kidneys (K4K) 2019
Friday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Hiking & Camping Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

Team K4K 2019 (Kokoda 4 Kidneys) has just completed the Kokoda Track safely because of these wonderful, kind, strong men who made our safety and wellbeing their priority. Above and beyond this, they presented the Kokoda Campaign with respect and empathy, and made each moment profoundly moving for us all. This is our second K4K trek and our second time to use SSH and I cannot recommend them highly enough. See more..
5.0 Kimbe Bay (9 reviews)
- Hot springs
Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water

Be sure to visit the hot springs - you get to see a bit of the countryside on the way there and skin and hair feel silky smooth after you come out! See more..
5.0 Niugini Dive and Tours (7 reviews)
- PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE
Friday: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM Cultural Tours • Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins • Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours • Gear Rentals • Boat Rentals • Private Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Day Trips

BIG THANK YOU to the Dive Shop crew for organising a boat to bring our team of 20 out to the ocean to swim with the dolphins. Everyone couldn’t stop raving about how phenomenal the experience was! Our smaller group of 5 also fully loved their experience! The smaller group meant that each individual had more time to swim with the dolphins. We highly recommend everyone to experience the dolphin tours for themselves if they ever visit Kokopo! The dive shop team has brilliant knowledge on their environment and are a pleasure to work with! See more..
5.0 Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery (7 reviews)
- Excellent walk to remember
Cemeteries

I have been here twice and both times saw something different. The trees at the entrance are mesmerising and then to walk amongst the memorial is really great. The lawns and gardens are top notch. I would recommend coming here for a look. See more..
5.0 Rabaul Dive Adventures (30 reviews)
- Great divers diving experiences
Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins • Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching

I recommend diving with Joe who is very professional, friendly and gives useful informations about each sites. The team loves to share their experiences and do their best to make customers happy. Thanks again for this unforgettable dives! See more..
5.0 South Sea Horizons (28 reviews)
- Kokoda 4 Kidneys (K4K) 2019
Friday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Hiking & Camping Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

Team K4K 2019 (Kokoda 4 Kidneys) has just completed the Kokoda Track safely because of these wonderful, kind, strong men who made our safety and wellbeing their priority. Above and beyond this, they presented the Kokoda Campaign with respect and empathy, and made each moment profoundly moving for us all. This is our second K4K trek and our second time to use SSH and I cannot recommend them highly enough. See more..
5.0 Niugini Dive and Tours (7 reviews)
- PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE
Friday: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM Cultural Tours • Scuba & Snorkelling • Swim with Dolphins • Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours • Gear Rentals • Boat Rentals • Private Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Day Trips

BIG THANK YOU to the Dive Shop crew for organising a boat to bring our team of 20 out to the ocean to swim with the dolphins. Everyone couldn’t stop raving about how phenomenal the experience was! Our smaller group of 5 also fully loved their experience! The smaller group meant that each individual had more time to swim with the dolphins. We highly recommend everyone to experience the dolphin tours for themselves if they ever visit Kokopo! The dive shop team has brilliant knowledge on their environment and are a pleasure to work with! See more..
5.0 Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery (7 reviews)
- Excellent walk to remember
Cemeteries

I have been here twice and both times saw something different. The trees at the entrance are mesmerising and then to walk amongst the memorial is really great. The lawns and gardens are top notch. I would recommend coming here for a look. See more..
4.5 Mount Tavurvur (119 reviews)
- Well worth the trip
Spent 2-3 hours Volcanos

We went here with Rapopo - Kokopo Dive tours, their knowledge of the area including the the WWII history, WWII tunnels and the volcanoes is outstanding. We had our 3yr old with us so didn't do the trek up the volcano but being there and seeing the hot springs and the ruins from the town prior to the volcanoes erupting was worth the trip. Make sure to take some small money with you to support the locals selling their wears and there is a small entry fee also that goes to the local communities. It is hot and the trek up the mountain isn't for the faint hearted, good walking shoes, sunscreen and hat required. See more..
4.5 Rabaul Scenic Tours (43 reviews)
- Great experience with Rabaul Scenic Tours
Cultural Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Went to Rabaul on a cruise in November 2022 and joined Rabaul Scenic Tours for a day. Judith was very professional, quick to reply to our emails back and forth with clear instruction on pick up. Our tour guide, Daniel was very informative, knowledgeable with a great sense of humour and excellent English. We were very happy with the arrangement, sites chosen which included Judith's village. Good value for money. Would recommend Rabaul Scenic Tours to anyone who visits Rabaul. See more..
4.5 Paivu Tours Rabaul (24 reviews)
- Well run business. Excellent driver and a very helpful guide.
Cultural Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Trip out to the Warangoi, back through Kokopo to Rabaul. Had trouble communicating from Australia using the phone numbers and email addresses given, had the best results using [email protected]. Serah is a marvel. I have no hesitation recommending this local business. Accept rough roads as part of the experience. See more..
4.5 Rabaul Scenic Tours (43 reviews)
- Great experience with Rabaul Scenic Tours
Cultural Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Went to Rabaul on a cruise in November 2022 and joined Rabaul Scenic Tours for a day. Judith was very professional, quick to reply to our emails back and forth with clear instruction on pick up. Our tour guide, Daniel was very informative, knowledgeable with a great sense of humour and excellent English. We were very happy with the arrangement, sites chosen which included Judith's village. Good value for money. Would recommend Rabaul Scenic Tours to anyone who visits Rabaul. See more..
4.5 Paivu Tours Rabaul (24 reviews)
- Well run business. Excellent driver and a very helpful guide.
Cultural Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Trip out to the Warangoi, back through Kokopo to Rabaul. Had trouble communicating from Australia using the phone numbers and email addresses given, had the best results using [email protected]. Serah is a marvel. I have no hesitation recommending this local business. Accept rough roads as part of the experience. See more..
4.0 Kokopo War Museum (114 reviews)
- Interesting. ✈️✈️
Military Museums

We hired a taxi for the day to take us around the attractions of Rabaul & Kokopo. The museum housed numerous WW2 relics including documents & posters. The grounds are very interesting filled with aircraft guns, torpedoes, & worm torn Japanese planes & artillery shot down In WW2. See more..
4.0 New Guinea Club & Rabaul Museum (53 reviews)
- Excellent
Spent 1-2 hours Military Museums • History Museums

Had a beer in this club 30 years ago. Now it sits almost alone in what is left of the old Rabaul. Converted to an excellent museum. You just have to visit this when in Rabaul. I hope this history can be preserved for future generations and that there is a plan to rescue the artifacts if the volcano goes up again. See more..
3.5 PNG Tours (4 reviews)
- Tour Operator not answering any questions
Multi-day Tours • Cultural Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Hop-On Hop-Off Tours • Photography Tours • Bus Tours • Bike Tours • Walking Tours • Climbing Tours • Eco Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

we booked the Aktiv Vulkan & Hot Springs Tour. On the confirmation was a wrong pick up time from the port. So I tried several times to get in touch with PNG to change it, but never recieved an answer. Finally I had to cancel the trip as I can not be sure whether it will work out. And also all the questions on tripadvisor have never been answered. PNG is not reliable! See more..
3.5 PNG Tours (4 reviews)
- Tour Operator not answering any questions
Multi-day Tours • Cultural Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Hop-On Hop-Off Tours • Photography Tours • Bus Tours • Bike Tours • Walking Tours • Climbing Tours • Eco Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Day Trips

we booked the Aktiv Vulkan & Hot Springs Tour. On the confirmation was a wrong pick up time from the port. So I tried several times to get in touch with PNG to change it, but never recieved an answer. Finally I had to cancel the trip as I can not be sure whether it will work out. And also all the questions on tripadvisor have never been answered. PNG is not reliable! See more..