Travel guide: Tokua Airport, Papua New Guinea (RAB)
Hotels, cars, visas, lounges — everything you need before you land in Tokua Airport.
Compare transfers in Tokua AirportPlan the trip
Start with a transfer, stay or car, then fill in the rest.
Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you.
- RAB airport guideTerminals, transport into town, tips
- Lounges at RABDay passes and lounge access
- Car rental in Tokua AirportCompare rental desks and prices
- Hotels in Tokua AirportStays for every budget
- Flight delays in Papua New GuineaCheck if you can claim for a delay
- Flights to Tokua AirportCompare fares worldwide
- eSIM dataMobile data in Papua New Guinea
Airport transfersCompare private rides from the airport
At a glance
Local facts
Travel essentials for Tokua Airport, Papua New Guinea — what to expect on the ground. Tokua Airport sits in Papua New Guinea (Oceania), in a tropical climate band — tropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season. Airport IATA code RAB serves the area. Local timezone: Pacific/Port_Moresby. It sits at -4.33°, 152.37° — useful for weather and daylight planning. Use the live tools below to plan around these facts.
- RegionPapua New Guinea, Oceania
- Climate bandtropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season
- Airport IATA code RAB
- TimezonePacific/Port_Moresby
- Coordinates-4.33, 152.37
Rabaul, on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, is one of the Pacific's most dramatic destinations: a harbour town rebuilt around an active volcano, Tavurvur, which buried the old capital in ash in 1994. Flights arrive at Tokua Airport near Kokopo, the town that took over as the provincial capital, and together the pair make a remarkable visit.
Book an airport transfer to Tokua Airport
Compare private transfers from licensed partners. Meet-and-greet included.
Getting to and from Tokua Airport
## Getting to Rabaul and Kokopo
Daily domestic flights connect Port Moresby with Tokua Airport in about an hour to an hour and a half. From Tokua, Kokopo town is a short drive, roughly twenty to thirty minutes by taxi at around thirty to sixty kina depending on luggage and negotiation. Rabaul itself lies a further thirty to forty-five minutes by road from Kokopo around Simpson Harbour, and boats also link points around the bay.
Nearby hotels in Tokua Airport
## Tavurvur and the sights
The headline is Tavurvur, the active cone on the edge of Simpson Harbour that destroyed Rabaul in 1994 and forced the capital's move to Kokopo, twenty kilometres away. Guided trips visit the ash plains, steam vents, and hot springs at its base, and the volcano can be climbed with local guides when activity allows. Beyond the volcano, the area is layered with World War Two history, including Japanese tunnels and relics around Kokopo and Rabaul, and Simpson Harbour's reefs and wrecks make the region a genuine diving and snorkelling destination.
Practical info & when to visit
## Practical notes
Kokopo has the accommodation, banks, and markets, so most visitors base there and day-trip to Rabaul and the volcano. Arrange volcano visits, WWII tours, and diving through your lodge or a local operator, and treat guides as essential around Tavurvur, whose activity varies. Papua New Guinea logistics reward patience: reconfirm flights, carry kina in cash, and check your government's current travel advice for PNG when planning the trip.
More partner options for Tokua Airport
Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you. Partners set their own prices and terms.
WeGoTripSelf-guided audio tours for Tokua AirportSearch on WeGoTrip ↗
AiraloTravel eSIM data for Tokua AirportSearch on Airalo ↗
Booking.comHotels and apartments in Tokua AirportSearch on Booking.com ↗
AviasalesCompare flights to Tokua AirportSearch on Aviasales ↗
Welcome PickupsFixed-price airport rides to Tokua AirportSearch on Welcome Pickups ↗
DiscoverCarsCompare car hire desks near Tokua AirportSearch on DiscoverCars ↗
SafetyWingTravel medical insurance for your tripSearch on SafetyWing ↗
AirHelpClaim for a delayed or cancelled flightSearch on AirHelp ↗
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Rabaul?
Fly from Port Moresby to Tokua Airport, about an hour to an hour and a half, with daily services. Tokua is roughly twenty to thirty minutes by taxi from Kokopo, around thirty to sixty kina, and Rabaul is a further thirty to forty-five minutes by road around Simpson Harbour. Boats also link points around the bay.
What happened to Rabaul in 1994?
The Tavurvur volcano erupted and buried much of Rabaul, then the provincial capital, in falling ash, and the capital moved to Kokopo, about twenty kilometres away. Rabaul remains a working town beside its dramatic harbour, and the ash-covered old quarters and the active cone are now the area's defining sights.
Can you visit Tavurvur volcano?
Yes, with local guides. Trips visit the ash plains, steam vents, and hot springs at the volcano's base on Simpson Harbour, and the cone can be climbed when activity allows. Guides are essential rather than optional, since Tavurvur's activity varies. Arrange visits through your lodge or a local operator in Kokopo.
Where should I stay, Rabaul or Kokopo?
Kokopo. As the provincial capital since 1994, it has the accommodation, banks, and markets, plus the airport nearby at Tokua. Most visitors base in Kokopo and day-trip to Rabaul, the volcano, and the WWII sites. Diving and snorkelling trips to Simpson Harbour's reefs and wrecks also run from Kokopo.
What else is there to do around Rabaul?
World War Two history is everywhere, with Japanese tunnels and relics around both Kokopo and Rabaul, and Simpson Harbour offers reef and wreck diving and snorkelling. Combined with the Tavurvur volcano and the markets of Kokopo, two to three days covers the area well. Reconfirm flights and carry kina in cash.
Nearby destinations
This page contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.