New BritainNew Britain at a Glance
About New Britain
New Britain is a large island of Papua New Guinea located to the east of the island of New Guinea and divided administratively into East New Britain and West New Britain provinces. It is characterised by tropical rainforest, active volcanism and extensive coastal coral systems.
Key visitor interests include the wartime and colonial-era remains around Rabaul, active volcanic landscapes, and marine recreation in areas such as Kimbe Bay, which supports diving and biodiversity tourism. The island also has traditional villages, plantation agriculture and extensive rainforest interiors.
New Britain was part of German New Guinea before World War I and later administered by Australia; it was the scene of major military operations in the Pacific theatre during World War II. Volcanic eruptions, notably at Rabaul in 1994, have influenced settlement and infrastructure in parts of the island.
Geographically New Britain lies across the Bismarck Sea to the east of the main island of New Guinea, forming a long, volcanic island chain; principal ports and towns provide access by air and sea.
- Volcanic hazard: The island contains several active volcanoes and the town of Rabaul was severely affected by eruptions in 1994; volcanic monitoring and hazard awareness are important for visitors.
- Diving and marine life: Kimbe Bay is one of the region’s principal diving destinations, noted for coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
What to See#
- Rabaul: The town of Rabaul and its caldera harbour area, which was historically a major colonial and wartime port and is subject to volcanic activity.
- Kimbe Bay: Kimbe Bay, a reef-rich marine area on the island’s northern coast renowned for coral biodiversity and diving sites.
Best Time to Visit New Britain
Tropical climate with better travel conditions in the dry season; check transport schedules.
Weather & Climate near New Britain
New Britain's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 19°C to 28°C. Heavy rainfall (3880 mm/year), wettest in March.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 20° - 28° | 24° | 355 mm | - | - | 1.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 20° - 27° | 24° | 350 mm | - | - | 2.2 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 20° - 28° | 24° | 403 mm | - | - | 2.1 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 19° - 27° | 23° | 306 mm | - | - | 1.7 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 20° - 27° | 23° | 285 mm | - | - | 2.0 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 19° - 27° | 23° | 341 mm | - | - | 2.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 25° | 22° | 396 mm | - | - | 2.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 19° - 26° | 22° | 380 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 19° - 27° | 23° | 319 mm | - | - | 2.4 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 19° - 27° | 23° | 230 mm | - | - | 1.8 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 20° - 28° | 24° | 227 mm | - | - | 1.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 20° - 28° | 24° | 288 mm | - | - | 1.8 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to New Britain
Rabaul and Kimbe are the main access points by air: Tokua Airport (RAB) serves Rabaul/Kokopo and Hoskins Airport (HKN) serves Kimbe. International flights typically connect through Port Moresby; local airlines offer inter-island services. Sea connections are less frequent and subject to weather.
Tips for Visiting New Britain
- Visit the volcanic national parks (e.g., Ulawun on New Britain) only with experienced guides; volcanic terrain can be unstable.
- If island-hopping from Rabaul or Kimbe, check inter-island flight schedules-air connectivity is limited and subject to weather.
- Support local craft markets in Kimbe and Kokopo-West New Britain produces high-quality woven goods and carvings.