The Rapopo Plantation Resort in Rabaul

Rapopo Plantation Resort

 

Papua New Guinea’s Rapopo Plantation Resort located on the exotic shores of this South Pacific island is a haven of landscaped gardens tropically themed décor and cool comfort.

 

 View from Rapopo Plantation Resort overlooking Rabaul Town

 

  

 

 

Explore the underwater relics of sixty-five Japanese war ships lying in silent repose in the crystal waters of Simpson Harbour.

Snorkel from Rapopo’s private beach, take a helicopter flight to the Pigeon Islands or just laze around the pool pampered by Rapopo’s friendly and attentive staff.

Tour the once beautiful Rabaul now a devastated victim of Nature’s volcanic wrath. “Pompeii” by the sea!

 

 

 

 

And at the end of the day, return to Rapopo’s luxurious air conditioned suites, savour its unique cuisine and perhaps a “Planter’s Rum Delight” on the balcony of the Plantation House Bar and Restaurant.

 

The uniquely appointed, air conditioned Rapopo Beauty Spa is conveniently located near our 25 metre pool and Aquatic bar.Take time out from your travels and spoil yourself to an Island Massage. Our trained staff will advise on the appropriate treatment be… it for relaxation or therapeutic.

The Kokopo Beach Bungalow

Tours & Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

East New Britain and in particular the Gazelle Peninsula is rich in history, culture, recreational opportunities, and environmental diversity.

History:  

Kokopo and Rabaul towns both have a remarkable history originating from the occupation by three colonial powers being Germany, Australia, and Japan. The administrative headquarters of these various colonial powers interchanged regularly between Rabaul and Kokopo. Reminders and remnants of these ruling powers are still obvious throughout the district with Bitapaka War Cemetary, the Kokopo War Museum, Admiral Yamamoto's Bunker and Japanese barge tunnels offering keen insights into days gone by.

We are in fact located on the site of the original Kokopo Hotel when it was under German administration.
This hotel was called"Hotel Deutjcher Hof".

Culture:

The culture of New Britain is diverse and unique. The area is populated by five ethnic groups being the Tolai, Baining, Pomio, Taulil and Sulka people. The customs and traditions of these groups is still evident today with the paying of bride price ceremonies, and breaking of TABU (shell money) still relevant in today's society. Big men who have won their prestige through wealth or military prowess and a male secret society play an important role in village life. Ceremonies feature leaf-draped, anonymous figures topped by masks referred to as the Tumbuan and DukDuk.

 

Recreational:

East New Britain abounds with outdoor recreational opportunities. From fantastic fishing, snorkelling, and diving to trekking, mountain climbing and caving there is literally a limitless range of activities to keep you occupied. A helicopter ride over the area will give you an appreciation of the breathtaking nature of this land.

 

Environmental: 

Where else in the world could you get up close and personal with an active volcano. Rabaul is literally built on the crest of a dormant volcano with one of the deepest harbours in the world. In 1994, the active Mt Tavurvur erupted and still sends out shots of steam today.

For bird watchers and nature lovers we have an abundance of bird life with one of our most well known, the Megapod birds, which lay their eggs in volcanic ash. Locals mine for these eggs by digging down through metres of ash to find them - a true test of resiliance and committment.

We offer a variety of tours which can be tailored to suit your interests.

Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort has been in the business of tours for many years trading as Taklam Tours and has a sound reputation for delivering a quality product. We place a high priority on safety and will assess all conditions before undertaking an activity.  Our tours include a tour guide and driver.

All tours are undertaken at the risk of the participant. We advise all visitors to take out their own travel insurance.

 

Festivals & Culture

In East New Britain we have spectacular cultural festivals and ceremonies which are not seen anywhere else in the world.

 

Tolai Society: 

In Tolai society, Tumbuans and Duk Duks are symbolic of spirits which form part of the rich tapestry of the local traditions and culture. These representations of spirits are highly respected in today's society. In this age of mobile phones, internet connectivity, and Facebook, it is the tumbuan and dukduk which still commands the attention of our young people. For those who have run foul of the law, a tumbuan at your doorstep can be a humbling experience. The Duke of York Islands are home to many of these supernatural beings and at special ceremonies they will be paraded amongst much chanting and singing.

 

Bainings Firedance:

The Bainings people are from the mountain. Legend has it that they were driven deep into the forests when the Tolais migrated to East New Britain from Namatanai on New Ireland. The Bainings Firedance is a dance which symbolises this event. It involves "çreatures'' represented by masked men who dance in a fire all night until the fire dies out. The dancers are trance-like and the chanting and singing gives the performance a supernatural quality. It is unique to this area and is a ceremony performed only on rare occassions. It is a spectacular site to see.

 

 

So come and join us to experience this unique event.

 

Scuba Diving in Rabaul

Rabaul

Papua New Guinea Local Destinations Rabaul Hotels and Resorts Kabaira Beach Hideaway Rapopo Resort PNG Map Diving in Rabaul PNG Travel Tips Rabaul is located in East New Britain Province, a 2 hour flight from Port Moresby. Rabaul Harbour was formed when an ancient volcanic caldera partially collapsed thousands of years ago, allowing the sea to enter. The harbour is ringed by several smaller volcanoes, most of which are dormant or extinct. However, in September 1994, two of the volcanoes simultaneously erupted covering the town in layers of thick, grey ash. Following the eruptions the airport and local businesses were relocated to Kokopo some 20 kilometres south-east of Rabaul. At night you can witness the fantastic sunsets and glowing lava of Tarvuvur in the distance.   Scuba Diving in Rabaul Within Rabaul Harbour, there are numerous Japanese naval ships that were sunk during WW II. Visibility is between 5 and 15 meters with water temperatures of 30C. On the North Coast there are coral reefs and a few more wreck dives where the visibility is between 15 and 30 meters with 30C water temperatures. Some of the more popular dive sites in Rabaul Italy Maru: The 5859 ton transporter was built in 1919 in the Kawasaki shipyard, Kobe. She was sunk by U.S. Navy aircraft, on the 27th of December 1942 and lies on her starboard side in 54 metres of water. Yamato Maru: A 4395 ton cargo carrier sunk on 18 April 1943. Truck bodies are still visible. The Lighthouse: A huge, coral bommie 6-7 metres tall with swim- throughs, giant sponges, sea whips and schools of reef fish. Reimers Wall: Over-hangs, swim-throughs and canyons around the open side of the reef. The drop-off plummets to 50m before easing away. Submarine Base: A sheer drop-off (250m plus) close to shore. The natural, sheer wall covered in soft corals is the edge of a vast caldera. Barrel sponges, sea-fans and whips decorate the wall.   Hotels and Resorts in Rabaul Rapopo Plantation Resort Located on a working cocoa and coconut plantation 5 minutes drive from the town of Kokopo. The resort is situated on the beach front overlooking Pigeon Island and the volcano, Mount Tavurvur. From the balcony of the luxury, seaside units, you can witness the spectacular views of Mount Tavurvur and the magnificent sunsets at day’s end.   Kabaira Beach Hideaway     Critters, WW2 wrecks, adventure dives to remote islands and exciting Papua New Guinea reef dives - Kabaira Beach Hideaway offers you exclusive personalised diving, all from a laid back beachfront resort. Set right on the beach with views across Ataliklikun Bay, and of those much sought after tropical sunsets, it is a great place to escape from civilization.

Surfing in the Tropics, New Ireland - PNG

New Ireland Province offers a very healthy range of surfing possibilities for the adventurous surfer. Best identified nowadays, is the northern end of mainland New Ireland and around the Kavieng area. There are plenty of options down the east coast along the Boluminski Highway. To the west of Kavieng extends the Bismarck Achipelago,  with over a hundred islands extending out to New Hanover which also has brilliant potential and uncrowded, often deserted reef breaks. Other large island groups are only now being identified with great new surfing possibilities emerging. Kavieng is located just a couple of degrees south of the equator, and from November to April, during the northern hemisphere monsoon, the north coast and the string of island leading to the west, do enjoy North Pacific Ocean swells. Nowadays, Kavieng is reasonably well known for having access to a good range of quality reef breaks in relatively close vicinity. Surf within the Kavieng area is now well identified, and has hosted many a traveling surfer. Most breaks in New Ireland Province are reef breaks, and vary in their degree of difficulty, depending on the size and direction of the swell, and the depth of the reef. Naturally, access is important, with the Kavieng area and the east coast most accessible and most frequented. Locations further a field, are now being serviced by charter vessels based out of Kavieng. Being based only a few degrees south of the equator ensures relatively stable weather patterns, although the area does enjoy good ocean swell generated in the North Pacific from Northern hemisphere monsoons (November to April). When these swells meet the myriad of reefs, the potential becomes very obvious. Swells generally range between 2 – 6 feet, and sometimes bigger. Most all breaks are over coral reef, which makes surfing all the more interesting. The Kavieng area hosts the Kavieng Surf Club, with a new Club likely to emerge in Central New Ireland in the near future. These Clubs are affiliate Clubs of the Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea (SAPNG) and the Niu Ailan Surfriders Alliance (NASA). For more information surfing in New Ireland visit NASA's website at www.surfingpng-newireland.org.pg and the Associations website at www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg which covers the best identified parts of the county for surf tourism, and essential information. In an effort to promote sustainable development of this growing sport, the Niu Ailan Surfriders Alliance manage and oversee Surf Management Plans in four areas of New Ireland, essentially a surf quota system with prescribed base fees generated and dispersed between the Club and the resident communities adjacent the resource. Visiting surfers to the Kavieng, East Coast, Central Coast and Lavongai (New Hanover) areas will need to make contact with the Niu Ailan Surfriders Alliance regarding the availability of space under the Management Plans. These Management Agreements are not exclusive to New Ireland, as other forms exist in other parts of Papua New Guinea, with the aim of fostering local club development, community development initiatives, good relations and just as importantly, sustainable surfing development and a truly unforgettable PNG surfing experience. Other locations are free to explore and utilize but it is essential that good sense prevail and residing communities be approached and give permission to Go for It ! Papua New Guinea acknowledges Customary Rights to Reefs and best not to simply assume, but to check first.

German painter captured images of Rabaul

BY KEITH JACKSON

EMIL NOLDE (1867-1956) is probably a name unknown to most readers of PNG Attitude.

Indeed his name was unknown to me until I saw one of his paintings, created in Rabaul, on Sunday at Melbourne’s National Art Gallery.

Nolde was a famed German expressionist painter, son of peasant farmers, who grew up making models and covering boards and barn doors with chalk drawings.

In the years before World War I, he had become a well known and controversial figure in the German art world.

The relevance of Nolde to PNG Attitude lies in the time he spent in the New Guinea Islands in 1913-14.

In 1913, Nolde was invited by the German Colonial Office to take part in an expedition to the German territories in the South Pacific – one of which was German New Guinea, with headquarters in Rabaul.

The object of the expedition was to search for the causes of epidemics and high mortality among the indigenous population of the German colony. Nolde joined as ‘ethnographic artist’.

He and his wife Ada travelled through Asia to Palau and Rabaul, where he remained for half a year. In 1914 he made trips to Neu Mecklenburg (New Ireland) and the Admiralty Islands (Manus) before heading back to Germany.

He was particularly struck by the people of Rabaul, saying: “These people are at one with nature, and a part of the whole universe. I sometimes feel as if only they are still real people, we but kind of warped mannequins, artificial and full of conceit.”

Nolde noted the damage done by Europeans in Asia and the Pacific. “We live in an evil era,” he wrote,“in which the white man brings the whole earth into servitude.”

Before they arrived back in Germany, in fact they were in Egypt, Nolde and his wife were surprised by the outbreak of World War I.

Although they convinced the local British authorities that they were Danish, Nolde’s luggage, including his paintings from the expedition, were seized. He was eventually reunited with the confiscated works in 1921 at a London junk dealer’s shop.

When the Nazis took over Germany in the 1930s, Nolde was not effected immediately, but eventually his art was declared “degenerate” and more than a thousand of his works were removed from German galleries.

He gave up his apartment in Berlin and retreated to the countryside where he began to produce what he called his 'unpainted pictures' - hundreds of small watercolours which he hid in a secret cache in his isolated house.

After the war, as the grand old man of German art, Nolde enjoyed a new lease of life. In 1948, Ada having died two years previously, at the age of 81 he married a 28-year old woman, the daughter of a friend.

In 1952 he was awarded the German Order of Merit, his country's highest civilian decoration and continued to work with tremendous energy until late in 1955. Nolde died in April 1956, aged 88.

Images: Poster featuring one of the Rabaul paintings; Self Portrait, 1907; Islander, 1913; Nolde in later life

Paradise Experience

Rabaul Experience

Rabaul Town and Mt Tavurvur at the background



 Children at Matupit Island over looking Mt Tavurvur

Coral reefs that you can find in the beautiful surrounding islands, Duke of York island a boat ride from the new Kokopo Town.

An Island in the Duke of York group of Islands

Travelling in PNG can be challenging. With almost no tourism infrastructure and limited information available in books and on websites, it can feel like you’re stepping into the great unknown. But this is exactly why travellers find this country so compelling. Nothing is contrived for tourists and every experience is authentic - even the main island of New Britain is a largely DIY travel experience. The striking natural beauty and myriad complex cultures offer some riveting and truly life-affirming experiences.

Read more:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/papua-new-guinea