Explore the haunting WWII relics of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea — Japanese-built cave networks, sunken wrecks, and the Kokopo War Museum — on a private guided tour that brings the Pacific War viscerally to life. History lovers will find this among the most moving sites in the Pacific.
What to expect
Your guide meets you at the dock and takes you through the museum's extraordinary collection of Japanese and Allied artefacts — uniforms, weapons, personal effects — before driving to the Japanese-built tunnel network carved into the volcanic hillside. Inside, cool darkness and the sheer scale of the excavation make the occupation tangible. Roadside relics — a Zero fighter wing, a half-buried tank — punctuate the drive. The Rabaul caldera rim provides a dramatic volcanic backdrop throughout.
Good to know
Book a private English-speaking guide through your hotel concierge or a locally recommended operator on arrival — ask the port agent for current recommendations. Wear comfortable walking shoes; the tunnel paths are uneven. Carry water and sunscreen.