Rabaul's appeal is inseparable from its two great traumas: the Second World War, which left the harbour floor littered with Japanese wrecks, and the 1994 volcanic eruption, which left much of the town half-buried in grey ash. Both are accessible to visitors and together create an experience unlike anything else in the Pacific.
The diving is exceptional — wreck diving in Simpson Harbour rivals anything in Truk Lagoon for variety and accessibility, and the warm water visibility is typically excellent. Above ground, the Japanese tunnel system in the hills is genuinely atmospheric, and the still-active Tavurvur volcano can be approached by local guide. For those with a broader interest in WWII Pacific history, the surrounding area has many significant sites.