Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Volcano · Rabaul, East New Britain
Mount Tavurvur
An active volcanic cone on the rim of the Rabaul caldera that erupted in 1994 together with the nearby Vulcan; it continues intermittent activity and is surrounded by ash fields and hot springs.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Mount Tavurvur
Tavurvur is a young volcanic cone inside the Rabaul caldera, on the east side of Simpson Harbour. The caldera, roughly 14 by 9 km, is rimmed by steep slopes and contains several cones, including Tavurvur and Vulcan across the bay.
On September 19, 1994, both volcanoes erupted simultaneously. With 19 hours’ warning the town was evacuated, but the ash collapsed most of Rabaul’s buildings. Vulcan has been quiet since then; Tavurvur continues to produce intermittent ash eruptions, monitored by the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory.
At the volcano’s base the landscape is of gray ash fields and dead trees. Residents of Matupit dig into the warm volcanic sand to collect megapode eggs—these birds bury their eggs in the heated ground. At the caldera’s edge hot springs flow into the sea with a view of the cone.
How close you can get to Tavurvur depends on the volcano’s condition and is done with local guides. The cone is also visible from the sea and from the observatory.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From half a day to a full day, depending on the itinerary and the volcano’s conditions.
Best time
In the morning, when it is cooler over the ash and the wind is usually weaker. Confirm the volcano’s status on the day.
How to get there
By road from Rabaul through the Matupit area, or by boat via Simpson Harbour, with a local guide. Tours depart from Kokopo and Rabaul.
Tip
Bring closed footwear, a hat and water, and a mask or a scarf for ash dust. Follow your guide’s instructions about how close you can go.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mount Tavurvur
Can you climb the Tavurvur volcano?
Approach and ascent depend on the volcano’s activity and are done with local guides. On some days you can only see the cone from a distance.
When was Tavurvur’s last major eruption?
The major eruption was on September 19, 1994, together with Vulcan. Since then, Tavurvur has had intermittent eruptions, monitored by the Rabaul observatory.
What are the megapode eggs of Tavurvur?
They are eggs of a bird that buries them in heated volcanic sand. Residents of Matupit dig the ash near the volcano to collect them.