Bougainville Tourism

Welcome to The World’s Newest Holiday Destination

Bougainville – currently an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea – is due to become an independent nation by 2027. Following a 2019 referendum where over 98% of the region voted to secede from Papua New Guinea and become a sovereign state, Bougainville is now on the way to doing just that. 

Bougainville has a long and storied history, with centuries of colonial rule followed by a turbulent journey to independence. Once embroiled in a civil war with Papua New Guinea, the region has since reopened to the world, catapulting Bougainville tourism into the limelight. Now, as the people of this island region move closer and closer to independence, new and exciting tourism opportunities are popping up, from enjoying the endless beaches and azure seas to the abundant wildlife and vibrant history of the islands. 

While the current tourist infrastructure is still growing, Bougainville’s complicated past means that much of the island has been too difficult to visit or even reach. The government hopes for much of that to change as they open Bougainville tourism’s doors to the world. 

A Tropical Paradise – Climate and Geography

Bougainville consists of an island archipelago with two large islands and numerous smaller islets and atolls. Situated on the northern edge of the Solomon Islands group and directly east of Papua New Guinea, Bougainville’s Coral Sea location means you’ll enjoy plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures year-round.

The two main islands are where most of the action is. The smaller island, Buka, lying to the north, spans around 500km and is home to the current capital, Buka Town. To the South, the much larger Bougainville Island, covering over 9000km, holds mountainous volcanic regions, coastal flats and thick jungle areas. Other minor islands and atolls dot the surrounding waters with many uninhabited islets making for great marine diving and fishing spots.

Bougainville’s climate is hot and wet, with year-round temperatures ranging between a stable minimum of 22°C and a balmy 32°C average maximum. The islands, like many of the regions of the Pacific surrounding them, receive a significant 4610mm of rain on average annually. The dry season – if you can even call it that – runs from February to June, with an increased chance of hurricanes or cyclones from November to April. 

Most of Bougainville is covered by dense jungle forest, boasting a richly diverse tropical ecosystem. With a wide variety of birdlife and dozens of animal and insect species, nature lovers are sure to find Bougainville’s wildlife incredible. Copper mining in the latter half of the 20th century severely damaged much of the island’s flora and fauna, and metal-contaminated mine tailings had an island-wide effect on everything from farming to fishing. 

The seas surrounding the islands are teeming with fish species, with sharks, sea turtles, rays, and countless other marine creatures appearing in abundance all around the coastline. Spectacular tropical beaches ring the islands, and the lack of tourist infrastructure means visitors can truly experience the southwestern Pacific in all its glory. 

What to Do in Bougainville – Activities and Sights

When visiting Bougainville, it is strongly recommended that you arrange a guide beforehand to show you around the islands. While much has changed since the war’s end, large segments of the region are still undeveloped and tricky to navigate. Having a local guide to recommend activities, translate and negotiate with local providers is always a good idea.  

Activities

Besides snorkelling in the crystal-clear lagoons or simply taking a dip in the warm waters surrounding the islands, Bougainville tourism has many other exciting outdoor activities to offer. 

• Hiking: The diverse topography and weathered landscape make Bougainville a challenging adventure for even the toughest hikers. Local guides are ready and willing to lead you up any number of extinct or dormant volcanos, making for incredible views of the island once you reach your destination. 

• Fishing: While the administrative government is making a considerable effort to protect the surrounding marine wildlife and resources, deep sea fishing is a popular tourist pastime. Learn about the local species and try your hand at some of the traditional fishing techniques. 

• Kayaking: Kayaking along the coastline of Bougainville allows visitors to see the island from a perspective many locals haven’t even had the chance to yet. There are many local kayaking tour operators, each bringing their own unique flavour to the paddling experience. 

• Diving: Scuba diving in Bougainville is a must, and the undeveloped industry means that much of the potential underwater gems are yet to be fully explored. With sunken WW2 shipwrecks dotting the local waters, and a thriving mix of breath-taking marine life, avid scuba divers are encouraged to visit the islands before the secret gets out. 

• Mountain Biking: Recently, more and more mountain bikers are visiting Bougainville to take on the rugged terrain while surrounded by untouched ecosystems and bustling wildlife. 

Sites and Highlights

As Bougainville’s tourist sector grows, expect to see more and more museums, sights and paid tours cropping up everywhere you go. As the world’s newest country, Bougainville tourism is like an unexplored treasure map with countless secret gems and surprises sprinkled across the islands.  

• Cruise the Buka Passage – 300m wide, on average, but very deep, the Buka Passage separates Bougainville and Buka Islands. This narrow waterway still does not have a bridge spanning it, but regular ferry services run daily. A guided cruise of the Buka Passage is a great way to orientate yourself to this important aquatic crossroad.

• 3-Day Mount Balbi tour – At 2685m, Mount Balbi is one of Bougainville’s highest peaks. But beware – this tour is not for the faint-hearted! Trek to the summit of the towering mountain, traversing different biomes as you ascend to the very top.

• See Admiral Yamamoto’s Mitsubishi bomber wreck – This interesting piece of WW2 history pays homage to the sacrifices made during the one-and-a-half-year Battle of Bougainville and has been carefully restored. Iconic Japanese Admiral Yamamoto’s plane was shot down in 1943 over the thick jungles of Bougainville. Access to the site is restricted but worth the effort. 

• Tour parts of the abandoned Panguna Mine – The large copper mine is often credited with triggering the civil war in the 1990s. While the mine has been closed for 30 years, the government plans to reopen the mine in the future with careful conditions in place to protect the surrounding environment. Until then, guided tours of this important site make for a photographer’s dream!

• Visit local villages – During PNG’s 7-year blockade during the war, the islanders learned a variety of self-sustaining skills and trades. These unique abilities and innovations are still evident across Bougainville with village-level hydropower projects, garden farms, and coconut oil and bio-diesel extraction.

Where to Stay in Bougainville – Accomodation & Food

Travelling to Bougainville can be challenging. Most people can access the islands by plane, flying into Buka’s main airport from Papua New Guinea. Once there, if you want to get to Bougainville Island, you’ll need to take a water taxi across the Buka Passage. Flights can be costly, however. 

A more affordable but challenging option is to travel to Bougainville by boat, departing from the nearby Rabaul on New Britain island. While it may be cheaper to get to Bougainville this way, it’ll take some time to get to the islands.