Despite New Ireland’s remote location, it is relatively easy to get here. All three modes of transport – air, land and sea – play an important role in getting to New Ireland as well as getting around this diverse province.

Air Transport

The National Flag Carrier, Air Niugini operate flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns in Australia, and from Manila, Honiara, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, directly into Port Moresby. Air Niugini flights are code-shared with Qantas.

Airlines PNG fly from Brisbane and Cairns directly to Port Moresby.

The main provincial airport is located in Kavieng, only 2 minutes out of town. There are daily flights from Port Moresby to Kavieng with Air Niugini, as well as flights from Rabaul to Kavieng (via Lihir) 6 days a week with Airlink.

There is also an airport in Namatanai, towards the southern end of New Ireland. Airlink currently flies from Rabaul to Namatanai once a week.

Most days, the flights from Port Moresby to Kavieng stop over in at least one other destination in Papua New Guinea on the way to or from Kavieng.

It is also possible to charter planes or helicopters from other areas of Papua New Guinea directly into Kavieng, with Hevilift, Tropicair, Islands Nationwide, Heli Niugini and Niugini Helicopters.

Sea Transport

As you would imagine, being an island province, much of the transport throughout the province is by boat.

Rabaul Shipping have a weekly passenger ferry which operates between Rabaul and Kavieng. This ferry service also extends from Rabaul into other areas of Papua New Guinea.

It is also possible to catch a banana boat between Kokopo and the south-western side of New Ireland, near Uluputur, which then has easy access to Namatanai.

Most communities in New Ireland own a Yamaha Banana Boat, which they use to get from one island to another. It really is this island region’s version of the family car. People move around quite a lot so it is possible to pay for a ride to some of the many areas of the Province. So long as you aren’t on a strict timetable, this can be quite a cheap way to get around. You do need to be flexible with your schedule though, as you may often need to wait a few days for someone to be going where it is you are planning on getting to. It does need to be highlighted however, that these local boats do not carry lifejackets, flares, or any safety gear of any kind.

If you want to get to the Tabar Island Group, banana boats generally leave from Konos, midway down the East Coast of New Ireland.

Getting out to the many islands to the West of Kavieng, including New Hanover (Lavongai), can be organised out of Kavieng.