Tabar Islands New Ireland Travel Guide

The Tabar Islands are a small, isolated group of volcanic islands lying off the northeast coast of New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea. The group consists of three main islands — Tabar (also called Big Tabar), Tatau, and Simberi — along with several smaller islets. They sit roughly 70–90 kilometres northwest of Kavieng, the provincial capital.

The islands are best known among anthropologists and serious travelers for their living Malagan artistic tradition. Malagan refers to a complex of funerary rites, ceremonies, and carved wooden figures unique to New Ireland Province. The Tabar Islands are considered a particularly important heartland of this tradition, with communities still practicing and commissioning Malagan carvings for ceremonial purposes.

The surrounding waters are relatively pristine, with coral reefs, abundant marine life, and visibility conditions that attract divers and snorkelers willing to make the considerable effort to reach this remote destination. Simberi Island hosts a gold mine operated by a foreign company, which has had socioeconomic effects on the local community and is worth being aware of before visiting.

Tourism infrastructure is minimal. Visitors should expect a genuine off-grid experience requiring careful advance planning, flexibility, and a respectful attitude toward local custom.

Visas

Papua New Guinea requires most foreign nationals to hold a valid visa before or upon arrival. Requirements and eligibility change periodically. Check TravelerPulse's Visas section and consult the official Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority website for the most current information before booking travel.

Health Precautions

Malaria is present in Papua New Guinea, including in New Ireland Province. Consult a travel medicine specialist at least six to eight weeks before departure about appropriate antimalarial prophylaxis, vaccinations (including hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and tetanus), and insect-bite prevention measures. Medical facilities on the Tabar Islands are extremely limited — the nearest hospital of any substance is in Kavieng. Carry a comprehensive personal medical kit.

What to Bring

• Sufficient cash in PGK (ATM access is not available on the islands; Kavieng has limited ATM services)
• Water purification tablets or a reliable filter
• High-SPF sunscreen and reef-safe formulas if diving
• Long-sleeved clothing for malaria prevention in evenings
• Any prescription medications for your entire stay plus extra days
• Offline maps or downloaded satellite imagery, as mobile coverage is unreliable

Cultural Preparedness

Visitors should research Malagan ceremony protocols before arriving. Some ceremonies, objects, and sites carry significant cultural restrictions. Always ask before photographing people, ceremonies, or sacred objects. Gifts of tobacco and betel nut are common social currencies in many parts of PNG, but confirm local custom on arrival.

To Kavieng

The standard gateway to the Tabar Islands is Kavieng, the capital of New Ireland Province. Air Niugini and PNG Air operate scheduled domestic flights to Kavieng Airport (KVG) from Port Moresby and sometimes via Rabaul. Schedules and routes change frequently — verify directly with the airlines before booking.

Kavieng to the Tabar Islands

From Kavieng, reaching the Tabar Islands typically involves a combination of local vessels and, occasionally, small charter flights. Simberi Island has a small airstrip associated with the mining operation; access via that airstrip for general tourists may be restricted or require specific arrangements — verify locally before planning around it.

The more common route involves traveling by boat from Kavieng or from Namatanai on New Ireland's eastern coast. Journey times vary considerably depending on vessel type, sea conditions, and departure points. Cargo and passenger vessels run irregular schedules along the New Ireland coast. Hiring a dedicated charter boat through a Kavieng-based operator is the most reliable option for independent travelers, though it is considerably more expensive. Inquire through established operators in Kavieng upon arrival.

Important Note

All transport logistics in this area are subject to weather, mechanical availability, and local circumstances. Build significant buffer days into your itinerary at both ends of your stay on the islands.

Movement between the three main Tabar Islands — Big Tabar, Tatau, and Simberi — is by small motorized outrigger canoe or dinghy, arranged locally. There are no scheduled inter-island ferries. Agree on pricing before departure and verify sea conditions, especially outside the dry season.

Within each island, travel is primarily on foot along bush tracks. No paved roads exist in the conventional sense. Local guides are strongly recommended both for navigational assistance and for facilitating introductions to communities, which is essential for a respectful and productive visit.

Engaging a local guide or community liaison before exploring is not just courteous — it is often necessary. Community permissions may be required before entering certain areas, particularly those associated with ceremony or customary land.

There are no established hotels or commercial guesthouses on the Tabar Islands in the conventional sense. Accommodation options are limited to community-run guesthouses, homestays with local families, or camping where landowner permission is granted.

Some villages have simple community guesthouses that can accommodate travelers — these typically offer a sleeping space, a mosquito net, and basic meals arranged separately with the host family or community. Comfort levels are minimal and facilities are basic. Expect pit toilets, bucket showers, and kerosene or solar lighting at best.

Contact organizations in Kavieng — such as local tourism offices or dive operators with New Ireland experience — for leads on community stays before departing. Arriving without any prior arrangement is possible but significantly more complicated and potentially problematic with respect to local custom.

For travelers who prefer more established accommodation, staying based in Kavieng and making day or overnight trips is a viable alternative, though the travel time involved makes this logistically demanding.

Malagan Culture and Ceremonies

The Tabar Islands are among the most significant sites for Malagan artistic and ceremonial traditions in New Ireland Province. With appropriate introductions and community permission, visitors may have the opportunity to see Malagan carvings, learn about their ceremonial context, or — rarely and only by invitation — observe aspects of related ceremonies. Purchasing Malagan objects requires care: some items are ceremonially sensitive and may not be for sale regardless of what is offered. Purchasing objects of genuine ceremonial significance without community consent is both ethically problematic and potentially illegal under PNG cultural property laws.

Diving and Snorkeling

The reefs surrounding the Tabar Islands are largely undeveloped and relatively pristine. Expect coral gardens, reef fish, and the possibility of encounters with larger pelagic species. No permanent dive operation exists on the islands; divers must typically bring their own equipment or arrange for a Kavieng-based liveaboard or charter dive operation to include the Tabars on their itinerary. Verify equipment logistics before departure.

Village Walks and Nature

The islands offer walking through tropical forest, along coastal paths, and through village communities. Bird-watching opportunities exist, as New Ireland and its offshore islands support endemic and regionally significant bird species. Bring field guides appropriate to the Bismarck Archipelago region.

Simberi Volcano

Simberi Island has a low-profile volcanic feature. The broader Tabar group is of volcanic origin. Walking in this terrain requires local guidance due to unmarked paths and variable ground conditions.

Food on the Tabar Islands is subsistence-based. Staples include fresh fish, root vegetables (taro, sweet potato, cassava), coconut, and garden produce. When staying in a community or homestay, meals are typically arranged with the host and may be included or prepared for a small additional contribution — clarify this arrangement on arrival.

There are no restaurants, cafes, or food stalls of the kind found in urban centers. Bringing supplementary shelf-stable food from Kavieng is strongly recommended, particularly for travelers with dietary restrictions that could not be easily accommodated with local produce.

Drinking water should be treated before consumption regardless of source. Bottled water is not reliably available on the islands. Carry your own purification system.

Alcohol availability is limited and inconsistent. In communities with church influence — common across PNG — alcohol may be unwelcome. Take cues from your hosts.

Money

There are no banking facilities or ATMs on the Tabar Islands. Obtain sufficient PGK cash in Port Moresby or Kavieng before departure. Small denominations are useful for everyday transactions.

Communications

Mobile coverage from Digicel PNG and bmobile reaches parts of New Ireland Province but is unreliable on the outer islands. Do not count on connectivity. A satellite communicator or personal locator beacon (PLB) is a sensible safety item for remote travel in PNG.

Electricity

Mains electricity is not available. Solar panels and generators exist in some villages but access for charging devices is not guaranteed. Bring sufficient battery packs.

Emergency Services

Emergency services infrastructure is extremely limited in this area. The nearest hospital of any capacity is in Kavieng. The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has a national emergency number — verify the current number through official PNG government sources before travel, as it should not be assumed. Ensure your travel insurance includes medical evacuation coverage, which is essential for remote PNG travel.

Permits and Permissions

No formal national park entry permit is required for the Tabar Islands at the time of writing, but customary landowner permissions apply throughout. Your community host or local guide should facilitate this.

The Tabar Islands are not an area of known significant violent crime against travelers, but general caution appropriate to any remote and unfamiliar environment applies. The principal risks for visitors are health-related (malaria, waterborne illness, marine hazards) and logistical (being stranded due to weather or transport disruption).

Always inform someone in Kavieng — such as your accommodation or a local contact — of your itinerary and expected return date. Check in when you arrive and when you depart.

Marine safety is a genuine concern. Small open boats on open water carry real risks. Assess sea conditions before travel between islands and do not pressure boat operators to travel in unsafe conditions. Bring life jackets if possible or confirm their availability.

Consult your government's travel advisory for Papua New Guinea before departure. Many governments maintain current advisories that include province-level information.

The Tabar Islands have a distinct cultural identity within New Ireland Province, most notably expressed through the Malagan tradition. Malagan encompasses not only carved objects but a whole cycle of mortuary feasting and ceremony that reaffirms social relationships and honors the dead. These are living practices, not museum pieces, and should be treated with corresponding respect.

As in much of Papua New Guinea, community relationships are governed by customary protocols around land, belonging, and reciprocity. Introductions matter greatly. Arriving with a proper introduction — ideally through a known intermediary from Kavieng — is far preferable to arriving unannounced and expecting access.

Dress modestly, particularly in villages. Shoulders and knees covered is a reasonable baseline. Remove footwear when entering homes if others do so. Ask before taking photographs of any person or object, and accept refusal graciously.

Betel nut chewing is widespread across PNG and is a social ritual. You may be offered it. Polite refusal is generally accepted. Tobacco is also widely used and is sometimes offered or expected as a small gift in social exchanges — observe local practice.

Sunday is observed as a day of rest in most communities due to the strong influence of Christian missions across PNG. Plan activities accordingly and be sensitive to church services and community gatherings.