Japanese Tunnels
Tunnel System
Before visiting Rabaul, I doubted that the written claims that there were hundreds of kilometers of tunnels built during the war. After a day of walking some of them, I now fully agree with this figure! With the help of some local kids, I walked kilometers of these infamous tunnels, most dug by POW and slave labor.

Inside Tunnels
The interior of the cave was dry and spacious. The ceiling was tall enough to comfortably stand, and wide enough for two people to walk by side by side. Although it was empty, there were plenty of remains for those who know where to look. We were not the only ones there, bats would often fly into us when we disturbed them.

Barge Tunnel
Probably the most famous of all Rabual's tunnels, this spacious tunnel still accommodate five landing craft, that were hoisted from the tunnel, across to the cliff face where they were lowered into the water. All of the original barges still remain where they were carefully concealed from Allied air attacks.

Catacomb Tunnel System
This well developed multilevel cave system is adjacent to the famous Barge Tunnel. It is full of alcoves and even the remains of a machine shop, kitchen area and sleeping quarters. It was necessary for the Japanese to move all troop, supplies and equipment underground. Japanese tunnel construction and ingenuity show how serious Allied air attacks were.

Tunnel Hill Road
During the Japanese occupation, the infamous POW camp was located here, that instituted slave labor of Allied POWs and captured Airmen to work digging the near by tunnels along the road that was begun by the colonial German administration.

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