AI-generatedRabaul at a glance
- Best time
- All year
- Warmest month
- Oct · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Nov · 30.1°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,870 h
- Rain a year
- 3,548 mm
- Climate
- Tropical
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Elevation
- 12 m
Climate in Rabaul
Rabaul has a tropical climate: it is warm all year round, and the seasons differ mainly in how much rain falls. October is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while July is the coolest at 29 °C. With around 1,870 hours of sunshine a year, Rabaul is moderately sunny; August is the sunniest month with 5.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: January – December
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 26°
- Midday, 13:00: about 29°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 29°
- Evening, 20:00: about 26°
- Night, 23:00: about 25°
05:3117:43
Warm enough for a T-shirt in the evening.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:18–05:59 · evening 17:15–17:56
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:10–05:18 · evening 17:56–18:04
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Rabaul in October?
In October, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 260 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 12 min05:31 – 17:43
- UV index
- 14 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 31 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 10 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 76 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 10 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+10Pacific/Port_Moresby
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %45 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %0 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- Water bottle – drink plenty
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Rabaul
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 28.8 – 30.4 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Rabaul ranges from 29.0 °C in August to 30.1 °C in November. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in November, while the air already peaks in October. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in November, eight out of ten years were between 29.5 and 30.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 29.9° | 29.3° | 30.4° | very warm |
| FebruaryFeb | 29.7° | 29.1° | 30.2° | very warm |
| MarchMar | 29.7° | 29.0° | 30.2° | very warm |
| AprilApr | 29.8° | 29.4° | 30.2° | very warm |
| MayMay | 29.9° | 29.6° | 30.3° | very warm |
| JuneJun | 29.6° | 29.3° | 30.1° | very warm |
| JulyJul | 29.3° | 28.9° | 29.8° | very warm |
| AugustAug | 29.0° | 28.0° | 29.8° | very warm |
| SeptemberSep | 29.2° | 28.1° | 30.0° | very warm |
| OctoberOct | 29.7° | 28.8° | 30.4° | very warm |
| NovemberNov | 30.1° | 29.5° | 30.6° | very warm |
| DecemberDec | 30.0° | 29.5° | 30.5° | very warm |
Sunshine hours in Rabaul
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 5.7 of 12.2 hours of daylight in Rabaul, 47 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Rabaul
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 14 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in March (UV 14).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 10 min
- Light brown skin
- about 15 min
- Olive skin
- about 20 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Rabaul: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Rabaul has about 25 rainy days with 260 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Rabaul
How breezy and how cloudy Rabaul is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Rabaul typically peaks at 10 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 76 % of the sky over Rabaul: mostly cloudy, with about 5.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Rabaul
How often the day gets hot in Rabaul (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Rabaul has about 10 hot days, with an average daytime high of 29 °C: often muggy. The air feels warmer than the thermometer says: light, airy clothes and slow days help.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Rabaul
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Hot 24° and more
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
HotOctober: nights around 24°. Hot nights: air conditioning makes sleeping much easier. Muggy on about 31 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in April (24°), the warmest in January (24°). Nights stay tropical all year (20 °C and more), so a room with air conditioning or at least a fan pays off. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 365 days a year, mostly all year round.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 65 | 29° | 24° | 29.9° | 4.6 h | 28 | 317 |
| FebruaryFeb | 65 | 29° | 24° | 29.7° | 4.4 h | 26 | 321 |
| MarchMar | 65 | 29° | 24° | 29.7° | 4.6 h | 28 | 371 |
| AprilApr | 66 | 29° | 24° | 29.8° | 4.9 h | 28 | 346 |
| MayMay | 67 | 29° | 24° | 29.9° | 5.2 h | 28 | 293 |
| JuneJun | 68 | 29° | 24° | 29.6° | 5.5 h | 25 | 232 |
| JulyJul | 68 | 29° | 24° | 29.3° | 5.3 h | 26 | 273 |
| AugustAug | 69 | 29° | 24° | 29.0° | 5.7 h | 23 | 245 |
| SeptemberSep | 69 | 29° | 24° | 29.2° | 5.6 h | 24 | 264 |
| OctoberOct | 69 | 29° | 24° | 29.7° | 5.7 h | 25 | 260 |
| NovemberNov | 68 | 29° | 24° | 30.1° | 5.3 h | 26 | 282 |
| DecemberDec | 66 | 29° | 24° | 30.0° | 4.7 h | 28 | 345 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
4.20° S, 152.16° E · 12 m · Pacific/Port_Moresby
Best time to visit Rabaul
The best time to visit Rabaul is all year round. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in November it only reaches 30.1 °C. The wettest month is March with 371 mm of precipitation.
Rabaul through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Rabaul in spring
Sep – Nov
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 75 rainy days in all
Rabaul in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 82 rainy days in all
Rabaul in autumn
Mar – May
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5 h of sun a day
- 84 rainy days in all
Rabaul in winter
Jun – Aug
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 74 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Rabaul for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Rabaul
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and August bring similar holiday weather to Rabaul (score 69 and 69). Daytime highs are about the same. The sea is 1 °C cooler in August. August has 2 fewer rainy days.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 69 | 69 |
| Day high | 29° | 29° |
| Night low | 24° | 24° |
| Sea | 29.7° | 29.0° |
| Sunshine | 5.7 h | 5.7 h |
| Rainy days | 25 | 23better |
| Rainfall | 260 mm | 245 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 31 | 31 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
12 or more rainy days
Rabaul month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
65January29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In January, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 317 mm. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in January65February29° · Sea 30° · 4 h
In February, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 321 mm. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in February65March29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In March, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 371 mm. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in March66April29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In April, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.8 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 346 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, April is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in April67May29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In May, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.9 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 293 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in May68June29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In June, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.6 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 232 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in June68July29° · Sea 29° · 5 h
In July, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.3 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 273 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in July69August29° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In August, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 23 days, totalling 245 mm. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in August69September29° · Sea 29° · 6 h
In September, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.2 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 24 days, totalling 264 mm. On about 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in September69October29° · Sea 30° · 6 h
In October, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 25 days, totalling 260 mm. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in October68November29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In November, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 30.1 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 26 days, totalling 282 mm. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in November66December29° · Sea 30° · 5 h
In December, Rabaul is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 24 °C. The sea averages 30.0 °C – almost as warm as a bath. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It is the rainy season: rain falls on about 28 days, totalling 345 mm. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Rabaul.
Rabaul in DecemberRabaul compared
Put Rabaul side by side with another destination.
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Rabaul vs. Port Moresby
In October the holiday weather in Rabaul and Port Moresby is about equally good (score 69 vs. 70). During the day Port Moresby is 1 °C warmer than Rabaul. The sea in Port Moresby is 3 °C cooler.
| in October | Rabaul | Port Moresby |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 69 | 70 |
| Daytime high | 29° | 30° |
| Sea | 30° | 27° |
| Sunshine | 6 h | 6 h |
| Rainy days | 25 | 18 |
| Best time | All year | Jun – Aug |
Through the year
Papua New Guinea in October: the best places
In October, Rabaul ranks 1 of 2 destinations in this country.
- RabaulThis page29°30°69
- 2Port Moresby30°27°42
Planning a trip to Rabaul
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Rabaul in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Rabaul has similar weather in all school holidays (scores 66 to 69).
- 66
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 67
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5.3 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 69
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 29 °C
- 5.6 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 69
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 5.7 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 66
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 29 °C by day
- Sea 30 °C
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 17 h 35 min
- Distance
- 14,180 km
- Time zone
- UTC+10
- Jet lag
- About 9 days (9 h east)
Rule of thumb for flying east: for a few days before, go to bed and get up a little earlier, and get plenty of morning light at your destination.
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Rabaul
When is the best time to visit Rabaul?
The best time to visit Rabaul is all year round. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Rabaul?
The sea temperature in Rabaul ranges from 29.0 °C in August to 30.1 °C in November. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in Rabaul in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 29.7 °C – almost as warm as a bath.
What is the warmest month in Rabaul?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 24 °C. July is the coolest month at 29 °C.
When does it rain most in Rabaul?
The wettest month is March with 371 mm of precipitation. The driest month is June with 232 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Rabaul get?
Rabaul gets around 1,870 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is August with 5.7 hours a day; in February there are 4.4 hours a day.
What time zone is Rabaul in?
Rabaul uses the time zone Pacific/Port_Moresby, at UTC+10 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Rabaul?
A nonstop flight from London to Rabaul takes about 17 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 14,180 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Rabaul?
Rabaul has similar weather in all school holidays (scores 66 to 69). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 66, May half-term 67, Summer holidays 69, October half-term 69, Christmas holidays 66.
Near Rabaul
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Rabaul
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Rabaul's – good alternatives.