The friendly South Pacific island Kingdom of Tonga offers visitors great diving and snorkeling sites, and plenty of activities from sailing and kayaking to trekking and whale watching. Tonga is the place for tranquil beach holidays with chances to see traditional Polynesian way of life. It is a small and peaceful Christian country with deserted beaches and untouched coral reefs that lives up to the name Friendly Islands given by the explorer James Cook.
Kingdom of Tonga in the southwestern part of South Pacific Ocean is comprised of 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited. There are four island groups: Tongatapu in the south, Ha’apai and Vava’u in the middle and the Niuas in the north. Tonga is the only monarchy in the South Pacific and the only nation in the region that was never formally colonized. Majority of the inhabitants of Tonga are Tongan Polynesians, although there are also some European and Chinese immigrants. Everyday life in Tonga is still influenced much by Polynesian village traditions and Christianity. Tonga is a friendly and beautiful destination to visit, although its tourism infrastructure is still relatively undeveloped.
Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga hosts almost two-thirds of the Tongan population, as well as the capital city Nuku’alofa and the main international airport. Nuku’alofa is practically the only urban center in Tonga, offering many shops, tourism services and interesting wooden buildings, including the Royal Palace. Elsewhere on Tongatapu, The Tongan National Center in Vaiola has a museum and cultural shows, the blowholes of Mapu'a 'a Vaca in Southern Tongatapu are an interesting natural sight, and the archaeological area of Mu'a contains ancient royal stone tombs. Tongan Wildlife Center on Tongatapu displays the local fauna and flora. The nearby island of ‘Eua has a national park with some of the nicest possibilities for trekking in Tonga, as well as caves and limestone cliffs for climbing.
The rural Ha’apai Islands offer plenty of beaches, an active volcano and great opportunities for snorkeling and diving, as well as traditional Tongan culture. The Vava’u islands are a popular sailing, kayaking and diving destination that also has many beautiful beaches and whale watching tours available. Kayaking in Tonga can be done mainly on Vava’u and Ha’apai. Sailing can be done throughout the islands, but Vava’u is especially popular destination for sailing in Tonga. Whales can also be met throughout the islands, but Whale watching in Tonga is best developed on Vava’u.
Traveling to Tonga is mainly done by air, but you can also come to Tonga with your own yacht or on board a cruise ship. There are two international airports in Tonga, but most international flights to Tonga land on Tongatapu Island.
Kingdom of Tonga in the southwestern part of South Pacific Ocean is comprised of 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited. There are four island groups: Tongatapu in the south, Ha’apai and Vava’u in the middle and the Niuas in the north. Tonga is the only monarchy in the South Pacific and the only nation in the region that was never formally colonized. Majority of the inhabitants of Tonga are Tongan Polynesians, although there are also some European and Chinese immigrants. Everyday life in Tonga is still influenced much by Polynesian village traditions and Christianity. Tonga is a friendly and beautiful destination to visit, although its tourism infrastructure is still relatively undeveloped.
Sights & activities in Tonga: beaches, coral reefs, sailing, trekking & kayaking
While visiting Tonga, you can choose between many outdoor activities, from diving to trekking and fishing to whale watching. Having nothing to do except relaxing on a beach is quite popular, too. Tonga has a lot of beautiful, palm-fringed coral islands and lovely deserted beaches on virtually every island. However, swimming is not always good from them, due to often shallow shores with coral reefs. Surfing in Tonga is excellent, and bicycling is very pleasant on most islands. Snorkeling and diving in Tonga are very good as the islands are home to plenty of coral reefs and dive sites. There are also many caves both under and above water to be explored. Sports fishing in Tonga is popular, too, and charter boats are available.Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga hosts almost two-thirds of the Tongan population, as well as the capital city Nuku’alofa and the main international airport. Nuku’alofa is practically the only urban center in Tonga, offering many shops, tourism services and interesting wooden buildings, including the Royal Palace. Elsewhere on Tongatapu, The Tongan National Center in Vaiola has a museum and cultural shows, the blowholes of Mapu'a 'a Vaca in Southern Tongatapu are an interesting natural sight, and the archaeological area of Mu'a contains ancient royal stone tombs. Tongan Wildlife Center on Tongatapu displays the local fauna and flora. The nearby island of ‘Eua has a national park with some of the nicest possibilities for trekking in Tonga, as well as caves and limestone cliffs for climbing.
The rural Ha’apai Islands offer plenty of beaches, an active volcano and great opportunities for snorkeling and diving, as well as traditional Tongan culture. The Vava’u islands are a popular sailing, kayaking and diving destination that also has many beautiful beaches and whale watching tours available. Kayaking in Tonga can be done mainly on Vava’u and Ha’apai. Sailing can be done throughout the islands, but Vava’u is especially popular destination for sailing in Tonga. Whales can also be met throughout the islands, but Whale watching in Tonga is best developed on Vava’u.
Tonga travel information and practical tips
Tonga has a tropical climate with high humidity that is modified by trade winds. There is a drier season between May and October, and a rainy season in Tonga from November to April. Rain can occur any time of the year, but it usually pours down during the night. The temperatures in Tonga are warmer from December to May and a bit less warm in other times of the year. Tonga experiences occasional tropical cyclones between November and March, as well as minor earthquakes.Traveling to Tonga is mainly done by air, but you can also come to Tonga with your own yacht or on board a cruise ship. There are two international airports in Tonga, but most international flights to Tonga land on Tongatapu Island.
Photo: unincorporated, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
For private yachts, there are six ports of entry. Domestic transport between the islands of Tonga is done by air or by boat. There are local flights between the main islands and many inter-island ferries travelling between the island groups and most inhabited islands. Buses and taxis can be found on the largest islands. Car rental in Tonga is available in the major centers, and bicycles and horses can also be rented for transportation. As most Tongan islands are quite flat, cycling is an easy way to move around.
Visitor services. There is a nice variety of guesthouses and hotels in Tonga, and prices for accommodation are cheaper than in most South Pacific island countries. However, there are only a few hotels in Tonga that have quality over three stars. Restaurants in Tonga can be found in hotels and main towns. There is some form of nightlife on most Tongan islands, but it is rather limited except in the capital Nuku’alofa. There are local shops and souvenir markets available, but Tonga is not a major shopping destination, as all imported goods tend to be more expensive than in Western countries.
Safety & culture. Tonga is generally a safe country to travel. Crime is not a major concern in Tonga. However, “borrowing” things that are left unwatched is common especially in the rural areas as it is the local custom. The local politics have been turbulent recently with major riots in the Tongan capital in 2006. It is advised to stay away from demonstrations or political gatherings. Remember also that Tonga is a conservative Christian country: Dress properly and do not expect many shops or restaurants to be open on Sundays. English is taught to all Tongans as a second language. Most people in major population centers speak fluent English, but the situation is not as good in more remote islands.
Short history of Tonga
Tongan archipelago has been inhabited since about 3000 BC. The ancestors of Polynesians, the Lapita people arrived in Tonga some 3500 years ago and developed a system of royals and nobles that is still alive in Tonga today. Tongan Empire became a powerful state in the region, extending to the nearby islands through warfare. The Europeans arrived to the islands in the 1600s and 1700s. Captain James Cook named the islands “Friendly Islands” during his first visit to Tonga. Missionaries arrived to Tonga in 1822, converting Tongans to Christian beliefs.No colonial administration was ever set up in Tonga. This was unique among Pacific nations. The islands unified into a Tongan kingdom in 1845 and adopted a constitutional monarchy in 1875. The British managed to make a treaty with Tonga in 1896 that put the country under British protection in foreign affairs. Tonga withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific. Today, Tonga has a good basic infrastructure and social services, but unemployment levels remain high. Many Tongans are living abroad in New Zealand, Australia and the US.
