| Travel Destination Guide - Tonga Islands |
TONGA ISLANDS (Pacific Islands)
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Tonga Islands is the only South Pacific country not colonized by Europeans and remains the only monarchy in the region. It once ruled much of its neighbouring islands wielding enormous power throughout Polynesia. The islands retain its proud and rich culture and offer tourists a remarkable array of attractions.
Tongatapu is the main island, with its capital Nukualofa sitting on reclaimed land overlooking the lagoon. It is a large coral island, completely flat and covered in agricultural plantations. It faces a large lagoon, within which lie smaller truly enchanting coral islands with gorgeous beaches. Most of these islands are uninhabited and only a couple offer tourist accommodation. Tongatapu boasts some splendid coastline, notably its blowholes and has the largest standing ancient Polynesian structure.
Marginally cooler than most tropical areas. The best time is May to November. Heavy rains occur between Dec and Mar.
The timeless Ha'apai group are a tourist backwater, even for Tonga's minimalist tourist approach. These are great islands to explore and interact with the local people.
Further north is Vava'u, the main tourist attraction. Here is one of the great sailing destinations in the world with a maze of deep water channels and tiny coral islands. It also offers the best place in the south pacific to watch humpback whales when they come to the calm protected waters to calve between June and October.
If ever a traveller wanted to really get away from the world, the remote island of Niuatoptapu is that persons dream. Utterly isolated and boasting just one deluxe accommodation, Niuatoputapu offers stunning beaches, volcanic landscapes and a very traditional lifestyle.
Vanilla plantations west of Hufangalupe once produced Tonga's primary export crop, but vanilla has now been surpassed by pumpkins. You may spot red shining parrots at the Tongan Wildlife Centre Bird Park, which promotes conservation and carries out captive breeding of rare and endangered species.
The site of Tonga's most active volcanoes, Tofua was also the site of the mutiny on the Bounty in April 1789. Although the island is no longer occupied, some of Tonga's best kava plantations are here, and are tended part-time by people from nearby islands. You can visit Mutiny on the Bounty Beach (where quartermaster John Norton was clubbed to death by islanders) if it tickles your fancy, but the main reason to come here is the large freshwater lake. Tracks lead through pristine rainforest full of bird life and gigantic ferns. Fly via seaplane from Nuku'alofa to reach Tofua, in the Ha'apai group, or arrange the trip by sea from Lifuka.
The second-largest island in the Tongatapu group, 'Eua has a completely different character from Tongatapu. It is rugged and mountainous, with Tonga's largest areas of natural bushland and rainforest, and is great for hiking, climbing and abseiling. Tufuvai Beach has a lovely white sand beach and its reef makes a great swimming pool at high tide. The ruins of 'Anokula Palace on the top of 120m (393ft) cliffs give you a view of the whole island. Birds and flying foxes hitch a ride on thermal currents around the cliffs. Central 'Eua harbours myriad caves and sinkholes, and bush tracks crisscross the area. 'Eua's best beach is on the south coast at Ha'aluma, and it has the best beach camping on the island. Many people fly to 'Eua from Tongatapu and take the ferry back to Nuku'alofa, as the ferry trip to 'Eua can be very rough.
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