Tonga A-Z Visitors Guide - Small Guide to a tropical paradise
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 Tonga A-Z - The Tonga Visitors Guide

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Accommodation

If you are looking for five-star luxury accommodation with silver service, you’ve come to the wrong place. Best you go to ‘F’ and click on the Fiji link. However Tonga offers a range of clean and comfortable accommodation options that will suit most needs and budgets. It’s probable that 7.5% will be added to your bill at the end of your stay to cover the 5% sales tax plus 2.5% room tax that resorts pay to cover the salaries of the Tonga Visitors Bureau staff.

Listed below are a few properties we are happy to recommend.

  • Harbour View Motel: A couple of minutes from Nuku’alofa town (opposite Queen Salote Wharf), the Harbour View has 13 rooms ranging from budget to executive (budget have ceiling fans, Suite, Deluxe and Standard have air-conditioning). There’s a bar and breakfast area and it’s only a short walk to some colourful restaurants and bars.
  • International Dateline Hotel: This is a bit of an icon in Tonga, located opposite the harbour and wharf, a 10-minute walk from the main part of Nuku’alofa. It was built in 1967 to accommodate guests attending the coronation of King Tupou IV. Recently the property had a much-needed refurbish with new rooms, lobby, restaurant and bar added. All rooms are air-conditioned. There’s a swimming pool and children’s area. Tongan feasts are on Wednesday and Saturday nights and the reasonably priced restaurant is one of the few to open Sunday evenings. Non-guests can use the pool for a fee of T$5 and access the bar (a tip for travellers wondering what there is to do on Sundays in Nuku’alofa!)
  • Lagoon Lodge: On the shores of Fangakakau Lagoon (five minute drive from Nuku’alofa) there are 15 self-contained quality apartments in the complex (some air-conditioned).
  • Fafa Island Resort: On its own little island, Fafa is a 30 minute boat ride from Nuku’alofa. Certainly the pick for honeymooners and those looking to ‘get away from it all’. There are traditional style fales close to the water and activities include snorkelling, volleyball, surf skis, petanque and bush walks. There’s also a bar and restaurant.
  • Royal Sunset Island Resort: On the island of Atata there are 24 individual fales that have a separate lounge and bedroom (so can sleep up to four or gives a couple space). Lots of water activities here (diving, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing and sport fishing).
  • The Tongan Beach Resort (Vava’u): The resort is on ‘Utungake island, linked to the mainland by a causeway. There are 12 western style rooms (duplex bungalows) on the water’s edge at beautiful Hiku Tamole Beach. Lots of watersports (diving, snorkelling, fishing, sailing, whale-watching) and the bar restaurant has plenty of atmosphere (allow as much for food and beverage as your accommodation). There’s a Tongan feast/show on Wednesday nights.
  • Sandy Beach Resort (Ha’apai): This is THE spot to stay in the Ha’apai group of islands. There are 12 beachfront bungalows, no children under 16, excellent restaurant and sensational snorkelling, diving, swimming and kayaking on the doorstep with non-motorised watersports and bicycles free. There is a charge for boat trips, diving and horse riding. Your friendly host is friendly German Jurgen Stavenow. The weekly Tongan show is very good.
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Adventure

The overall Tongan experience has a sense of adventure about it but there’s heaps of soft adventure activities on offer - scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, sports and game fishing, whale-watching (and swim with the whales) and kayaking. Or if your idea of thrills and spills is a few too many colourful cocktails by the pool, well that’s just fine, too.
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Aids

While some countries have a number of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS hasn’t swept through the Pacific as it has in some parts of the world and let’s keep it that way. Practice safe sex. The euphoria of travel and yearning for adventure can lead to holiday romance and best that you have something in common apart from geography. Remember the condom slogan - “if it’s not on, it’s not on”.
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Air Travel

Pacific Blue now has two direct flights weekly from Sydney. Pacific Blue and Air New Zealand fly from Auckland. There are also flights from Fiji. Domestic flights are with Airlines Tonga. The second domestic airlines, Chathams Pacific - The Friendly Islands Airline commenced service in April 2008. For reservation please contact chathamspacific@gmail.com or visit their website www.chathamspacific.com.
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Airports

Fua’amotu International Airport is 21km from Nuku’alofa (closed on Sundays). There can be a sense of mild chaos here on occasions so allow plenty of time for checking in on departure. There's no more airport tax collected at the airport - it's now inclusive in air tickets. The duty free items are well-priced and the snack bar has a reasonable selection. There’s a small market the other side of the car park that sells, bananas, coconuts, peanuts etc. Incidentally, the airport code for Tongatapu is TBU.
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‘Anahulu Cave

This is a stalactite cave near Haveluliku village on the east coast of Tongatapu (3km walk from the bus stop at Mu’a Police Station). You’ll need a torch to explore the cave and there’s a large freshwater swimming hole. You may be charged a small admission fee if there’s someone hanging about and best not leave valuables unattended.
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Anokula

If you find yourself in northern ‘Eua, near Houma village is Anokula, Tonga’s most spectacular scenic lookout. It’s a powerful panorama with the cliffs dropping dramatically to the coastal strip below. The concrete foundation ruins are all that’s left a palace built by the king in 1983.
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Art & Artefacts

Women make most of the traditional handicrafts (woven baskets, mats, tapa cloth (from the paper mulberry tree). If you hear a pounding sound coming from a village it will probably be a woman beating the tapa cloth with a mallet. You will be welcome to watch the process and will probably be able to buy something direct. Be aware that carved ‘tikis’ are not part of the traditional Tongan culture (only buy it if you be attracted to it as an ornament at home) and avoid purchasing anything that looks as though it may be contributing to the extinction of a species (turtle shells, whale bones, conch shells etc). Remember to declare and woven or carved souvenirs on your return. In 99% of cases there won’t be a problem.
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Ata

Ata island is an extinct volcano (136km southwest of ‘Eua) and the main breeding place for a number of bird species (see Birdwatching). The island has been uninhabited since the 1860’s when King George Tupou I relocated the population of 200 to protect them from Peruvian slavers. In 2002 it was reported that juvenile delinquents were being sent to Ata for a survival course as part of their rehabilitation.
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Atata Island

Atata island is just off the north coast of Tongatapu. Day trippers visit for picnics, the scuba diving is good and it is home to Royal Sunset Island Resort.
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‘Atensi Institute

The government isn’t particularly fond of this privately run school for thought. The institute is a centre for critical and creative thought, which can be a bit confronting for a conformist society. University level courses up to Ph.D are offered. If you are in town on a Monday between February and October and want to walk your wits there should be a public lecture at 8:00pm followed by coffee with the students - ring ahead to check if it’s on - 25 034. And if you are an ‘expert’ in any field, you might be invited to lecture the students. The Institute relies on overseas funding to function and the government has dictated that all funding proposals must go through official channels where paperwork can be mysteriously held up until the application dates have expired
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Automatic Teller Machines

There is an ATM at the airport and outside the banks in Nuku’alofa. Probably a better way to access money than standing in a bank queue, especially on Fridays (pay day). ATMs accept Cirrus, Mastercard and Visa.
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Avocados

The old persea Americana thrives in the tropics and it’s one of the few fruits rich in fat, unsaturated and cholesterol free. Like mangos, bananas, papaya and kiwi fruit, avocados continue to ripen after they’re picked. They’re at their best when the skin ‘gives’ a little. Once cut, the flesh can brown quickly and this can be slowed with a squeeze of lemon juice.
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