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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Tonga


Eating Out

Restaurants and chefs come and go so it is difficult to provide a totally accurate up-to-date guide to dining out but we’ll try! Here’s a thumbnail guide to some establishments, thanks to Canadian travel author David Stanley who has a keen eye and a sharp palate.

  • Nuku’alofa: Akiko’s Restaurant in the basement of the Catholic basilica on Taufa’ahau Road - a budget standby with a good lunch special (no alcohol served). For Chinese cuisine, Kimiko Restaurant on Vuna Road (one of the few places open on Sunday - try the wonton) or the attractive Fakalato Chinese Restaurant above a supermarket on Wellington Road - medium-priced Cantonese dishes (while there check out the Italian ice-cream place on the nearby corner of Taufa’ahau Road). Lily’s Chinese Restaurant (opposite the fish market at Faua Jetty) has good seafood.For more upmarket options: Also for seafood, Davina’s Restaurant and the Waterfront Café (opposite Faua Jetty) and Davina’s also has great steaks. The Billfish Bar & Restaurant is also known for seafood. For tasty pasta and pizza, Pizzeria Little Italy west, on the waterfront and for an occasion or treat, the Seaview Restaurant offers the finest dining in town. It’s located at Seaview Lodge (Vuna Road, west of the Royal Palace). German chefs, Lothar and Martina, ensure both food and atmosphere are excellent. Open for dinner weekdays only, reserving a table is recommended (23 709).
  • Vava’u: While the Bounty Bar is more of a drinking spot, they serve five types of burgers. Good cafes include Ifo Ifo Bar & Café, Pua Tale Fusi Restaurant & Garden Café (known as ‘Pua’ by the locals), Lighthouse Café and Ana’s Waterfront Café. Other restaurants worth trying - The Dancing Rooster (on the water opposite the prominent Catholic church), the Mermaid Bar & Grill (the raw fish straight off the dock a specialty - T$8.50) and the Ocean Breeze Restaurant for the best upmarket option (lobster and fish curry, steak, lamb, chicken priced from T$20-32). Open for lunch and dinner, reservations recommended (Ph 70 852).
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Economy

Tonga exports fruit and vegetables, coconut oil, fish, garments and some other manufactured goods. Tourism is a small but growing industry, with more than 35,000 visitors welcomed annually.
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Electricity

Tonga uses 240 volts/AC 50cycles with the three-pronged powerpoints/plugs you find in Australia and New Zealand.
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Embassies

Both Australia and New Zealand have High Commissions in Tonga.

  • Australia: (office hours 9:00am to 5:00pm weekdays - immigration from 9:00am to midday): Salote Road, Nuku’alofa (PO Box 35) Ph 23 244; Fax 23 243; Email ahctonga@dfat.gov.au
  • New Zealand: Corner of Salote and Taufa’ahau Roads (PO Box 830) Ph 23 122; Fax 23 487; Email nzhcnuk@kalianet.to.
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Emergency Services

  • Police 922 or Phone (676) 70 234
  • Fire 999 or Phone (676) 70 089
  • Hospital 933
  • Any Emergency Assistance 911
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‘Ene’io Botanical Gardens

‘Ene’io Botanical Gardens on Vava’u were established in the 1970s and you can only go in with a guide, so need to book in advance (they are locked at all other times). They are owned and operated by Haniteli ‘O Fa’anunu, who retired from the position of Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. There is also ‘Ene’io Beach close to the gardens, which is a private beach and bar (they have home stay and campsites).
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Entertainment

  • Nuku’alofa: Ambassador Night Club (behind Tonga National Centre) has a nice lagoon location. The most popular nightclub is the Blue Pacific International Night Club. Couples and single women should give the Phoenix Disco a wide berth - could be an experience for single males with an independent streak. You get the occasional brawl between the local Tongans.
  • Vava’u: Vava’u Club is a blokey watering hole with two large pool tables and a few local barflies looking for a tourist to ‘shout’. On Fridays and Saturadys a live dance band plays at the Puataukanave Disco (opposite Tonga Visitors Bureau) and a slightly older clientele patronises the Funga i Vava’u Nightclub at the Garden Bay Village on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
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Entry Requirements

Australian and New Zealand citizens (and pretty much anyone really) do not require visas for a stay of up to 30 days. Visa extensions up to six months are possible but be sure to apply with plenty of time for processing. People who overstay their visas are harshly dealt with. Just a note for travellers who think recreational drugs may enhance a holiday - it could end up being a longer stay than anticipated - the maximum penalty for drug smuggling is 30 years hard labour.
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‘Eua

‘Eua is a rugged, scenically beautiful island in the Tongatapu group, 40km by boat from Nuku’alofa or a short flight (T$66 return). Facilities are pretty basic but well worth a trip for both the natural beauty and to see ‘real’ Tongan village life. Birdwatchers who take a day or overnight trip to ‘Eua Island will be rewarded on a bushwalk through the forest north of Futu. This is home to Pacific pigeons, crimson-crowned fruit doves, white-collared kingfishers, blue-crowned lorikeets and red-breasted musk parrots. The most popular accommodation option is Hideaway Resort on the west coast (Ph 50 255). There’s a restaurant and a terrace to watch the sunset and passing whales in season. The local watering hole is the Haukinima Bar (near Futu in the centre of the island). A live band plays on Friday and Saturday nights at Maxi’s Disco Hall across the street from the bar. The hall is run my Taina from Taina’s Guesthouse and she named it after her cat, Maxi. It’s that kind of place.
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Events and Festivals

The first week of July sees Nuku’alofa’s Heilala Festival - parades, brass bands, dancing and sporting competitions. The Miss Galaxy Beauty Contest for the fakaleitis (men dressed as women) is always great fun and a sell-out. New Year’s Eve is special - Tongans standing along the beach light palm-leaf torches and illuminate the coast (the rite is called tupakapakanava). The Ha’apai Festival is held in early June (Emancipation Day). The Vava’u Festival first week of May has a huge array of cultural, sporting and social events (handicrafts, sporting events, game fishing, yacht regatta, island nights, feasts etc with a grand ball for the crowing of Miss Tonga). Accommodation can be scarce so book ahead. The King usually attends the Vava’u Agricultural Show in September and September/October sees agricultural shows on other islands.
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Exchange Rate

The national currency of Tonga is the pa'anga, divided into 100 seniti. At the time of writing, the 1 Tonga Pa'anga (TOP) was worth approximately USD $0.52, EUR 0.39, AUD $0.67, NZD $0.73.
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Expatriates

Most expatriates in Tonga are ‘palangi’ - white people who have made Tonga home for any number of reasons. They say that Pacific island expatriates are missionaries, mercenaries or misfits - in Tonga you can perhaps add ‘marine’ people to that list because those involved in dive and watersports operations may have chosen Tonga for the sheer natural beauty. Another generalisation with expats is that they don’t mind a drink and a chat so if you strike up a conversation with one in a bar, buy him/her a beer (expats rarely refuse a free drink). The reward will usually be a colourful tale or two and some local knowledge on where to dine etc.
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Exports

As mentioned under ‘Economy’ Tonga exports fruit and vegetables (squash pumpkin, vanilla beans, bananas) coconut oil, fish, garments and some manufactured goods. They also export some talented large football players.
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