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Tonga
Tonga
is a small group of pacific islands which located between Fiji, Samoa and
the Cook Islands. In contrast to the other islands of the pacific, Tonga
has always remained independent from any other western power. Until this
day they still have a king coming from an old dynasty of kings and queens.
The ancient Kingdom of Tonga is Polynesia’s oldest and last remaining
monarchy.
The
Kingdom of Tonga comprises 171 islands which spread across 700,000 sq km
of ocean. Tongatapu, the main gateway to the islands, is served by
Air New Zealand with flights from Australia via Auckland
& Polynesia Airlines direct out of Sydney.
May
to October is the best time to visit. Summer, from November to April,
is the hurricane season and can be hot, humid and wet. The whale-watching
season is from June to November on Tongatapu and Ha'apai, and July to
November on Vava'u.
Tonga
also offers a wide scope for other activities including, sea kayaking,
hiking through rainforests to beautiful lakes, abseiling or just relaxing. Tonga
is known as the last great unspoilt holiday destination of the South
Pacific. Tonga is a dream come true for divers and snorkellers
and it’s one of the few places left where you can find a beach
just for yourself.
General Information | Nuku
Alofa | Vava'u | Ha'apai
GENERAL INFORMATION:
CLIMATE: Average
temperatures from November - May is 28 degrees Celsius. June -
October has an average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. The weather is
pleasant all year round. Months between November and March carry a higher
rainfall.
ENTRY
REQUIREMENTS: Australian passengers travelling to
Tonga require a passport which must be valid for at least 6
months beyond your intended stay. You do not need a visa for a stay
of up to 30 days, but may need to show your onward ticket.
CURRENCY
AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE: The basic unit of currency is
the Tongan Dollar. Credit Card Facilities are limited, but
in general the main hotels accept them. Fees may apply to this service.
There are three banks in Tonga, one of them has a branch in Vava'u
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Vaccinations
are not required. However, consult your doctor for further recommendations.
LANGUAGE: Most
Tongans understand and speak some English.
ELECTRICITY: Electricity is 240 volts.
(Make sure you check your appliances)
DEPARTURE
TAX: All taxes are prepaid on the airline ticket.
DIVING
ESSENTIALS: Certification card and log book, gear
bag, BCD, torch with batteries and charger, mask, snorkel,
fins, regulator and oci, watch, decompression tables or multi level
computer, spare parts kit, camera, flash, film. 3 mil suits are recommended.
TIPPING: Tongans
do not expect tips, though no offence will be caused by rewarding
good service in this way.
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NUKU
ALOFA
The Island of Tongatapu is the international gateway and your first point
of entry into Tonga. The city features a surprising number of excellent restaurants
with the Seaside, Lunarossa and Little Italy all winning restaurant awards.
There is also a variety of accommodation in the city of Nuku’alofa; on
the off shore islands of Atata, Fafa and Pangaimotu and the beachside
resorts on the Western side of the island.
Highlights of the city include a visit to the Royal Palace which is
located on the waterfront and has become a symbol of Tonga to the world
and it is truly an unforgettable sight.
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PACIFIC
ROYALE HOTEL
You will feel right at home the moment you walk into the large, beautiful lobby
of the Pacific Royale Hotel. For business travellers with dealings in Tonga,
or tourists looking to explore Tongatapu from a base in Nuku'alofa, the Pacific
Royale is an excellent choice. The hotel features 60 double rooms, including
family rooms and apartments. All rooms are nicely appointed, carpeted, and
air-conditioned, featuring private bathrooms with showers. All rooms have patios,
direct dial phones, tea/coffee-making facilities, and direct satellite TV.
The bar is traditional Tongan, while the restaurant offers a choice
of excellent Pacific and International dishes. The swimming pool is
situated amongst tropical plants in the centre of the hotel. From top to
bottom, from the lobby to the greenery-filled atrium, this is a really nice
place to stay, and at very reasonable rates. We recommend the Superior quality
rooms.
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DEEP
BLUE DIVING CENTER
Is located on Tonga's main island "Tongatapu" in Nuku'alofa. The
dive boat
"Deep Blue I" starts the Dive safaris and Daytrips from Faua Jetty
wharf here in Nuku'alofa. For divers who want to stay on or around
Tongatapu daily 2-tank dive trips including lunch and afternoon snack are
offered. Divers who would like to go to Tonga's other Island groups, can
join the Dive safaris. Tonga is known as one of the world's best dive spots.
Sharks, grouper, turtles, drop-offs, caves and everything else a diver can
expect, you will see here in the untouched Tongan waters. The diving centre
is equipped with a complete and modern workshop for diving equipment.
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INTERNATIONAL
DATELINE HOTEL
The hotel is situated on the Waterfront Nuku'alofa City Center. All rooms have
air-conditioning, private-bath, coffee-making facilities, direct dial local
and international telephones, music and sea view. Refrigerators in all rooms.
The hotel offers the following features and amenities: Cocktail and private
bar. Superb licensed restaurant, splash café and bar. Elevator service,
daily serviced units, guest lounge, day cruising/fishing, entertainment, laundry/dry
cleaning, recreational facilities and a Tour Kiosk Service.
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FAFA ISLAND RESORT
Fafa Island Resort, an 18 acres palm covered atoll is located only 30 minutes by fast boat from Nuku ’alofa, the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga on the main island. The island is guarded by a coral reef ensuring all time safe swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear blue waters. Deserted sand beaches invite you to relax and lie in the sun.
In keeping with the natural beauty of Tonga, all the Fales are in traditional construction, have private facilities, solar heated water and surrounded by woven coconut leaf walls! The mood is distinctly casual, and the accommodations are a toss away from the worlds largest swimming pool; the Pacific Ocean.
The island is surrounded by golden sandy beaches and the water crowned by a beautiful reef. Swimming is safe within the lagoon and the crystal waters are warm, calm and welcoming. Snorkelling gear is complementary to all guests as are paddle skies. Scuba diving and deep sea fishing can also be arranged. In addition, snorkelling and island trips are arranged. Of particular note is beautiful Malinoa Island; smaller than Fafa, uninhabited, with stunning coral the island is a sun-worshippers heaven.
A maximum of 26 guests stay in traditional Tongan style Fales all facing the beach. The Bungalows are built with natural materials: palm poles, wooden shingles, coconut thatch and palm timber floors. The Luxury and Superior Fales are just a few steps from the waters edge with unobstructed views of the ocean, each with its private beach and they are provided with maximum privacy as they are set far apart from each other. All Fales have a courtyard with semi open bathroom and the shower in a private flower garden. A covered veranda, spacious bedrooms with king size beds, dressing room, ceiling fan, hammock and beach beds. Some Luxury bungalows have an extra building containing the bathroom, a walk in wardrobe and extra room for 2 beds, plus a large partly covered veranda with comfortable deck chairs.
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VAVA'U
The Vava'u Islands are situated 240 km north of Tongatapu. There are 64 islands
with most of them high and densely forested. There are 31 of these islands
that remain uninhabited. Neiafu, the capital city of the Vava'u Group
is a quaint seaside town that comes to life when its harbours fill with yachts
and whales from July to October. During this time visitors can watch the
mama whales playing with their new-born calves. A popular activity is whale
watching and snorkelling with the whales. Visibility in the turquoise crystal
clear waters of Vava’u generally extends 20-35 metres and the diving
is magnificent. There is a wide range of dive sites offering virgin hard
corals, soft corals, life size sea fan grottos, wall diving, cave diving
and wreck diving.
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THE
TONGAN RESORT
The Tongan Beach Resort is in a great location, on a white sandy beach. The
resort features 12 rooms perfect for honeymoon couples or small groups. All
rooms offer private toilets, hot-showers, fridges, electric fans, tea and coffee
making facilities. All the rooms are light with bright furnishings and feature
inspiring views of the golden sand beach and crystal clear, turquoise waters
of Port of Refuge Harbour. The beachfront location provides you with
safe swimming at all tides, snorkelling, water skiing and sea kayaking. Activities
such as whale watching and scuba diving can be arranged, and operators will
pick up from the resort jetty. The fully licensed restaurant specializes
in local and European cuisine as well as local fish and other dishes fresh
from the sea. For your entertainment you will find a Tongan feast with local
string band and floor show as well as Saturday night barbecues
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DOLPHIN
PACIFIC DIVING
Offers
a full service international dive operation - tours, trips, travel,
training, OSH certificated instructors, construction dive services,
Coastguard courses, Medic first aid. Associated whale watch operation and adventure
outings ... tramp, climb, kayak, abseil trips – they do it all. Dolphin Pacific
Diving owns and operates three specialist vessels including the 37 x 12
foot Dolphin Diver that will take sixteen divers at a time and reaches
most of the magnificent dive sites within forty minutes of the base. The
soft corals, the crinoids, the underwater caves, the walls, overhangs,
gorgonian fans and diverse fish life and the unbelievably blue waters
all add up to a diving destination that is second to none.
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BELUGA
DIVING
Beluga Diving has been established in Tonga since 1991 and is located at Fangafoa
Marina in the capital of Vava’u, Neiafu. Tonga has an abundance to offer
with its beautiful Coral Reefs that stretch over 20 different dive spots with
still a lot more to discover. The visibility is between 25 meters to 40 meters
and the Water Temperature is between 240c to 280c. Beluga is a PADI dive
operation associated with Australia (Pacific Asia); they offer a variety of
all Recreational Diving and Dive Courses, from Discover Scuba Course to Dive
Assistant Instructor, Snorkel Trips, Dive Charters and Rendezvous Diving. They
also offer Wind Surfing, Para-Sailing and Equipment Rental.
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PARADISE
INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
Located in Vava'u, 1.5 kilometers from the centre of town. The Paradise International
Hotel features three different room categories: island view, garden view and
harbour view rooms. From the harbour view rooms guests have magnificent views
of the unspoiled Port of Refuge Harbour. The rooms are air-conditioned and
most have two double beds, a lounge suite, a writing desk, a refrigerator,
tea and coffee making facilities and a large bathroom. Adjoining rooms are
available and are perfect for group, friends and families travelling together.
Sunbathing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, shell collecting,
fishing, scuba-diving, horseback riding, exploring the islands, harbour cruising
and shopping are some of the alternatives to simply relaxing by the pool.
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MARCELLA
RESORT
Set amidst
a lush tropical garden about two kilometres from the centre of Neiafu,
Marcella Resort offers nine bungalows with views over the Port of
Refuge Harbour. Each room has a private balcony and an ensuite bathroom with
a hot shower. Marcella Resort is also an ideal place for families. Restaurant
and bar features local and international specialties and tennis is
complimentary. Swimming is possible only a few steps from the resort. The
resort arranges whale watching trips on its own vessell and its full day
trips include a lunch break on the famous 'Treasure Island - Eua'iki. Marcella
also arranges, for house guests only, day trips to explore the island or
overnight trips to Eua'iki.
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EUAIKI ISLAND ECO-RESORT
Euaiki Island Eco-Resort is located
on the island of Euaiki, part of the Vava’u island group in the Kingdom
of Tonga. The resort is situated in the heart of the South Pacific
on a 22-acre, privately-owned island paradise. The island has a beautiful
white, sandy beach fringed with swaying palms, pristine clear waters, a lush
tropical forest, rich bird life and amazing caves, cliffs and rock formations
formed by the tides.
There are great opportunities to observe whales while dining, and you may
even be lucky enough to have the unique experience of swimming with them
right from the beach.
There are 8 bungalows (fales), all just meters from the beach.
All of the rooms are double or twin, with the option of adding an extra
single bed.
 
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HA'APAI
The reefs and shallows of the Ha’apai Group offer amazing underwater
scenery. Walls, caves, channels, tunnels, drifts, drop-offs and coral gardens
(with hard and soft coral and hundreds of fish species) make for a great
variety of dives. Outstanding visibility (25m to 30m in summer up to 70 m
in winter) and very comfortable water temperatures (23°C to29°C)
combine to create magnificent conditions for diving. Some of the best diving
in Ha’apai is found around the island of 'Ofolanga. Huge sea caves
and complex underwater cave systems, as well as truly incredible coral arch
(one of a few in the South Pacific), all await experienced divers.
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SANDY
BEACH RESORT
Located on Foa, an unspoiled island in the northern islands of Tonga's Ha'apai
group where pods of dolphins and whales are regular visitors, Sandy Beach Resort
is designed for nature lovers. Each fale is open to the sea with a spacious
verandah and has large tiled rooms cooled by ceiling fans, imported rattan
furnishings with built-in wardrobes, refrigerator, coffee and tea making facilities
and a choice of king-size or two single beds. All fales are situated
right on the tree lined beach where swimming and other watersports are possible
at all tides. Magnificent reefs lie within swimming distance and the tariff
includes use of snorkelling equipment and Polynesian outrigger canoes. Sandy
Beach Resort won't have outboard motors, jet boats or anything that disturbs
the environment or tranquility.
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OCEAN BLUE DIVING
The dive station of the Ocean Blue Diving is located at the Sandy Beach
Resort in the Ha’apai Group of Islands. See the truly incredible coral “Arch
of Ofalanga”, huge sea caves, tunnels, exciting drifts and complex
underwater cave systems, the famous drop off at the “Green Wall” and
the freshly discover “Hot Springs Cave”.
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