Hotels

Tongatapu is the main island and center all of things Tongan. The capital, Nuku’alofa sits on a protrusion, looking north over the small motu islands surrounding the fringing reef, and south over a tranquil lagoon. The flat coral island is quite small, running about 30 km east to west and in most places less than 5km wide. The highlights are its impressive archaeological sites in the east, the south coast with its cove sandy beaches and blowholes, the stunning offshore coral atolls, several with small resorts, and the good scuba diving sites around the lagoon.

The Ha’apai Group, about 100km to the north, consists of over 60 low lying coral atolls. Only three have accommodation. The region is very traditional, bans camping and only a few guesthouses and small hotels operate here. The beaches and snorkeling, together with the traditional culture, make this a great place for relaxing on the beach and immersing with the local people.

Tonga’s most popular attraction is the myriad of limestone islands and waterways that make up the Vava’u Group. Neiafu is the administrative and tourist center of the group, with a few small resorts and guesthouses and lots of lively bars and restaurants overlooking the picturesque harbor (sailing season May-Oct). There are few lovely beaches around the group, notably on Kenutu and Mounu, but this is not the main attraction. The Vava’u group is a fantastic sailing spot and has several yacht charter companies and lots of moorings around the bays. Neiafu has a fully serviced marina. Game fishing and scuba diving are also highly rated, and this is one of the best spots in the South Pacific for snorkeling. If you visit between July and November, there’s a good chance of spotting humpback whales.

In the far north of Tonga is isolated Niua. Warmer than the southern islands and even more traditional, the Niuas has three islands, but only one with accommodation. If you make it this far, you’ll find a few very warm guesthouses to make your stay an experience.