The island of 'Eua lies just a few kilometres off the south-eastern tip of Tongatapu - but when you are there it feels much more remote.'Eua National Park is Tonga's premier location to experience nature. Large scale tourism does not exist on 'Eua - it's a quiet, peaceful, mostly undeveloped location. It's easy to get there as a ferry leaves most days from Nuku'alofa and takes about two hours - or enjoy one of the shortest passenger flights in the world and take 8 minutes for the trip.Take three days - to walk one of the best full-day treks in the Pacific through Tonga's largest tract of native forest. Local guides will lead you to lookouts high over the forest, where tropic birds and frigate birds soar past you.As you walk through the National Park down an escarpment to the Lokupo beach listen to the noisy call of the 'koki' - the red breasted musk parrot - found only on 'Eua.
The park is a bird watchers paradise.Have a picnic on the deserted beach looking out over the sparkling ocean. Or take a less demanding hike and learn the Southern Legends as you walk through rock gardens watched by wild horses.Local guides will recount the history of the island. Experience daily life on 'Eua, meet some of the local people and watch 'tapa' cloth being made -the guides can introduce you to their community.Accommodation on 'Eua comprises a few simple guest houses - all graciously hosted as they are small family-run businessesBetween June and November humpback whales swim past 'Eua en route to their breeding grounds in Vava'u and you can even watch these magnificent creatures from the beach.Divers can also explore the underwater marine caves on the northern shoreline - the 'Cathedral cave' lives up to its name, carved into a natural sepulchre and filled with fish and coral with the bright colours of a stained glass window.
Ha'apai Island
There is no traffic, no crowds and no queues - just peace and tranquility. Yet there is a variety of accommodation and you can enjoy a sumptuous lobster meal, if that is to your liking.
Take Two Days - and just relax or put on your swimmers, hire some snorkels and flippers or diving gear and discover the magnificent coral reefs and caves that abound in Ha'apai. Try your skill at sea kayaking or horse riding along a beautiful white sandy beach.
A walk around the sleepy capital of Lifuka on the main Island of Pangai is a must if for no other reason than to savour the slow pace of life. Visit the Shirley Baker monument and to the site of the Velata Fortress. Hire a boat for a day and explore some of the many other islands in the Ha'apai group. Some are inhabited but you may find your own deserted South Pacific Island.
Don't Miss:
- A walk around Lifuka
- Snorkeling and diving the magnificent coral reefs
- Exploring the nearby Islands
Niuatoputapu Island
Niuatoputapu lies about 240km north of Vava�u and consists of an area of 18sq km with a population of about 1400. Niuatoputapu is ideal for walking; most interesting sights can be covered in just two days.
Far from Nuku�alofa, tradition is still a way of life here with a conservative way of dressing and behaviour.
Niuatoputapu is surrounded by magnificent white beaches. The most beautiful beaches are on the north-west side of the main island. Along the sandy beaches of Niuatoputapu one can walk for hours.
Palm Tree Island Resort, a small new resort on the island is the best place to stay in the Niuas. It�s very peaceful, and the resort can accommodate a maximum of eight people. Fishing trip and snorkeling can be arranged or simply relax in Niuatoputapu.
Niuafo�ou is the northernmost island of Tonga. Almost 350 miles separate Niuafo�ou from Tonga�s main island of Tongatapu; while Samoa (200 miles) and Fiji (300 miles) are a shorter distance away.
Niuafo�ou is the tip of an underwater volcano, which was created by sub-oceanic eruptions many years ago. In the island�s south and west, extensive, blackish grey fields of lava bear witness to Niuafo�ou�s volcanic history.
The police station, post office and a small cooperative store are situated in Hihifo, the Niuas capital. Money can be changed at the Treasury and telephone services to the Niuas are available.
Tongatapu Island
Tongatapu is the main island in Tonga. It's a large yet flat coral island, over 250 sq. km in size and uplifted on its southern side with almost 20 metre high coastal cliffs. Tongatapu has several nice beaches, wild coastal scenery and some of the most extensive archaeological sites in Polynesia.Some stunning uninhabited coral islands can be found offshore, visible from the seawall at Nuku'alofa, and these can be visited on a day trip. There are almost 20 tiny coral islands in all, Fafa, Pangaimotu and Atata having accommodation, the rest being uninhabited. Day tours to Fafa, Pagaimotu and Atata (Sunday only) are available on for about T$30 including lunch. Boat trips to the uninhabited coral islands and to the stunning sand bank location off Nuku Island (location of the original UK Shipwrecked television series), can be arranged from Nuku'alofa or from Fafa Island Resort and cost about T$150 for the boat for four hours. These islands are not to be missed and snorkelling too is good.
Islands off Tongatapu
Nothing better epitomises life in Tonga than its empty roads - the maximum speed limit is just 40km, slower through villages, and no-one is in a rush to go anywhere.The capital Nuku'alofa on the north shore of the island is the main centre with half the islands population. The majority of hotels and guest houses on Tongatapu are based in or around town... more on Nuku'alofa
Outside of Nuku'alofa, the flat land is almost entirely covered in plantations. A confusing patchwork of roads criss cross the entire island, with small villages strung out along them, but in few places do they hug the coastline.
The eastern half of Tongatapu is less developed with miles of deserted white sandy beaches, limestone coves and deep caves along its coast. The ancient settlement of Lapaha is scattered in relics - large royal tombs (langi) shaped like a elongated pyramid line the road. On the northern tip of the island is the impressive trilithon of Ha'amonga 'a Maui believed to have been erected in the 13th century.
Langi Namoala at Lapaha
Trilithon, Tongatapu
The southern coastline is more wild. At Hufangalupe there's a lovely coastal walk along high sea cliffs with an impressive natural coral bridge you can walk over. Another attractive coastal walk is from the Tongan Wildlife Centre (small bird park and botanical garden), half way along the south coast. The coastline here is uplifted with sharp jagged rocks and are lots of small white sand cove beaches between. The surf crashes in places just metres off shore making swimming dangerous but several natural swimming pools are good for a refreshing dip. Still further west, at the village of Houma, are the hugely impressive blowholes. Come at high tide on a windy day and walk along the coastal path to see a long succession of blowholes. There are almost 100 in all, the largest plumes reaching up to 30 metres high
Hatafu Beach
At the western tip of the island at the village of Kolovai, large casurina trees line the road for almost a kilometre. At dusk, these trees are alive with flying foxes. Beyond Kolovai, are two lovely beaches, Masi'ata and Ha'atafa. Both are of slightly coarse white sand and stretch for more than a kilometre and there a several small budget beach resorts. Snorkelling is good off Ha'atafu and there's also good surfing offshore.
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