Where to go on a Tonga Vacation

Where should you go when visiting Tonga? Each island has its own character. Pick the one that suits you best or explore them all!

Tongatapu

Tongatapu is the main island where the capital city, Nuku’alofa and the International Airport are located. It offers natural and historic attractions including ancient monuments, terraced tombs, natural rock arches, limestone caves and spectacular blowholes. Tongatapu is blessed with a protected lagoon ideal for sea kayaking giving the opportunity to explore the many islands in the lagoon and amazing coral reefs.

‘Eua

The island of ‘Eua is millions of years older than the rest of the Tonga group. As a result, it offers an entirely different landscape than the other islands with its rugged cliffs, caves and waterfalls. The ‘Eua National Park is ideal for hiking.

Vava’u

An azure tropical paradise consisting of 61 different islands, Vava’u is a stunning private island. Here you can indulge in a wide range of water activities including whale watching, scuba diving, sport fishing and sea kayaking.

Ha’apai

The Ha’apai islands are the most exceptionally beautiful of Tonga’s four major islands, Ha’apai is the place to go if you are looking for small, unspoilt, palm-fringed beaches. It is a place to have a quiet and relaxing vacation.

What to do on a Trip to Tonga

Shopping

Tonga is the perfect place to find authentic South Pacific handicrafts. Traditional art and handicrafts including intricate bone carving, woodcarving, fine weaving and basket-making are available at markets and specialized stores. The two most important handicrafts in Tonga are tapa making and the weaving of mats. The stunning work on display is often sold directly by the craftspersons responsible so shoppers are also taking home a personal connection to these beautiful South Pacific islands. Made from the bark of the mulberry tree, known locally as hiapo, tapa cloth is of great cultural significance in Tonga. It is a very important traditional gift where every piece of tapa is uniquely different, making for an extremely authentic souvenir. All tapa is still proudly handmade.

Eating and Drinking

Expect to be well-fed in Tonga. Traditional Tongan favourites to try include ‘ota ‘ika (raw fish marinated in lemon and coconut cream), and lu pulu (corned beef and coconut milk wrapped in taro leaves). Food and feasting are an integral part of Tongan society and the feasts of the Kingdom are renowned throughout the Pacific for their size and diversity. Delicious meat and seafood may include spit-roasted suckling pig or steamed fish, chicken, beef, octopus and the freshest of local vegetables including yam, taro, sweet potatoes and cassava.

Kava

Kava is a very special drink but, perhaps, not for everyone. It is a murky and spicy liquid but drinking it at least once is an essential experience for visitors to Tonga. Usually drunk from a coconut shell, kava quickly relaxes the body and makes your tongue and lips go numb. The ceremonial drinking of kava is an ancient custom undertaken across all of Polynesia and is still an integral part of life in Tonga.

Entertainment

A vibrant and colourful experience for many visitors to Tonga is seeing the dignified and graceful Tongan dancing. It is sung to poetry culminating in a style of dance that is uniquely Tongan. Tongan dance is also a spectacle that demands the involvement of spectators, and a gift of appreciation or fakapale is a local tradition to reward a dancer. A well-known traditional dance is the Lakalaka, a dance practised throughout the Kingdom. Expressing stories of Tongan history and legends, the Lakalaka is performed by both men and women, sometimes in spectacular groups of up to several hundred. 

Tonga Vacation Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to a Tonga vacation. 

Learn about the history and culture of Tonga., the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Tonga's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information,  will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Tonga. for yourself. Start exploring...book one of our Tonga vacations today!

Globetrotting with Goway" blog articles

For additional reading, the following articles are from our blog “Globetrotting with Goway”….. a great source of information for those who are, or want to be, world travellers!

10 Reasons to Visit Polynesia on South Pacific Vacations

Extend Your Stay

Consider an additional stopover after or before one of your Tonga tours at one of Goway's other South Pacific destinations. You can choose from our selection of Australian vacations, New Zealand vacation packages, Tahiti vacation packages, one of our Fiji resorts or perhaps take a Cook Island vacation.