Top Tonga hotels
Sponsored Links
There is a good market in Nuku'alofa. They sell lots of fruits and vegetables . Melons must be a big crop for them! They also have a dry goods area and some hand woven baskets and mats . Its a good place to people watch , eveyone was very friendly.
Fafa Island makes quite a first impression with its white sand and turquoise waters . Set on a 19 acres island 30min. by launch from the main island of Tongatapu is beautiful Fafa Island . We spent the day snorkelling on the coral reef and roaming the empty beaches . The ticket to Fafa includes lunch at the resort for about $60.00. We bought the ticket in town the day before.
Pangaimotu's only resident is the Pangaimotu Island Resort. We spent the day strolling around the little island. It is gorgeous and you can walk around the entire island in about 30 minutes. There is alot of coral so you have to be careful when walking through the shallow water for a swim.
The town of Lapaha, was the seat of the Tui Tonga for 6 centuries, beginning about A.D. 1200. Today near the road we saw all that remains of the royal compound ...a series of langa, or ancient terraced tombs. Legend has it that the supreme Polynesian god came down from the sky about A.D. 950 and sired the first Tui Tonga. The last Tui Tonga, who died in 1865 is buried in one of the tombs. There are 28 tombs around Lapaha and Mu'a but none of them have been excavated.We see flowers all over the newer tombs where the government minister and his wife who died mysteriously in a car crash are buried ....we could feel an undercurrent of political unrest . Our guide tells us this minister was for change.
Just before the village of Mu'a we see the stone-and-brass monument marking Captain Cook's Landing Place. The great British explorer landed and rested under a large banyan tree here when he came ashore in 1777 to meet with Pau, the reigning Tui Tonga. He attended the traditional presentation of first fruits marking the beginning of the harvest season. Out guide told us that in reality there was a plan to assissinate him at that meeting and he never learned how narrowly he escaped.
These were not new to us , we had seen them in Australia . Still they are fascinating creatures. They look like big fruit hanging in the trees. You can often smell them before you see them . Even though it was mid morning and they are nocturnal , they were still flying about. They are a bat with a foxlike head found on many islands in the Pacific. On some islands they are considered a delicacy. In Tonga, however, where they live in trees throughout the villages of Kolovai and Ha'avakatolo, they are thought to be sacred, and only members of the royal family can shoot them. Legend says that a Samoan princess gave the first bats to a Tongan navigator.
The paved road ends at Niutoua, but a narrow dirt track proceeds down the east coast. Anahulu Beach has a cave with limestone stalactites near the village of Haveluliku. If you have a chance to go to the caves be warned this is nature in its raw form . There are no lights in there and the bats are buzzing overhead. You need to bring a big flashlight. If you brave it however yuu will be rewarded with a cool place for a swim.
The north coast of Tongatapu is where at low tide you will see pigs swimming . Most of the pigs belong to the families across the street from the beach . We caught the pig in the picture on his way home after a dip. Fun to watch but not iinviting for a swim.
The Tongatapu Royal Palace is not so grand by our standards but it sits on a choice spot in town overlooking the ocean . When we were there the new King hadn't moved in yet , perhaps concerned about security.. Maybe he had good reason ...there was a mood of change in the wind.
There's a stone house on the cliffs of the blowholes area of Tongatapu where you can get a pretty good massage . Its kind of a hippy sort of place but the guy seems to know his stuff and its only $20.00 . He said he was the personal massuese to the King ( not sure if that means much).
The Tongan Beach Resort Neiafu
63 Opinions
Fafa Island Resort Fafa Island
110 Opinions
Treasure Island Resort Neiafu
17 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Tonga attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Tonga sightseeing.
More Regions in Tonga
Q: Hi all, After a week in Ha'apai, we have a 1-day layover in Nuku'alofa before catching an early morning flight to New Zealand....
A: I thought I might have something to add, but the above has it pretty well covered. Toni's place as basic but adequate, and the good thing is, they will wake you and get...
Read 6 Replies
Sponsored Links
