The Kingdom Of Tonga - South Pacific’s Spectacular Secret
An amazing island nation in Oceania, Tonga charms the world with its magnificent beaches, gorgeous landscapes, and friendly people. Tourists just keep coming!
Author:Jane RestureNov 06, 202323K Shares328.8K Views
Tongais a miniature Kingdom, made up of a group of 170 islands, 45 of which are inhabited.
They form a necklace just west of the International Dateline.
The main island of Tongatapu in the south is the home of the Kingdom’s capital, Nuku’alofa.
North lies the Ha’apai group, a chain of low-lying atolls surrounded by clear turquoise waters.
Beyond Ha’apai lies the Vava’u group, a paradise of lush tropical landscapes, a deep-water harbor, rock islands and limestone caves.
Capital And Major Centers
Nuku’alofa is the capital and home for the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Tonga.
A major center in Tonga is the Eua Island, an ideal retreat for hikers, adventurers, and naturalists.
Vava’u Island is another. It has two beautiful beaches on the main island. A scenic drive around the west coast reveals stunning views of ‘Lolo ‘a Halaevalu (Port of Refuge) and the numerous outer islands.
The villages in Ha’apai are a favorite among tourists, who are invited to stay and participate in all aspects of village life, from kava ceremony (a social ritual), feasting and dancing, to hunting feke(octopus) with the village fisherman aboard outrigger canoes.
The People
The majority of Tonga’s residents live in Tongatapu. As of 2023, per Worldometer, the country’s population is estimated to be 108,067.
Polynesian by race, they speak Tongan and English.
History
Archaeologists claim that Tonga has been inhabited since the 5th century B.C.
Two Dutch navigators discovered it in 1616.
They were followed by:
- Dutch seafarer and explorer Abel Tasman (1603-1659)
- British naval officer and explorer Samuel Wallis (1723-1795)
- British cartographer and explorer Captain James Cook (1728-1779)
- English navigator William Bligh, aka Bligh of the Bounty (1754-1817)
- various missionaries
The Kingdom of Tonga has been ruled by King Tupou VI since March 18, 2012.
His Tongan name is ‘Aho’eitu ‘Unuaki’otonga Tukuaho. He reigns as a constitutional monarch.
Formerly a British protectorate, Tonga gained its independence in 1970 and is now part of the British Commonwealth.
Nature
Vegetation is typically South Pacific with masses of hibiscus, frangipani, coconut groves, and pandanus palms as well as banana plantations.
Not far from Nuku’alofa, hundreds of flying foxes cling to high trees at Kolovai.
Other birds that can be commonly seen in the islands include:
- frigatebirds
- Pacific golden plover
- Pacific black duck
- swiftlets (Pacific swallows)
- blue-crowned lorikeet
Tonga was the first Pacific Island country to create marine parks or sanctuaries. Four such parks now exist, rich in fish, coral, and marine life.
The Sights And Getting Around
In Tonga, there are miles of white, sandy beaches fronting clear lagoons which hold some of the most beautiful and varied reefs in the world.
The rocky terraced coastline at Houma features one of South Pacific’s most impressive natural spectacles.
Huge waves crash onto the coral rock, sending water spouts 60 feet or more into the air.
At the lagoon edge are the villages of Mu’a and Lapaha, with several fascinating historical sites, such as the Langi (“royal tombs”) of Lapaha.
In Tongatapu, Vava’u, and Eua, the main forms of transport are:
- bus
- taxi
- rental cars
- passenger ferries
Food And Entertainment
A visit to the Tongan National Center is recommended for entertainment for the dining options there.
Most hotels and resorts also provide Tongan feasts and traditional dancing at least once a week.
Nuku’alofa, the capital, has several authentic restaurants, including:
- French
- German
- Indian
- Chinese
- Korean
- Japanese
- Italian
Activities And Shopping Guide
Aside from their indigenous games, people in Tonga play rugby, soccer, cricket, netball, volleyball, basketball, golf, and tennis.
Their water-based activities include fishing, snorkeling, yachting, kayaking, and whale watching.
Tongan handicrafts are some of the best to be found in the South Pacific.
The best retail outlets are found in Nuku’alofa:
- Friendly Islands Marketing Cooperative (FIMCO)
- Langafonua Gallery and Handicraft Center
- Talamahu Market
- Tongan National Cultural Center
Diving In Tonga
For diving activities, pristine and even unexplored reefs are not difficult to find in Tonga since 125 of its islands are uninhabited.
Access to the islands is through the southern island Tongatapu, where Royal Sunset Scuba Diving on Atata Island shows off the rich coral reefs.
As for the excellent diving spots in Tonga, they’re found in the central Ha’apai and northern Vava’u groups.
Port of Refuge in Vava’u is a deep sheltered harbor extending well inland.
Two diving operators, Beluga Diving and Dolphin Diving, take tourists to shallow dives in the harbor or to spectacular walls and reefs outside the entrance on the loaf-shaped islands that herald the open ocean.
The Clan MacWilliam Wreck is a popular dive site in the island of Vava’u, where the wreckage of the ship Glen McWilliams lies.
Intact, upright, and covered in marine life, it’s a spectacular introduction to wreck diving.
Beds of yellow sea fans can be found at Tu’ungasika Island along with coral reefs filled with anemones.
The reef wall is riddled with lobster-filled caves, some containing air bubbles in the roof large enough to surface into, such as the one at Mariner’s Cave in Vava’u.
During winter and spring, divers can be assured to at least hear, if not see, humpback whales that make the clear waters their calving and mating grounds.
Night diving is very special.
Slipper lobsters abound, juvenile lionfish, with their beautiful livery, are found nestled in the corals, and the shy flashlight fishes, with their luminous light organ below the eye, drift about.
Tonga Facts At A Glance
Climate:Pleasant and slightly cooler than most tropical areas. Annual temperature 23 degrees Celsius.
Clothing:Casual clothes are recommended for most occasions.
Electricity:240 volts
Time Zone:13 hours ahead GMT. AEST +3 hours
Currency:The Tongan dollar or Pa’anga equals 100 seniti (cents).
Others:Airport tax is T$20 for all international departures, payable at the airport.
Getting There
These air carriers have flights to Tonga:
- Air New Zealand
- Air Pacific
- Polynesian Airline
- Samoa Air
The live-aboard yacht Impetuous, operated by Royal Sunset Island Resort on Atata Island, is available to explore the southern, central, and northern islands.
Come and visit Tonga!
Jane Resture
Author
Since she embarked on her first world trip in 2002, Jane Resture spent the past decades sharing her personal journey and travel tips with people around the world. She has traveled to over 80 countries and territories, where she experienced other cultures, wildlife she had only read about in books, new foods, new people, and new amazing experiences.
Jane believes that travel is for everyone and it helps us learn about ourselves and the world around us. Her goal is to help more people from more backgrounds experience the joy of exploration because she trusts that travel opens the door to the greatest, most unforgettable experiences life can offer and this builds a kinder, more inclusive, more open-minded world.
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