TongaTapu, Tonga Travel Blogs

Island exploration
Jul 9, 2008 (7 photos)

... we swam round far surpassed the first, with lots of colour and fish life. All too soon, it was time to return to Tongatapu. We took back our rental car- and traded it down for a rather battered small black number, which looked well and truly Tonganised ...

Nothing's ever easy...
Jul 8, 2008 (7 photos)

Excited by glimpses of blue sky, we got a taxi into Nuku'alofa, to explore the capital and pick up a rental car. We passed the Royal Tombs and the Church of St Anthony of Padua, which reminded me of a Bournemouth theatre. We wandered along the ...

Tongatapu
Jul 6, 2008 (8 photos)

... was beautiful. We looked out onto a calm turquoise reef with crashing waves ringing it. Many islands studded the lagoon embraced by Tongatapu's northern arc. The sun almost came out for a while and we were given a hint of the full glory of the blues and ...

The islands said "stay"...
Jul 19, 2008 (15 photos)

... me to stay. I'm sure of it. How else can I explain the travel bad luck getting even worse? I arrive to get my plane to Tongatapu at 9.30, for a 10.30 departure. I find that the flight had been changed to 7.30 am (eek!) but has then been moved again to ...

South Pacific by Tall Ship part 2 Tonga
Jul 5, 2003 (5 photos)

... 2003 - Cruising the Kingdom of Tonga aboard NEw Zealand based tall ship Soren Larsen : >June 23, 2003 Nuku¡-alofa, Tongatapu. Three days of ships maintenance and crew days off, finds us preparing for voyage crew once again. Thea and I wandered the ...

Last days on Tongatapu
Jul 11, 2008 (7 photos)

On Thursday, we visited what has to be my highlight of the Tongatapu part of our trip. We drove round to the spectacular Mapu'a 'a' Vaca blowholes, timing our visit to be there at high tide. The current, swell and wind combined to create an impressive ...

The Last Malo
May 20, 2006 (12 photos)

... and stayed a few nights in an outrageously overpriced resort. But our hut was right on the beach, and basically most of Tonga is outrageously overpriced. A lot of Tonga hasn't fully grasped tourism yet, which is great. The last place we stayed at had ...

Slow Boat Coming
May 15, 2006 (10 photos)

57 days until the wedding... Sophie and I flew from Auckland to Tongatapu, the main island in the Kingdom of Tonga. The flight's passengers were, as always, a good indication of where we were heading. Besides a nun and a large group of Mormons, there ...

The Voyage begins - sailing NZ to Tonga, Pacific
Jun 18, 2003 (5 photos)

... 16th, we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. A sweepstakes was set up so that we may guess when we will first sight Tonga, there were some interesting estimates, but the majority seem hopeful for tomorrow morning. We had a Fire Drill this afternoon, as Jim ...

The VaVa'U Group (Tongan Islands)
Apr 10, 2005 (2 photos)

Towards the end of our trip Toby and I decided to travel up to some of the smaller islands in the north of Tonga. Firstly it was pretty cool that we arrived to find that we were being driven in a really tiny plane and the pilot was a guy called steve ...

Tonga Travel
Mar 11, 2005 (5 photos)

... is! Little fact for you there Anyway better stop there as i am sure you are all bored by now. Having a wicked time, loving tonga, drinking lots of local brew in the evenings and meeting lots of other travellers, also with the advantage of being able to ...

Land where time begins!
Mar 24, 2005 (5 photos)

... am almost half way through Tonga and what a good few weeks it has been! Since I last wrote I have played against the Tonga U19 International team. They were practising for their World Cup Qualifier and played a match against the team I am playing for " ...

Good Bye Tonga!
Apr 14, 2005 (2 photos)

... where we went in the day whenever we had a break in lessons or coaching. Kind of like a re-creation of "Central Perk" but tonga style. Made some really good friends in Guy and Will and have planned to meet up with them in New Zealand. And toby as well i ...

Paratiisi hukassa
Jan 9, 2008 (6 photos)

Tongan visiitti ei ole alkanut oikein lupaavasti. Ennen passintarkastusta Aucklandissa tapahtui se, mita olemme pelanneet koko ajan: kasimatkatavarat punnittiin. Koska minulla oli repussani kuusi kiloa ylipainoa, vaihtoehtona oli joko heittaa tavaraa ...

Off to Vava'u
Mar 14, 2006 (7 photos)

... town of Neiafu and were dropped off at The Moorings base. We dumped our bags and headed straight to the Mermaid Bar for a few beers. Tonga Bob's was next on our agenda where we downed a few very yummy margaritas and headed back to the Mermaid for dinner. ...

Pacific islnads part 2
Jul 25, 2008

... 300 before going to bed. Thursday 10th July Eua We both got up early this morning in the hope to see some whales. As it was Tonga time, a bit like Fiji time (nothing runs to time) we ended out on the boat about 11am. The water was quite rough so we ...

Finally, a great sail!
Mar 22, 2006 (9 photos)

We couldn't wait to leave our little mozzie haven as none of us slept too well. We decided to go back into harbour & the Mermaid Bar for the night but would take our time sailing there and sunbaking as we went along. We started off sailing on the ...

Nicht alle Inseln im Schrank
Jun 5, 2007 (14 photos)

... aehnelt, steht hier in den meisten anderen Belangen die Welt Kopf. Im Schutz der 2000 Kilometer Pazifik, welche Tonga von der naechsten, halbwegs entwickelten Zivilisation trennen, hat sich hier ein Voelklein mit wunderlichen Sitten entwickelt. Du weisst, ...

Tonga
Apr 28, 2009 (3 photos)

... to touch the tail fin of a reef shark and keep all his fingers! Here's some photos of the sharks:      Tonga seems pretty cool, we fly over to the Va'vau Island group later today and pick up our yacht tomorrow. On arrival at the ...

Mounu Island
Mar 20, 2006 (6 photos)

... the tanks with water - whilst having a water fight and making a bit of noise (which is probably not recommended on a Sunday in Tonga as it attracts lots of attention and makes us look disrespectful I guess). Anyway, we left rather soggy and made our way to ...

A taste of Spain
Mar 18, 2006 (5 photos)

The dawning of a new day and a new adventure on the water. Where to next? The morning ritual over breakfast is listening to the local weather forecast to find out what we are in for during the day. Today we were set for a perfect day of north ...

Sunday - a day of rest
Dec 6, 2009 (5 photos)

TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS Visit the very small islands just offshore from Nuku'alofa. Better at low tide if you want to walk right around the island of Pangaimotu. A good day out. Ferry fare cheap and paid when you arrive on island (return fare) Eat the ...

Last minute stuff & goodbye
Mar 24, 2006 (7 photos)

... . Didn't take long as Vava'ua is a very small town and yet to be touched by mass tourism (thankfully). We dropped into Tonga Bobs Cantina for beer and had a good chat with Bob before heading back to the hotel, collecting our bags and boarding the bus to ...

Who are those British Celebrities?
Dec 7, 2009 (6 photos)

... , going to the post office to post letters to Benjamin and Rebecca, and Izzy and Joseph. Walked home a different way and found a few other restaurants, shops and a book shop. Not out tonight. On a full day trip tomorrow around the Island of Tongatapu.

'Eua
Oct 17, 2008 (13 photos)

... as we had been assuaging our hike induced thirst vigourously with beers). Birthday Boy Fou had come over to 'Eua from Tongatapu to celebrate, but was disappointed by the number of girls available. I never finished reading Metamorphosis, however I can ...

Hungover, mozzies, sweat & no breeze
Mar 21, 2006 (1 photos)

Had a late start as we were all pretty tired & hungover and after a swim we headed out to anchorage #16 on Vaka'eitu. Once again we tried to sail but the lack of breeze prevented this. This is a tricky little anchorage to get into and the bommies got ...

Ei sitten olla Fijilla, ei...
Jan 15, 2008 (4 photos)

Ei voi sanoa muuta kuin etta ei hyvaa paivaa. Kun olimme Nuku'alofan lentokentalla paasseet uskomattoman hitaan check-inin lapi (boarding passit kirjoitettiin kasin), ja juuri kun olin maksanut lentokenttaveron ja vaihtanut loput Tongan rahat Fijin ...

First Days in the Kingdom of Tonga
Oct 7, 2008 (8 photos)

... some evening eats, and ended up at a chinese restaurant (emerald), seemingly the only game in town. Observations about Tonga.. everyone has a pig, everyone has about 4 dogs, most people have a rooster. Sunrises at 5 am. The roosters ...

What?? No hangover??
Mar 16, 2006 (4 photos)

A fabulous feeling to wake up hangover free! All very excited, especially Rana, as we have arranged to be picked up from our anchorage to go diving. I have my Open Water Cert however, I also have a fear of depth & I am not a good swimmer, so ...

Hina Cave show
Dec 11, 2009 (6 photos)

TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS It is our last day in Tonga and despite the fact that we have only been in Tongatapu group of islands we will be coming back sometime. The Tongans are a friendly people and have been very helpful and welcoming. They are so easygoing ...