Vava'u, Tonga Travel Blogs

Where the whales sing
Jul 15, 2008 (19 photos)

... normally use as it highlights any particles in the water. Everyone assured me that this vis (best I've ever dived in) is awful for Tonga, and I should come back in January when the seas are as still as a mill pond and you can see for 50 metres or more... ...

Clouds and silver linings
Jul 13, 2008 (3 photos)

... -off and were oblivious to the view. Then the cloud closed in and the turbulence began. Landing the tiny craft in windy Vava'u was an interesting experience as the plane weaved, shook and bucked around, trying to decide between the runway, sea or a coconut ...

"Island Prism"
Jul 18, 2008 (12 photos)

My vessel arrived at 9, to carry me away over the sea. Jim from Canada and Cynthia collected me from Talihau beach for a day of adventure on the Island Prism. Once again, Cynthia was in charge and controlled the sails, I had the helm, and Jim found ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Whales
Sep 10, 2007 (12 photos)

Whales -

Va Vau,
Sep 7, 2007 (11 photos)

Tonga

Chilling out in Vava'u
Jul 12, 2006 (2 photos)

... with them (an experience out of this world apparently). We also got to know the American owners of a Mexican cantina called Tonga Bob's, which serves outstanding Mexican food and where we seemed to spend almost every night until the wee hours of the ...

The last night in Vava'ua
Mar 23, 2006

... The Mermaid Bar was apparently pumping tonight but the chicks decided to head back to the hotel to chill out over a bottle of wine instead. I did not partake as my fever was progressing nicely! This was not the best way to end the Vava'ua trip for Kellie!

The Blue Lagoon
Mar 19, 2006 (5 photos)

... move on to Hunga Lagoon and enter at a fairly high tide, so it almost seemed like a rushed day (but this is Tonga!). Wow! The Blue Lagoon is simply stunning. Gorgeous white sand, crystal clear water in that beautiful aqua blue/green colour that begs ...

Taking it easy Tonga style
Aug 7, 2006 (3 photos)

... a full and busy boat. We left Tongatapu on the 28th with a very nice French girl called Catherine, who was in Tonga for a couple of months on a placement for her uni course - economics in developing countries. The association Catherine was working for ...

Sailing in Tonga
May 6, 2009 (7 photos)

... back and forth alongside the yacht. We're now in town (Neifau) getting more food and water for the boat, we only have a few days left in Tonga (booo). The weather has been wonderful until today, now it's a bit wet but due to clear up again tomorrow.

Fish. Fish. Fish. Fish.
Oct 13, 2008 (4 photos)

... in Nuku'Alofa for a transfer back to the airport and 20 minute flight to Eu'A "The ecotourist island of the Kingdom of Tonga" (anyone spot a contradiction in that?). Photos to come when I get an internet connection that doesn't operate on Tongan IP

Humpback of Neiafu
Oct 10, 2008 (7 photos)

... and countless ikale, Andy being smooth with the locals and an astonishing day of swimming with Whales. Pacific Humpback whales come to Tonga - not for the cheap beer, but for the warm waters in which they give birth to and nurse their calves. We took a ...

Let the sailing begin
Mar 15, 2006 (4 photos)

... & vegies with the exception of yams and potatoes. Everything else we had was tinned. We did get the last of the eggs in Vava'u we were told. As we had a ridiculous amount like 3 dozen, these could come in handy as bargaining chips if we meet people ...

Vava-voooom
Oct 8, 2008 (7 photos)

... , they have 3 bars, 3 ATMs and 1 internet cafe (here I am). Ended up sinking a large number of ikale's in Tonga Bobs, watching the sunset (not in a romantic way) and swapping stories with a couple (he from Salford, she from Greymouth) ...

Cruising the "Friendly Isles" of the Kingdom of To
Jun 29, 2006

... but decided that we wouldn't have enough time in Tonga if we headed to Niue so we changed course and headed for the Vava'u group of Tonga - the northern most group of the Kingdom. We were planning on sailing from Tonga to New Zealand to drop off George, ...

Transvestites of Tonga
May 22, 2007 (5 photos)

... arrived in Vava'u. Very pretty place, but the people didnt seem too friendly. Maybe I was just comparing it to Fiji, but Tonga overall was a bit dissapointing to me. Only went out for 1 night to explore another anchorage, which did produce this photo. ...

I SWAM WITH A HUMPBACK WHALE!
Oct 2, 2007 (11 photos)

Here's a shot of my views flying in, beautiful reefs. I arrived knowing I wanted to get to Vava'u as soon as possible, the best place to swim with the whales, but I had nothing arranged ahead of time as usual. It worked out great! Instead of ...

Working My Derriereoff
Jul 21, 2008 (15 photos)

... with 50 meter visibility and got my bathing suit bottoms stolen off the clothesline.     Super stormy sail to Tonga.  Enjoyed an off-road cart mud tour of the island and exploring lots of little anchorages, mostly in the rain.  ...

The first real Pacific tropical island
Sep 18, 2007 (5 photos)

... try my best. We motored out of the Pago Pago harbor on Sep. 16th enroute to an island chain called the Kingdom of Tonga, the only kingdom in the southern hemisphere and I believe the longest lasting in the Pacific, maybe the world.  I had never ...

Nov 05, 2009
Aug 16, 2007 (4 photos)

Mounu Island Resort
Feb 20, 2006

Today we sailed out to Mounu Island Resort for lunch. It is an absolute paradise of an island with delicious food!

Swimming by Moonlight at Keitahi Beach in Tonga
Oct 26, 2007 (21 photos)

... dip in the ocean soon turns into a night of frolicing in the waves while the moon shines her happy face down upon you. Surreal! After our merrymaking we drove back to Neiafu.  Time for a hot shower and bed up at Hilltop Hotel. Vava'u, Tonga

Mermaid and Moteli
Feb 18, 2006

Another day of cruising on Cyber...motoring about due to lack of wind was our mode of power today. We swam in Swallows Cave then partook in the celebrations at Mermaid for Matt's birthday. As the night was winding down, we headed off to Moteli for ...