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Tonga Accommodation Guide
Tonga accommodation and tourism in general is extremely low key which makes the islands a joy to visit if you are a more sppontaneous type of traveller. There are no large hotels in Tonga. There are, however, a got choice of small boutique resorts which can be found scattered around the islands in secluded beach locations with good snorkelling reefs. Otherwise, there are business hotels in Nukualofa Town and a few backpackers hostels around the islands.
There are four groups of islands in Tonga - Tongatapu, the main island, is located in the south, and has gorgeous uninhabited coral island lying in the lagoon of its coast as well as interesting sightseeing attractions. Extending north from Tongatapu is the Ha'apai Group with its lovely beaches and traditional fishing villages (25 min flight) and Vava'u Group (45 min flight) with exceptional sailing, diving and humpback whales. About 450km further north is the extremely remote Niuas (3 hour flight - irregular times).
Tongatapu is the main island and centre all of things Tongan. The capital, Nuku'alofa sits on a protrusion, looking north over the small uninhabited coral islands surrounding the fringing reef, and south over a tranquil lagoon. The main island is quite small, running about 30 km east to west and in most places less than 5km wide. The highlights are its impressive archaeological sites in the east of the island, the south coast with its cove sandy beaches and blowholes anjd of course the offshore islands, several with small resorts, which is the real highlight.
The Ha'apai Group, about 100km to the north, consists of over 60 islands, mostly low lying coral atolls. The region is very traditional, bans camping and only a few guesthouses and small hotels operate here. The beaches and snorkelling, together with the traditional culture, make this a great place for relaxing and there's great scuba diving.
Tonga's greatest attraction are the myriad of limestone islands and waterways that make up the Vava'u Group. Neiafu is the administrative and tourist centre of the group, with a number of small resorts, guesthouses and restaurants in and around town. There are few lovely beaches around the group, notably on Kenutu and Mounu, but this is not the main attraction. The Vava'u group is a fantastic sailing spot and has several yacht charter companies and lots of moorings around the bays. Neiafu has a fully serviced marina. Game fishing and scuba diving are also highly rated, and if you visit between July and November, there's a good chance of spotting humpback whales.
GENERAL
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| Proximity to Intl Airport |
road =
20min |
road + boat =
40min |
air = 20min
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air = 35min
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| Choice of Accommodation |
average |
average |
average |
good |
| Restaurants & Bars |
good |
poor |
poor |
good |
| Tours & Sightseeing |
the best |
good |
good |
excellent |
| Sunshine |
good |
good |
good |
good |
| Beaches |
good |
the best |
excellent |
good |
| Uninhabited Islands |
good
(day trip) |
the best |
excellent |
excellent |
| Weddings |
not permitted |
not permitted |
not permitted |
not permitted |
| Romantic Holidays |
average |
the best |
excellent |
good |
| Family Holidays |
good |
good |
average |
good |
| Backpacking |
good |
poor |
average |
good |
ACTIVITIES
(click for info) |
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| Water Sports |
average |
good |
average |
excellent |
| Snorkelling |
average |
excellent |
excellent |
excellent |
| Scuba Diving |
average |
average |
good |
good |
| Surfing |
good |
average |
poor |
poor |
| Game Fishing |
good |
good |
average |
the best |
| Sailing |
good |
good |
average |
the best |
| Whale Watching |
average |
poor |
average |
the best |
| Golf |
poor |
poor |
poor |
poor |
| Hiking |
average |
poor |
average |
good |
| Village Visits |
good |
poor |
excellent |
good |
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