Tonga travel

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Tonga

Kiss the tourist hype goodbye – and say a warm Malo e lelei (hello!) to the Kingdom of Tonga. Resolutely sidestepping flashy resorts and packaged cruise-ship schtick, Tonga is unpolished, gritty and unfailingly authentic. Life here ticks along at its own informal pace: church-life is all pervasive, chickens and pigs have right-of-way, and there's nothing that can't wait until tomorrow. You don’t have to seek out a cultural experience in Tonga – it’s all around you!

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Mapu’a ‘a Vaea Blowholes
Tongatapu
On an especially good day at Mapu’a ‘a Vaea (Chief’s Whistles), hundreds of blowholes spurt skywards at once. Time your visit for a windy day with a…
Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Trilithon
Tongatapu
The South Pacific’s equivalent of Stonehenge, the Ha’amonga ‘a Maui (Maui’s Burden) trilithon near Niutoua, is one of ancient Polynesia’s most intriguing…
Talamahu Market
Tongatapu
Want to see the real of Nuku’alofa? Wander through the aisles at Talamahu, Tonga's main fresh-produce hub. You’ll find produce piled into handmade woven…
Ha’atafu Beach
Tongatapu
On the sunset side of the island, Ha’atafu Beach is a sandy slice protected by a reef, where some of Tonga's best surf peels in (experienced surfers only…
Hufangalupe Archway
Tongatapu
Near nowhere in particular is this impressive arch, aka ‘the pigeon’s doorway’ – a natural land bridge over the pounding Pacific waves, formed when the…
�ѳ�’a
Tongatapu
The �ѳ�’a area contains Tonga's richest concentration of archaeological remnants. In AD 1200, Tu’itatui, the 11th of the Tu’i Tonga kings, moved the royal…
Hihifo’s Archaeological Sites
Tonga
Hihifo, the contiguous suburban area south of Pangai, hides some archaeological relics seemingly of more interest to rooting pigs than anyone else. Hidden…
�󲹴�á
Tongatapu
Honeymooners, start your engines! Fronting onto a magnificent beach, �󲹴�á Island Resort is the most elegant on Tongatapu’s offshore islands, but it makes…