Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Independent multi-day kayak rental in Vava'u Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tonga
la_fin_du_monde 01:24 UTC 21 Jul 2014 | Does anyone know of any company/individual that rents out kayaks for independent (i.e.: without guide) use for overnight/multi-day trips. I would like to spend a night or two camping on some of the uninhabited islands in Vava'u. |
cardamom 00:48 UTC 22 Jul 2014 | Are you aware that all those 'uninhabited' islands are Private Property? And that you need the expressed permission of the landowners even to set foot on those places? | 1
la_fin_du_monde 01:44 UTC 22 Jul 2014 | I would certainly intend to ask the appropriate questions with the goal of obtaining permission when in Vava'u. I'm not sure why you've placed the word uninhabited in italics and single quotes - there do indeed exist several small islands in Tonga that have no permanent settlement, private or public land status notwithstanding. There is a well-known travel author who spent a fair bit of time on uninhabited (and inhabited) islands in Tonga, travelling by collapsible kayak. I definitely don't think myself to be the same calibre traveller as he, but I do know something about kayaking and zero-impact camping. | 2
cardamom 04:18 UTC 22 Jul 2014 | "There is a well-known travel author who spent a fair bit of time on uninhabited (and inhabited) islands in Tonga, travelling by collapsible kayak. I definitely don't think myself to be the same calibre traveller as he" Then why mention Theroux at all? I met him here in Vancouver after that book came out he was adamant about asking permission from landowners before even considering camping anywhere in the South Pacific. "but I do know something about kayaking and zero-impact camping." That won't count for anything if you don't have the landowner's permission Tonga is still a very traditional place and Tongans can be quite touchy people on certain points of etiquette. but I do know something about kayaking and zero-impact camping. | 3