36 hours in Tongatapu

I'm off to Tonga for a fortnight in July. My boyfriend is with me for the first week, but is reluctant to leave Tongatapu. I guess we'll have lots of beach chilling time, maybe a daytrip to one of the islands, trilithion etc. I've booked our accomodation and am working on persuading him to get to 'Eua as well. The second week I'm on my own- off to Vava'u to do active things- dive, watch whales, maybe kayak for a day.

I get back to Tongatapu midday Friday (if my flights are on time) and don't leave til 8pm on saturday.... I'd like to spend the time relaxing somewhere nice- any ideas? Where will be best to stay? I won't be able to dive because of the flight, but is there any good snorkelling with decent accomodation- and somewhere to eat- nearby? Can I get out to Pangamotu on Friday afternoon and back on Saturday (I know I miss the scheduled boat but are there watertaxis and if so, how much?). My budget is $60 NZ for accomodation, I'll share bathrooms but not bedrooms, so Tony's is out.

Thanks in advance!

You might make the last boat. It's really pretty close, one can see it from shore. If you miss the boat, head a few blocks east along the water to the little harbour, you might be able to pay someone to take you out there.

A week on Tongatapu is 6 days too long-as you will soon discover.

Good snorkelling on Tongatapu - I have not heard or seen of this. I don't think you will find any.
As a diver I know where you are coming from.

#2 is so wrong.

We all agree, # 2 is right! ;'].

Tongatapu-good for bicycling since it's so flat.

Apart from the historical sites tour there is little else to see and less to do- (apart from the obligatory church service of course.)

8-)

Come to think of it, I write as one who lived there rather than "visited as a tourist".

The Golf Club, The Fishing Club, The Sundowners, and the Royal Nuku'alofa club got most of my time. ;-)

Edited by: Harcourt F. Mudd

"The Golf Club, The Fishing Club, The Sundowners, and the Royal Nuku'alofa club got most of my time"

Few visitors want to spend their time in dark dank bars when on holiday.

#8, re-read what I wrote.

I know tourists won't go there. Don't want them to, but they are certainly not dark dank bars. Have you been to any? All open and airy.

You've been in Turkmenistan too long, mate.

Anyway, hardnose old boy, travelling in Tonga isn't about seeing as much as possible as fast as possible.

I think Tonga is about relaxation as far as the tourists go. take it easy and have a nice time about it.

anyway, the OP only has a day and a half, so why worry?

When I stayed on Pangaimotu they offered transfers for guests, so if you book with them I'm sure they'll send the boat for you. They also arranged a boat and airport transfer when we were leaving early in the morning, great service. There's a nice beach to relax on and swim (better than those on Tongatapu) and you can snorkel on the wreck in front of the resort, which has quite a few fish, but isn't great. The resort will take a boat out to Makaha'a Reef to snorkel if enough people are interested. There is good coral and masses of fish there, reputedly the best snorkelling in the area and only ten minutes from the resort. We really enjoyed it! Next time we are in Tonga we plan to stay on Pangaimotu rather than Tongatapu, it's only ten minutes in the boat and it was much nicer than the mainland! Enjoy, Gavin

Thanks for all the advice! Pangaimotu sounds great- I'm trying to book with them for my last night. Cheers for the snorkelling/ diving recommendations too- much as I love the beach, I'm not a 24 hours a day sun worshipper and prefer to be somewhere with nice reefs or good walking- after a couple of chill out days to start on Tongatapu I'll definately factor in a few days in 'Eua for whales and hills! (I'm now going on my own- long story involving a yacht, Vanuatu and a lack of holiday leave!).