Getting to Vava'u - alternative to flying

Hi - I was wondering if anyone can help with an alternative way of getting to Vava'u than flying with Real Tonga.

We are going to be in Tonga in August and I'm not so keen to book with them in case there are no flights in August...

I've been looking for the passenger ferry online, have found a website that advertises it but no way to book, no prices and no schedule. So not very helpful. That was www.fisa.to

Does anyone have any more (reliable) information about this?? Is it likely to actually run???

So as there will be 4 of us, we wondered if it is possible to charter a yacht or something? The whole point of going to Vava'u is to see the whales anyway, so does anyone know of any operators who would do a multi-day trip from Tongatapu to Vava'u with whale spotting and diving in between?

So far I've only been able to find operators in either island group, but doesn't look like they would go between them. Is it just too far / rough?

Thanks in advance guys

Cam

You'll be flying or taking the ferry-waiting around just like Tongans do-Tongan travel isn't for everyone.

As above - boats to Vavau do run once or twice a week, but schedules are flexible and so must be you if you want to take one. You find out about more exact departure times and buy tickets once in Tonga.
And don't expect luxury - these ships are not cruise liners!

No idea about chartering, but lots of $$$ can get you anyhing.

Regular whale-watching trips for tourists indeed stick to either Hapaii or Vavau rather than visiting both.

Here's a plan I've worked out for Ha' apai.

It would be reasonable to assume that the whale-watching resorts will try and get something going for the season if Real Tonga can't deliver.

Worst case scenario would be having to hire an air taxi to your destination. Ha' apai is about 100 NM from Tongatapu. Using a small six-seater single engine aircraft that's roughly an hour's airtime and two hours including the deadhead back to Tongatapu.

Operating cost is around $350TP/hr for the plane and maybe $150TP/hr for the pilot. Add 100% markup and you're around $2000TP for the one-way trip. Divided by four passengers that $500TP/passenger one-way.

So, for Ha' apai... I'd plan on $428TP return as best case and $1000TP as worst case. Your hosts can probably negotiate something better if Real Tonga is not performing. If that's the case, by August they should have something worked out.

Or... you could go native spend spend 8-10 hours clutching the rail and staring at the horizon on the MV Otuanga'ofa. :-)

Cheers guys

I had concluded that Real Tonga seems the only way to go. I just don't like having no option, especially when I'm hard pressed to find a positive review! Unfortunately we don't have the time to wait around for the ferry, otherwise that would be the preferred option. It sounds like an experience!

H2ooh - you've put a lot of thought into that! Care to start up a rival airline?! :D

camthenomad... you do have an alternative, it's just an expensive one.

On the other hand how many times in your life are you going swimming with a humpback whale?

I'll pass on the rival airline start-up. I never bet against the house... they own the chips and tell the bouncer who to throw out... ;-)