Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

LP book on Tonga

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tonga

I'm planning a trip to Tonga in a few months, and as a rule I always bring a LP guidebook about the area. But the LP book about Tonga is from 2001... Are there any plans of a new book about Tonga in the comming few months? If not, will the 2001 edition still be of great help, or is it all yeasterdays news?

I cannot remember the release date but there is an LP that covers the South Pacific and I am pretty sure it is of a newer date.

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Yes it is... October 2003.

Link

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Moon Publications have just published their new South Pacific Handbook - here.

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I notice Moon also have a Tonga - Samoa Handbbok that also includes Niue - don't know the publication date, but assume it's fairly recent 'coz I haven't seen it before!

Not much will have changed in Tonga in four years though - some of the prices will have, but development does not happen at a fast pace, although there is just a glimmer of hope that some limited improvements towards democracy might be starting to happen!

I am sure that the Flying Foxes will still be hanging from the trees at Kolivai, the Blowholes will still be blowing, EVERYBODY is going to church on Sunday, the Palace will be picturesque, the Royal Tombs peaceful, and the Haumonga Trilithon will look impressive (just as it did last time Captain Cook sailed through).

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I was in Tonga in 03--and even though it was a few years outdated, I read every page of it, and every page of it was accurate to a tee.....I also use LP all the time, and I actually have found the LP Tonga to be the best of any I have ever used.

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