Tonga for New Years

Hey everyone,
My boyfriend and I and another couple are going to Tonga after Christmas, and am staying for 7 nights throughout the New Year Period. We have managed to book flights to Ha'apai and we will be spending our time there. We don't fly in until 1am in the morning, so we have organised our flights and accommodation for the night through Ruby (I can't remember which agency though), and she has organised our flights to Ha'apai. Has anyone had any experience with Ruby, how much do they charge because she hasn't told us!

We are staying at Matafonua Lodge aswell. Just wondering what the food is like - is it value for money (we are students so hopefully it is cheap) and tasty? Also, does anyone know of any food restrictions into Tonga? We are maybe hoping to take some noodles and dried food in case we get hungry! Also, anyone know of how much alcohol can be brought to Tonga through Duty Free?
What are some things that we could do while in Tonga? Is there a nightlife in terms of bars?
If anyone has anything else they would like to add, feel free to.

Cheers for the help!

Sorry for no replying for a while.

About foodstuff:

Under Customs Act Section 21 - you can bring in goods, including foodstuffs
as long as it is accompanied baggage and provided it does not exceed $500.00
in value -you may be required to show receipts. You can bring in 20kg of meat or
less as long as it is accompanied baggage. More than 20kg is classified as
commercial not personal effects.
No fruit or vegetables at all may be bought in without certificates.

You may also bring in 2 litres of alcohol.

Some bars open in Vava'u and Nuku'alofa.

I think that PTM (Pacific Travel Marketing) where Ruby works charges commission from airlines and accommodation facilities.

After Christmas in Tonga.... Everything and everyone is sort of out-of-energy, out-of-money, heading-for-one-week-of-doing-nothing state.

Hello,

I ate at the Matafonua Lodge and it was the best food I had in Tonga. They do some great cheese cakes, including an orange toblerone one :-) Eating in restaurants and guesthouses is not that cheap, but OK if you are not staying too long. Probably the same prices as in New Zealand.

Anyway had a great time at the Matafonua Lodge and met some nice people. Beach is great with super coral and crystal blue waters. You can hire Kayaks from the Matafonua Lodge at bargain price for the day and they are new ones too.

Also close to the Matafonua Lodge you have a dive centre/water sports which I think is run by Glen. Glen is a great guy and is often eating/drinking at the Matafonua Lodge.

There is no might life on Hapai, but we had a great time singing and busking around the dinner table at the Matafonua Lodge. Also be aware that ther are no cash points on Hapai. There is only one other cafe the mariners cafe, but it is a good 14 miles from the Matafonua Lodge.

If you are not good swimmers be carefull in the water as the sea bed is very uneven and you can get out of depth very easily. Also there is a strong tide between the peninusula and the nearby island.

Take anything with a pinch of salt with regards to internal flights in Tonga. For some reason they alays explain that flights are full, when often they are half empty. I just used to turn up at the airport and get on a standby and 75% of the time got on the flight.

Anyway hope you have a great time at the Matafonua Lodge. I thought it was great apart from the mosquitos in the wash room.

Regards,

WMD

Me again,

Hapai has no night life and no bars. Saying that I am sure you will just want to chill out with the other guests at the Matafonua Lodge in the evening.

The main island of Tonga has some nightlife, but nothing great, just bars. Had no trouble in Tonga, but was told to be choosy about which bars to go into. Just use your heads.

If you get a few extra days, do not miss two days at the hideaway guesthouse on Aua. Make sure you book the day tour in the 4*4. This was great value and the best tour I have done for the price. Weather can be a bit crap thee but it is a rainforest island.

wmd, is that true i can just turned up at the airport on the day to buy the tickets and get a flight from tongatapu to haapai? cos this is what i am planning to do...what are the odds of getting on the flight at this time of the year? how many flights a day is there between tongatapu-haapai connection?

When I went from Tongatapu to Vavau it was right before Christmas, and all flights to Vavau and Haapai and back were full in both directions for the next two weeks. I guess it depends on when one goes. When I went there were two flights a day, but one airline went under a few weeks later and then there was only one a day, none on Sundays.

I recently stayed in Matafonua lodge and it was great - good choice. The owners are really nice and the food is brilliant. Best food we had in Tonga! It's not that cheap, but it is the only place there to eat (except for the expensive sandy beach resort, and lots of their guests ate at matafonua for the choice). Sally bakes yummy cakes, the pizzas are fab and there is always a choice of 4 or so meals as well as the standard pizza & burger list.

There is no nightlife on Ha'apai, and from what I saw matafonua was the best place to be at night. Lots of the guys from the dive shop came there for drinks in the evening and when we were there it was a very sociable place to spend the evening.

Ha'apai is gorgeous, quiet and relaxing. I think it's a great choice in Tonga. The main things to do there are - swimming, snorkelling, diving, kayaking, cycling, walking to the other villages, having a look around the main town (not much to see though!), reading, relaxing etc. The whale watching is great but think you'll be out of season for that.

Have a great time

jcyj,

Sorry but not sure on timetables and how many flights go to Hapai from Tongatapu? I think it is about 2 a day?

To be honest it is all very hit and miss and sometimes the flights do not go and other times the flights go early before you get to the airport :-(

Maybe I was just lucky but I got on 3 out of 4 flights by just turning up. I was told to try and get on the early flights as these normaly had an unexpected seat.

Be aware that this is just the small internal flights and not back to NZ or Aus.

If you are really daring you can get a ship there about twice a week but it takes about 10 hours :-( and can be rough at sea.

Hope you have a great time WMD

Hi there

I just thought I would correct some of the comments made regarding the nightlife in Ha'apai.
Mariner's Cafe is a bar/restaurant and is open from 9am to 9pm (later if need be) Monday to Saturday and 630pm to 9pm Sundays.
We have Sky Pacific installed so show all the major sporting events.
We have a good selection of beers as well as wine and our famous Rum punch.

Look forward to seeing you

Thanks

Craig

About the domestic flight, I strongly suggest you to book for the flights in advance, pay for it, and get the tickets issued, and keep re-confirming. Christmas season is when many many Tongans overseas come back for holiday, thus both international and domestic flights are full. You may be able to get to Ha'apai, but you will have to fight to get the flight back to Tongatapu, as other Tongans are trying to get back to Tongatapu to catch their international flight.

I do not think there are 2 flights a day to Ha'apai. Maybe 1 a day if you are lucky.

Also try to get back to Tongatapu a day or two before your international flight. Remember new year is the time for cyclone in Tonga as well.

Thank you for all your comments!

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>You may also bring in 2 litres of alcohol.<hr></blockquote>

We are 19/20 (NZ drinking age is 18), is Tonga the same?

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>After Christmas in Tonga.... Everything and everyone is sort of out-of-energy, out-of-money, heading-for-one-week-of-doing-nothing state. <hr></blockquote>

Would that disrupt our holiday in terms of being able to get transport to and from Tongatapu and Ha'apai? We have booked our flights through Ruby, should we still keep confirming through her?

The flights will still operate as usual after Christmas. But a lot of shops are closed on both Christmas and Boxing Day.

Not sure what the legal drinking age is in Tonga, but there were some guys who looked about 16 that were going in and out of the local bars!

My police friend tells me that Duty Free alcohol allowance is 21 and over. Once you are in Tonga, it seems like you can buy beer if you are 18 and over.

Most of the shops are closed on 1st January as well.