Tonga next month - 27th Oct

Hello All,

Good to see the Tonga boys going well in the Rugby World Cup - fingers crossed, our boys (All Blacks) can continue on the same path to win our first cup since 1987!

I work in sports and at the end of the season, so heading over to Tonga for a week to rest and relax! I have done some search and fairly confused about where I would prefer to stay or what to do - we are on a semi tight budget of $140NZ each for 7 days.

She would love to do some of the dophins/whales and I am just keen to relax/recover - the simple life impresses me (maybe huts over hotels for a couple of days. Is there any pointers on what we should do/see - I have seen a few different options on the forum but the majority have mixed feedback! Places I should/have to stay? Is it worth visiting Ha'Pai or for 7 days only, should i stay on the main island?

Thanks and talk soon!

if you seriously mean spending only $140nz in a week (which is T$195) thats not a lot of dough. Tonga is cheap - but not south east asia cheap.

Firstly you won't be able to afford going to Ha'apia or Vava'u. The flights alone would be more than your budget.
the ferry would a) be most of your budget (around T$100 return to Ha'apai)
b) only goes once a week so you don't have time to get the ferry anyway. (leaves tuesday at 4 - arrives midnight-ish : returns wednesday midnight-ish - arrives about 9am)
You could go to 'Eua - the ferry there would cost you T$50 return. It goes everyday except Sunday. (2 1/2 hr trip)

You won't be able to go Whale watching as whale watching costs T$140 at the very least (in 'Eua - no whale swimming) All whale swimming trips go out of Vava'u, one or 2 out of Ha'apai, and cost around T$200/day.

Accomodation: at the minimum is Toni's Guesthouse for T$15pp per night. Thats the cheapest accomodation in Tonga that i know of, so for 7 nights thats T$105, Toni's airport transfers are also the cheapest i know of, and that will cost you $T20 return. That leaves you with $T70 (T$10 a day) for food and fun. Tonis is cheap, but its also a really great place to stay. I highly reccomend it. T$15 pp/night is for dorm or a private room, if you are travelling with a partner you can get a private double room for T$30/night for both of you - bargain. Make sure Toni knows you are comming so he picks you up at the airport.

Tonis has a decent kitchen, which you will need on your tiny budget. Groceries in Tonga are about the same price as in NZ, maybe a tad more. There is MUCH less variety available though.

Tonis is in a residental area. There is not much to do there. His tour is great value at T$30pp for a whole day, but you can't afford that.

As for going to 'Eua - doesn't look like you could afford the T$50 ferry fare, and even if you could you would need to pay more than T$15 pp/night, which you can't afford to do.

So sorry, you can't afford dolphin/whales, visiting Ha'apai, huts on the beach, or even a decent beach (the beaches off Tongatapu are not great - the best is pangamotu which is a $T15 return ferry ride away - or you can stay there... but not within your budget)

If you can double your budget you will have a much better experience in Tonga.

If you meant $140/day, not per week, then i can give you different advice...

Hello,

Should have been a little more clearer - we both have a daily budget of $140 New Zealand dollars (of $1000 for the week each) - so we are on a budget but not that tight!

Your reply looks great - and is interesting so we can what we can do. The whale watching looks interesting and is something we are likely to look at doing - Couple of the boys at work are from Tonga and have mentioned that the best beaches are off the main island, should we look at spending more of our time on Eua or Ha'apai?

Its quite incredible reading the above - the fact that we could do Tonga on $140 NZ! (even though it would have been tight!)

Nerima lodge.

awesome - you will have a much better time on that budget! $1000 pp is plenty for a budget week in Tonga!

$1000nz is T$1400. Thats T$200 per day, which is heaps IMO. (We spent T$850pp/wk recently)

1 week is not a lot of time in Tonga. You pretty much have time to go visit one island/group of islands besides the main island. If you want to swim with whales, i'd suggest planning around that.

TONGATAPU Is the main island. most Tongan's live there, and the international airport is there. The main island is not that picturesque and doesn't have great beaches, but its worth spending a couple of days there to see what a Tongan metropolis is like! I highly reccomend Tonis tour on your 1st day as a great intro to the country. Its T$30pp, minimum of 3 people or minimum charge of T$90 - but if there is 2 of you, and noone else wants to go that day, i would say its worth paying the extra and doing the tour anyway. I'd also reccomend a day tour to pangiamotu island if you have a day to kill - T$15 return ferry - don't go for the ferry and lunch option, its cheaper just to buy lunch separatly... and that seems to be the way with Tonga - packages are not good value! The dinner show at the Good Samaritan is cool, and good value at T$25 pp (friday night) As i said, Toni's guesthouse is highly reccomended by me. Their transport is great, and cheap. Its clean and friendly and cheap rooms. T$30/night for a double bed room, share bathroom (hot shower)

'EUA: You can go whale watching (no swimming) on 'Eua. There is one operator. If you stay at the Hideaway (which i would reccomend) they can sort out whale watching for you. The Hideaway would suite your "huts on the beach" i reckon... its not on the beach, but close to it. Its very picturesque. you can see pics of it on my photo page
here
its T$55/night for an ensuite room (fales are T$45 - but the shared cold water bathrooms are the reason i'd suggest not staying in a fale) breakfast included; lunch T$4/sandwich - you proberbly want 2 per serve; dinner T$18-20 (T$15 for vegetarian) free coffee and tea. You can do an island tour, whale watching, go for a walk in the national park... the beaches here are OK - they are pretty but not great for swimming. 'Eua is not very touristy, there are a couple of small guesthouses, not many shops or anything like that. i don't think there is and ATM. Most of the roads are dirt. Its a cool place to be riding around the villages on a bike on a sunday with the sounds of the many chuches in the air. I'd reccomend you spend 4 days/5 nights on 'Eua.
the ferry goes to 'Eua at 12.30 from Nukualofa. Buy your ticket on board - no need to book - T$25 pp each way. The return ferry departs at 5am. Buy your tickets when you get back to Nukualofa before you get off the boat (you want to be ready and waiting to buy your ticket when you arrive in port- they have to HANDWRITE everyones tickets and that could take HOURS!) the ferry goes everyday except sunday. The ferry is pretty crappy. Its stuffy inside and can get rough. I'd reccomend sitting outsite on the roof BUT you might get wet up there, so leave your stuff inside and make sure anything you have on you is inside plastic bags to keep it dry!
You can fly to 'Eua for T$55pp each way. it only takes 7 mins and is one of the shortest commercial flights in the world! Since you have plenty of T$, you might prefer to fly!

VAVA'U: Vava'u is 170 miles north of the main island. You can get there by ferry (but not if you only have a week) or you can fly. They flight takes about 1 hour and the view is spectacular of reefs and islands... on a clear day! its about T$230 each way to fly.
Vava'u is more touristy than the rest of Tonga... but its not really that toursity! It has some restraunts and bars and that sort of thing. (GREAT - Ciao Itallian (pizzas) & the Crows Nest Cafe; CHEAP - chinese near the wharf ; TERRIBLE - Tropicana cafe) [Tonga Bobs has things on each night - drag show; pub quiz etc - check that out on arrival!) There are also more flashy hotels in Vava'u. Most of the whale swim opperators go out of Vava'u. Its between T$180 and T$250pp per day. Some include lunch, most don't. Once you get there it can be hard to compare one opperator to another, so i'd suggest doing some research on which one you might like to choose before you get there (ask on here, use websites and call the opperators for current prices and bookings) They vary on terms of price, inclusions, specials - eg do you get a discount for multiple days, or a free day if your 1st trip is crap. It is possible to book once you get there, the only likely problem you will find with that is that some boats may be chartered out by groups/photographers, but you should be able to get on A boat everyday even if you don't book. If you wanna swim with whales, you are at the mercy of the weather and the whales. Allow as many days as possible to go out whale watching - hopefully you will only need one day and your 1st day will be great... but maybe not! I stayed at Vava'u guest house T$45/night for a fale with hot water ensuite. it was nice enough for the great price! Its 5-10min walk from town in a residental area - not on a beach or anything.

HA'APAI i didn't visit ha'apai but i hear its very beautiful - many small secluded islands with small beach huts. I hear there is only 1 restraunt there (but places you stay will usually make meals for you) and no ATM! There is atleast 1 whale watch/swim opperator in Ha'apai - possibly there is more than one. You can fly there or get the ferry (but you don't have time for ferries) Its not as far to fly to as Vava'u - so its a cheaper flight, but i dunno how much.

If you fly domestically in Tonga you need to confirm your flights 24hrs in advance. Thats important as they have a reputation for overbooking flights and bumping people who don't confirm. They also reccomend you plan to get back to the main island 1-2 days before you your international flight outta Tonga incase your flight is cancelled due to bad weather or something. You should book flights at a travel agency before you leave NZ.

Hope that all helps!

Vava'u is not really touristy compared to just about anywhere else in the world, so you might enjoy it. But as indicated, you have to fly there and back, and no flights on Sundays. The nicest place is the Paradise Int'l Hotel, it has AC, best room is #148. Might squeeze into your budget. If not, check out the Hillside Motel behind town.

I stopped in Haapai, but didn't stay overnight. Nicest beaches in Tonga.

Tongatapu. Well, you'll arrive and leave from here, so I's keep it to a minimum if you only have a total of seven days. maybe a day at the beginning, and one at the end, to explore a bit. Maybe rent a car from FAB Rentals.

yes - all that whaffle and i didn't clearly say: choose one island, spend most of your week there and spend a day on tongatapu at the begining and the end of your week!

I highly recommend Ha'apai and matafonua lodge. Beautiful beach, great whale watching/swimming (only one operator so no other boats to 'compete' with and he is sensitive to trying not to disrupt the whales, unlike my experience in Vava'u), great food at the lodge, social restaurant/bar, plenty of diving if you want it, nice and quiet and very very relaxing. As you can tell, I loved it!

I lived in Tonga for 2 years. Ha'apai is not to be missed. Some of the best, most secluded beaches in the world. Two places in particular that are amazing are 'Uoleva and Foa. Foa can be accessed by car from Lifuka and Uoleva by boat. The beach on Foa has a nice upscale resort for about $100-200 U.S. a night. But the huts on 'Uoleva, though nothing luxurious, are only about $15 U.S. a night and you'll have an entire beach to yourself that you'll never want to leave.

There is whale watching in Ha'apai but they don't have the boats that Vava'u does so they are not as successful at it. If you need to do this, and I highly recommend it as well, go to Vava'u.

Seila's is a clean, cheap place to stay in Nuku'alofa. Pangai Motu is an island of Nuku'alofa that makes for a great day trip especially since Nuku'alofa is not that exciting. If you have any questions at all, contact me.