Trip tips for Tonga

I'm in Tonga for 6 days in mid Oct. before heading off for some surf on Samoa. I'd like to potentially find some surf while in Tonga but I have also been excited about the possibility of doing a bit of sailing, or snorkeling/diving. If you were to target somewhere in Tonga where you could get a mixture of these activities, where would it be (Btw, I'm not really interested in staying at the surf camp at Ha'atafu)? I had been thinking of the Vava'u group assuming I can arrange for a flight (I have read the other threads on the air travel situation). Any recommendation on where to stay while in Vava'u? Thanks in advance for the replies....ss

Adventure Backpackers in the center of Neiafu is decent and cheap. Hillside Motel behind town is another choice. But no surfing I know of on the main island, you'd need to get a boat to one of the outlying islets. Not much snorkeling off the main island eiter, again fo to the islets.

Flights are always spotty, changing times and schedules a lot. With only 6 days, it will be a bit tight, as you'll probably need to insure a day on TBU at each end. May be best to stay at one of the surfing places on the NW coast of TBU.

Just for your information, Tonga is hosting the Pacific Island Forum Meeting from 15 th through 18th October. Most of the accommodation facilities in Nuku'alofa have been fully booked maybe from 13th until 20th October. On the 17th October, many participants of the Forum are going to Vava'u for one-day retreat as well. The best option may be to stick to Ha'atafu, whether you like it or not.

We spent 2 mths in Tonga - between Tongatapu and Vava'u. Ha'atafu surf camp was our favourite place - for atmosphere, food and ease of access to surf breaks (I don't surf but hubby does) also fun snorkelling too. My husband also went in search of waves in vava'u but as raro says you need a boat and need to know where to go. Surf in Tonga can be a bit hit and miss - there can be some great swell, but also extended flat periods of 1 to 2 weeks. Unfortunatley you could be in Tonga for 6 days so don't count on being able to surf - but just enjoy what presents itself. We loved Tonga but wouldn't regard it as a sure fure surf destination. I think that a surf camp has opened up around vava'u - maybe check world surfaris website for details. All the best

Thanks for the comments!

i just got back from Tonga today! I had a great 2 weeks there, but it was not long enough. That seemed to be a common feeling with most people i met - they did not have enough time planned in Tonga! I could have easily stayed 2 more weeks... if airNZ would have let me. That said, 6 days is not much time. Things happen slowly in Tonga and many things only happen once a week. I would suggest a minimum of 10 days to anyone, and reccomend at least 3 weeks to get to see most of the main islands.

I don't think there is too many surf beaches in tonga. The coast tends to be flat like a lagoon or a rock shelf with waves crashing beyond the rock. I have not been to the surf camp, but i have seen many Tongan beaches and if you wanna surf, maybe the surf camp would be the best bet? Or you could leave the surfing til you get to samoa...

For sailing, diving and snorkling you'd definatly be best off in Vava'u. We went on a great sailing/snorkling/island tour on a sail boat called the Orion. It was $75 (tongan$) per person for the day, minimum of 3 people or $225. I belive there are 2 dive companies in Vava'u. diving is about $150 a day. You can also go whale watching and if you are lucky swim with the whales. That is why many people visit Vava'u. It costs $200-250 per day. There may be surf camp in vava'u as jay_dee said, i dunno.

If you are only spending a few days there, you want to do some research and work out what you want to do when you get there to make the most of your time. Getting information, such as comparing one whale watch boat to some others, can be hard once you get there. Try and talk to people and get reccomendations and contact the opperators to work out what you wanna do. all the different opperators have different prices, differnt style boats and may or maynot include lunch. Also be aware that Sunday not a lot goes on in Tonga other than church, though in Vava'u they do go whale watching, and i think diving too, on sunday. You can usually book the day before for most things in vava'u, except if the boat has been booked as a private charter for the day (groups, photographers, fishing tournaments etc) Life is very chillaxed in Tonga.

Flights need to be confirmed 24 hrs in advance when you fly domestically in Tonga. If you don't confirm you may get bumped off the flight if they have overbooked. Also let them know if you are trying to connect with an international flight and they will be less likely to bump you off the flight! Thats the advice that gets passes around... but flights have a reputation for being unreliable and stuff, but i never met anyone who had any dramas with flights while i was there. They also say you should fly back to Tongatapu 2 days before your international flight incase the vava'u-tongatapu one is cancelled or you get bumped. You could try and fly straight to vava'u the day you get to Tonga, spend 4 days then fly back to Tongatapu a day or 2 earlier just in case and get to see some of Tongatapu which is very different to vava'u. To make the most of a day in tongatapu take a tour of the island from Tonis Guesthouse - $30pp (minimum 3 pp, or $90) There are plently of people who don't allow 2 days between international and domestic flights, including tour groups.

If you are on your own, and on a budget, the adventure backpackers in vava'u is proberbly the best bet. Its $25 night in a dorm, its in the middle of town and has decent facilities and helpful staff. The Vava'u Guest House has single private rooms for $20, but with a cold shower and not so great kitchen facilities (the fridge is clean, kettle and toaster need replacing, there are plates and cutlery, you have to pay to use the gas burners to cook on). Its a 5 min walk from town, or a $3 taxi ride. The staff are friendly and helpful. They also have a double room for $30 a nite or a fale (bungalo) with hot water for $45 for 2 people (i think its $35 for 1 person - not sure). It gets a bad wrap in the lonely planet but i was there this week and i thought the lonely planet comments to be unjustified... it is Tonga after all. Its basic, cheap and has its charm IMO.

(all prices are in local currency)

i wouldn't be going to tonga for surfing. you can get lucky with swell and wind and a lull in surf camp crowds, but you can also spend 2 weeks sitting around. there's plenty of other stuff to do like diving, snorkelling, fishing, etc. the prices are not cheap. people are super-friendly. haatafu has a good name and is well-managed, unlike some of the other "resorts" that are more like Fawlty Towers in the Pacific. Vava'u is amazingly beautiful and Tongatapu is flat and fairly ugly.

Since my last reply (a year and a half ago!) flights are still spoty. As suggested above, get out to Vavau as soon as you can, and plan to get back with two days to spare. Accommodations are fairly basic, but the big thing when you have comparatively little time is the flight schedules. Re-confirm alot while on Vavau, or you may get bumped.