Tonga vs. Great Barrier Reef

Hey folks,

We are just planning our honeymoon in September and will travel mainly around New Zealand for 3 weeks.
We will have another week to spend and actually thought about diving the great barrier reef around Cairns when I just found out that the flights from Auckland to Tonga are even cheaper! (And yupp we are still on budget)
We have never been to any Pacific Island nor to Australia yet though we will stop in Sydney for two days and I am not sure when we might have another chance to fly on the opposite side of the world...

We are in our twenties, well travelled (mostly Asia), open for anything, love nature, usually don't mind dirt or exertion for great holiday experiences - though this time it would be nice to have a very bit more comfort and less hassle.

What do you think - which place would you choose for a once in a lifetime experience??

Thanks for any comment in advance!
Cheers,
Julia

Hi Julia,

I can only give you advice on Tonga and the diving there is really great, particularly in the Ha'apai group. The reefs are very diverse and include caves, tunnels, drop-offs, sea mountains and very pristine coral gardens. From common reef fish to rays, turtles, sharks and small stuff like pipefish, cleaner shrimps and colorful nudibranchs there is lots to see. Also, since you're travelling in September, you are guaranteed to see the Humpback Whales that migrate here every year - not necessarily on a dive, but dedicated whale watching trips are offered and Tonga is one of only a few places in the world where it is allowed to snorkel with them - and that is definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

Accommodation ranges from basic, but very nice guesthouses (a hot tip is Taiana's Resort on Uoleva Island, directly on a gorgeous beach) to more upmarket resorts, so there should be something in there for you.

Hope this helps, happy travels!

I would say Tonga is not as good for snorkelling (I don't dive) except for the very special experience with the whales. Reef diversity is better as you go west, so even some of the other Pacific Islands such as Vanuatu would be better. I have snorkelled in Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Great Barrier Reef and some islands in Indonesia. The best was Indonesia which goes along with the high diversity. We visited the Great Barrier Reef and Vanuatu during the wet season so the visibility was poor and I can't really compare. Vanuatu had so much to offer though (including various wreck dives) and I believe the reefs are very good.