Whale Watching: Not just watching, our South Pacific Specialists can organise tours where adventurous travellers can dive and watch these gentle leviathans play in the deeps. It’s not a life-changing event, but it comes very, very close.
Heilala Festival: Celebrating the Tongan King’s birthday with cultural performances, song and dance routines and floral parades, it is a sight to behold for two whole weeks from June 26th to July 9th. It also sees the Miss Heilala contest being hosted!
Four-wheel drive adventures: Try an off-road tour of Vava’u, where you will see perfect beaches, forests and a village tour of Vava’u.
Snorkeling and diving safaris: Let our Specialists plan a diving special, where each day will bring a new island to explore, on land and underwater.
Big game fishing: Tonga and its islands has some of the richest and best-preserved fishing spots in the world. From trevally to mackerel to trout, it is a fisherman’s paradise!
Please fill out the enquiry form so that our South Pacific specialists can formulate the best proposal based on your requirements. You can also call us on 1300 991 751
When travellers visit the little island nation of Tonga, they get to see the world as nature intended it to be. Long stretches of white sand beaches with nary a foot-print, only 40 of its 170 islands inhabited and cool blue waters with vast coral reefs full of marine life – a holiday in Tonga is a surreal experience.
A three-hour flight from Auckland, Tonga has plenty of direct connections to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Once travellers land at the Fua’amotu Airport on Tongatapu, they have the choice of taking a boat or a plane to the other islands. A lot of people also sail into Tonga on yacht charters, just to sample its untouched beauty. Vava’u is the preferred port of call, with its natural harbour and supremely beautiful coral atolls.
Tonga is very different from the rest of the South Pacific countries because of its long-reigning monarchy and isolation from the rest of the world. The people are devout, very warm-hearted and a friendly chat will often see travellers being invited to stay over with the locals. Add to the mix thousands of years of culture, traditions, simple living and what endures after a Tongan holiday is always the unstinted hospitality.
Starting from the coral island of Tongatapu where two-thirds of the nationals live, there are a bunch of places to see and experiences to sample. First and foremost, Tonga is one of the few places on earth where numerous pods of whales come to mate and give birth to calves. With permission from the government, several tour operators allow travellers to see and swim with these majestic creatures. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Then, there is the Ha’apai group of islands, where swimming, fishing, snorkelling, diving and lounging on a beach hammock are the recommended activities through the day.
In a nutshell, Tonga is no gimmick as a secluded beach destination. It is the real deal.
Despite being a little blip on the tourism map, Tonga has a great selection of resorts spread all over the island nation. It also provides guests with their own private island experience! There are luxurious bungalows in the Ha’apai islands such as the Sandy Beach Resort and the Villa Mamana, which are perfect for couples and travellers wishing for privacy, pampering and time to get away from the mad bustle of life. Then there are family-friendly resorts in Nuku’alofa such as the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel and the Liku’alofa Beach Resort for a grand time with the kids and the significant other!
Browse our partner hotels below or give our South Pacific Specialists a call to chat and find the perfect getaway for you.
Tongatapu and its delights: A coral island ringed by miles of multi-coloured coral reefs, Tongatapu is where the majority of the population lives. Settle into ‘island time’, where relaxation and fun are the order of the day. With traditional markets, cafes with eclectic cuisines, old tombs, relics and natural wonders, this island is a traveller’s delight. There is something to engage every visitor; whether old, young, adventurous, laid-back or just in love.
Sailing, snorkelling, diving and kiteboarding: As Tonga is not on the popular tourism radar (yet!), travellers will find pristine coral reefs to swim in, underwater grottos and caves to explore, plus long stretches of gorgeous blue waters to kite-surf, board and snorkel in. Vava’u’s 50-odd islands are especially amazing for diving and recreational water activities, as its waters are clear enough for visibility of up to more than 100 yards.
Book a tour for whale watching: This is arguably one of the best reasons to visit Tonga. Because of its warm waters, pods of humpback whales come to mate and give birth. With a good dive tour, visitors can get up, close and personal with these gentle behemoths of the sea.
For those travellers who seek a classier getaway, nothing beats a luxury charter on a long-hulled yacht or a graceful catamaran. Map your own course and have candle-lit dinners under the canopy of stars in the Pacific Ocean! For the connoisseur, experiencing Tonga goes one step more exclusive with a yacht charter. From tall ships, expeditionary vessels, dive live-aboards, catamarans to luxury yachts, Hideaway Holidays knows which are in Tonga or are available for private or shared charters.
Check current offers here or call our Specialists for a bespoke cruise itinerary.
