Tonga Vacations, Tonga Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide
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Tonga Vacation Guide
Sitting just to the east of the International Date Line (Tonga was one of the destinations for those rich folk who couldn’t resist seeing in the new Millennium twice), Tonga’s tourist blurb touts it as the place where time begins; what that oddly literal bit of promotion fails to tell you is that Tonga is actually quite backwards.
In capital Nuku’Alofa, however, modernity – often in the form of gangster-like clothing – is creeping in slowly, largely off the back of an ever-growing tourist industry. The outlying islands remain a more natural playground, home to blowholes and whales, volcanoes and uninhabited islets. The volcanoes, in fact, sensibly occupy the uninhabited islets, and rise straight out of the ocean at Kao and Tofua, and make for an eerie climb to the still-active peaks.
Eua is still more surreal, a rugged, walkable rainforest full of startling sinkholes that you can jump down into and climb back out of on the trunk of a sunken tree, and is quickly becoming a popular ecotour destination. Another ecotour draw are the massive humpback whales, which wallow amongst the clear blue waters despite some local groups eagerness to continue hunting them (a practice that became illegal in Tonga in the 70s).
Then there are the impressive blowholes shooting blasts of seawater 30 meters into the air in Tongatapu, while water lovers (well, you came to Tonga…) can make the most of the resort-style destinations around the Vava’u Group; great for ogling fish from your kayak, or diving down into the depths for a close up of the colorful underwater wilds. For those on a longer-term trip, The Ha’apai group of islands are the place to escape the sometimes-overwhelming volume of tourists.
Religious or not, the impassioned scenes of a Tongalese church are worth a look, too, followed by a gentle evening on the beach sipping local kava in the depths of your hammock. Having got under the skin of everyone from Captain Cook to Paul Theroux, Tonga’s alluring beaches, watery sunsets and feasts baked in underground ovens will no doubt have you itching for more, too. Bliss.
In capital Nuku’Alofa, however, modernity – often in the form of gangster-like clothing – is creeping in slowly, largely off the back of an ever-growing tourist industry. The outlying islands remain a more natural playground, home to blowholes and whales, volcanoes and uninhabited islets. The volcanoes, in fact, sensibly occupy the uninhabited islets, and rise straight out of the ocean at Kao and Tofua, and make for an eerie climb to the still-active peaks.
Eua is still more surreal, a rugged, walkable rainforest full of startling sinkholes that you can jump down into and climb back out of on the trunk of a sunken tree, and is quickly becoming a popular ecotour destination. Another ecotour draw are the massive humpback whales, which wallow amongst the clear blue waters despite some local groups eagerness to continue hunting them (a practice that became illegal in Tonga in the 70s).
Then there are the impressive blowholes shooting blasts of seawater 30 meters into the air in Tongatapu, while water lovers (well, you came to Tonga…) can make the most of the resort-style destinations around the Vava’u Group; great for ogling fish from your kayak, or diving down into the depths for a close up of the colorful underwater wilds. For those on a longer-term trip, The Ha’apai group of islands are the place to escape the sometimes-overwhelming volume of tourists.
Religious or not, the impassioned scenes of a Tongalese church are worth a look, too, followed by a gentle evening on the beach sipping local kava in the depths of your hammock. Having got under the skin of everyone from Captain Cook to Paul Theroux, Tonga’s alluring beaches, watery sunsets and feasts baked in underground ovens will no doubt have you itching for more, too. Bliss.