Cheap Flights to Tongatapu Fua'amotu International Airport

Discover Tongatapu Fua'amotu International

Tongatapu, an exotic name which means the ‘sacred south’ is the starting point for visitors to the Kingdom of Tonga. This harbourside town is the centre of Tongan commerce and economy and is also the residence for Tonga’s royal family. Less than 4 hours from New Zealand, Tongatapu is the ideal place for a short getaway.

Surrounded by nothing but the Pacific Ocean, Tongatapu has a variety of things to do and see especially if you love being around crystal clear waters. From June to November, whale watching is the thing to do. 40-ton southern humpback whales make the long trek from the icy waters of Antarctica to the tropical waters of Tonga to birth their young. From the boat, see the whales breaching out of the blue waters and submerging with a powerful flick of their tails. The shallow waters provide the perfect viewing platform with excellent visibility of the reefs and its inhabitants.

To get more up close and personal, snorkel or dive in the tropical waters to try and spot the more than 150 species of colourful tropical fish that call Tonga their home. Vibrant coral gardens and dramatic drop-offs are just metres from Ha'atafu Beach and are accessible all year round to visitors of all ages and abilities.

For the thrill seeker, the ultimate experience would be to swim with a humpback whale, but there is also a diverse variety of sea creatures which include dolphins, turtles and reef sharks, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when in the ocean. If you don’t feel comfortable with swimming but still want to see the fish, there’s always the option to kayak. Kayaking gives you the option of going to the more remote islands and untouched beaches dotted along the coast of Tongatapu.

To see Tongatapu’s imitation of the humpback whale, head to the southwest coast to see the Mapu'a 'a Vaea (or Chief’s Whistle) Blowholes. See water being pushed almost 10 metres into the sky when the waves crash in to this former coral bed. For photo opportunities try to go there during low tide because that’s when the rock formations are most visible. If you want to catch the highest water jets, go during high tide and get blown away by the powerful streams of water.

To learn a little about the history of Tonga, head to Ha'amonga ‘a Mau'i Historic Park at Heketā near Niutoua and see the Trillithon, a relic constructed from three coral limestone slabs.

Getting Around

Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tongatapu, is small enough to walk around and taxis are available. There are boats available should you want to go to the minor islands around Nuku'alofa from the pier.
For those who drive, you can rent cars and motorscooters although a Tongan driver’s license needs to be procured with your own home license. There are few or no road signs on Tongatapu so you'll need a good map if you're touring in a car. Make sure you adhere to the speed limit as the Police have radar guns to check.