A lesser visited country in the South Pacific, Tonga is known for its friendly people, stunning islands and of course, its humpback whales! As one of the only places in the world to swim with these huge animals, I would recommend it to absolutely any...
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Sections
4
Humpback Whales
Tongatapu
Vava’u
‘Eau
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales were close to extinction only 50 years ago, but since the ban on whaling they have thrived in recent years. Tonga is still one of the only places on the planet to swim (legally) with them, and it truly is a life changing experience. A...
Perfection - out on the boat for 8 hours a day, saw 10+ whales in 2 days, swam with them 10+ times and even saw a rare albino calf!!
Explore Vava'u - Whale Watch & Swim 🏆
A highly recommended company based on TongaTapu
Tonga Whale Swim
A well known local legend, Kiko offers the best whale swim on ‘Eua
Kiko's Swim With Whales Tours
Tongatapu
Tonga’s main island - where you will land. The island has an assortment of views, restaurants and day trips; which are easily accessible by car. A great South Pacific getaway, with loads of culture and positivity from the local people.
The most amazing natural blowholes! They are genuinely HUGE
Mapu'a Vaea Blowholes 🏆
Cave swimming!!! I’ll say no more (so cool)
Anahulu Cave 🏆
Everything closes on a Sunday in Tonga - so this is where Tongan locals come to party and enjoy their day off! - shipwreck snorkelling is a must!!
Pangaimotu Island 🏆
Let’s be real it’s silly, but it’s the only one in the world, a fun stop
3 Headed Coconut Tree
The largest piece of debris from a tsunami ever
Tsunami Rock
A stunning building right on the coast, and very close to Seaview Lodge
Royal Palace Of Tonga
5 minutes walk from the main town, ocean views and great happy hour cocktails!
Seaview Lodge (🏆)
A nice little stop on a drive around the island, interesting and with a great view!
Abel Tasman's Landing Site
A gorgeous beach, 30 seconds walk from the cave!
'Anahulu Beach
A gorgeous beach on the East side of Tongatapu
Ha'Amalo Beach
See if you can spot the fishing pigs at low tide near Navutoka village!
Navutoka Fishing Pigs
Gorgeous rooftop dining with an ocean view, and great cocktails! (And the lava cake oh my god)
The TOP Restaurant and Lounge 🏆
Absolutely stunning - but be warned it might be worth walking rather than driving
Hufangalupe
A stunning beach that’s easy to access on the West side of the island, gorgeous clear water
Ha'atafu Beach
A local market (that can be overwhelming) but offers great handicraft and fresh fruit
Talamahu Markets
A gorgeous building with beautiful stained glass, (currently closed)
Free Church of Tonga
An interesting place, doesn’t require a lot of time
Paepae o Tele'a - Terraced Tombs
A lively local-popular bar just by the ocean
Nauti Ruby's Bar & Restaurant
A local-recommended place with the freshest seafood and a great chef
Chef Zero Restaurant
A cafe in an old colonial building - a great social space, but don’t stay for the food
Friends Cafe
Amazing brunch food, smoothies and accommodation!
Waterfront Lodge
Could not recommend enough - super simple and trusting, and a great price!
Star Rental Cars Tonga
Vava’u
My favourite place in Tonga! A 45 minute propellor plane journey from Tongatapu, this island is more remote, even more authentic and so serene. Gorgeous views and a hotspot for the whales and marine life, Vava’u is a great place to fulfill your snork...
A private coral reef is the major selling point here! Such friendly owners, amazing sunset views and the gorgeous family dog, Malo make this my favourite stay in Tonga
Vaimalo Fales 🏆
The best lookout I have ever ever been to - drivable, so low effort high reward (the best!)
'Utula'āina Lookout 🏆
My favourite food place in Tonga - great food, amazingly friendly staff and a lovely view!
Bellavista Cafe 🏆
Truly gorgeous, I’m not even Christian and I think this place would make me pray
St Joseph's Cathedral
Huge schools of fish in this ocean cave - a popular stop on whale swimming tours!
Swallows Cave
Hit and miss opening times - but often opens for larger groups (privately owned)
Ene'io Botanical Garden
AMAZING Mexican food, fresh coconuts, and waterfront - small boats from the nearby sailing boats come onto the cafe’s jetty and it’s so fun to watch!
Mango Cafe 🏆
Picturesque views from the highest point on Vava’u
Mt Talau National Park
It feels like the end of the world - Vava’u is stunnjng
'Esi o Sālote Lookout
Run and jump into the warm water of this cave (an incredible experience, but tricky to find)
Veimumuni Cave
A super social restaurant/bar that comes alive at night - oceanfront and private
The Kraken
They offer kayak hire, and are right next to an ATM
Cafe Tropicana
‘Eau
‘Eua is only a 15 minute flight from Tongatapu and is most famous for its idyllic beaches and leafy green areas. With the most natural beauty in Tonga, it also benefits from being a popular place for larger dive groups - so if you’re keen on diving, ...
Endless greenery and beauty
ʻEua National Park
Inside the National Park, this viewpoint is breathtaking
Lokupo Lookout
Ignore the rat part - it’s a gorgeous scenic walk to this cave with a view
Rats Cave Scenic Walk
A huge, climbable banyan tree
‘Ovava Tree - AKA Avatar Tree
Quite bleak on a cloudy day but with wild horses around it all adds to the scene
