Tongatapu (the mainland of Tonga) is a truly immersive destination for your travel adventures. There is plenty to discover, through cultural experiences, exploring deserted beaches, and visiting fascinating sites – while you’re not at sea with Tahi Tonga that is!
To help plan your stay in Tongatapu we have listed some of our top activities and even put together a one week sample itinerary for you!
ANAHULU CAVES
An underground cave with crystal clear swimming holes.
Explore Tonga’s famous underground cave and plunge into its crystal clear waters. While visiting don’t forget to ask the locals about Anahulu’s legend.
Open Mon-Sat including public holidays (closes early if not busy). $20 entry fee.
For information phone 23633 or visit them on facebook
ANCIENT TONGA
Offering demonstration style cultural tours.
Ancient Tonga has a long history of leading some of the most informative cultural tours in Tonga. Learn to prepare the traditional meal, how to make tapa and Ngatu, about the local attire, the coconut and the traditional kava ceremony.
Open Monday to Saturday including public holidays. Bookings required.
For information please phone 25510, email [email protected] or visit them on Facebook.
FEHOKO ARTS
Learn the art of local crafts
Fehoko Arts offer hands-on handicraft and carving workshops at their workshop location followed by a historical sites tour which ends at their wonderful handicrafts shop. Choose one, or do both. Pick up and drop off are included.
Open Monday to Saturday including public holidays, 10am to 4pm
For information phone 7763668, email [email protected] or visit them on Facebook.
KATEA RETREAT
Traditional buffet and show at a scenic location
Katea Retreat run three traditional buffets a week in their hand crafted restaurant surrounded by some of the best scenery! Enjoy their beautiful beach for a pre dinner stroll or swim!
Open for Sunday Lunch Buffet, and for Wednesday & Friday Dinner and Cultural dance show. Bookings required.
For information phone 7744001 or 8776829 or visit them on Facebook.
Sample Itinerary for Tongatapu
Here is a sample one week itinerary for your stay in Tongatapu:
ARRIVAL DAY: TOWN, MARKET, CAFE & HANDICRAFTS
Get to know town with a visit to the Talamahau Markets for fresh local produce, local crafts and your holiday tee shirt. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at the iconic Friends cafe and then pop next door to Langafonua for more local arts and crafts.
DAY 2: OCEAN BASED ADVENTURE
Enjoy a day out at sea with Tahi Tonga … or many days!
Tongatapu is one of the best destinations for swimming with and watching humpback whales, enjoying the raw beauty of deserted islands with their white sandy beaches and tropical fish and for game fishing.
DAY 3: WALK / BIKE, CULTURE & AN OUTING
After a day at sea, relax with a stroll or bike ride (see ANT Bicycles) along the Vuna road path and a booked experience with Ancient Tonga. After a relaxing day and informative day head to the Billfish for an early evening beer with the locals or enjoy a delicious fish dish at Chefs Zero.
DAY 4: EAST SIDE TOUR INCLUDING SITES, CAVE AND BUFFET DINNER WITH CULTURAL SHOW
Book a crafts and land tour with Fehoko Arts, or have lunch in town and then hire a car or a taxi and head East enjoying the scenery on the way.
Visit the cultural site of the Ha’amonga, explore ‘Anahulu cave and finish off at Katea Retreat or ‘Oholei for a stroll along the beach followed by their evening dinner and cultural show.
DAY 5: SOUTH & WEST SIDE SITES & BEACHES
Visit the South and Western end of the island. Start with Hufangalupe (the cliffs and land bridge) and see if you can find your way down to the beach – best at low tide. Next, head west along Liku Road, pop down a side road to see if you can discover one of Tongatapu’s many cove like Southern beaches (best at low tide).
Check out the 3 headed coconut tree, blowholes, tsunami rock, Abel Tasman landing and then head to Ha’atafu beach for a snorkel before enjoying a western sunset. Head back to town for dinner – make sure you try an ‘Ota Ika – or have a picnic packed to enjoy at the beach.
SUNDAY: CHURCH & OUTING
Join a morning Church service followed by either; a day trip to Pangaimotu Island, Beach and Buffet lunch at Katea Retreat or Lunch and cocktails on the scenic deck at Seaview Lodge.
There really is so much to see and do on this beautiful, culture rich island. Even just sitting and watching is an interesting experience. Take a seat at one of the many tables along Vuna road, watch people go about their day while enjoying a coconut at Lava Cafe, cruise through neighborhoods and see pigs roam, observe immaculately presented students heading to school, drive through plantations and be surrounded by local crops and coconut trees or find one of many empty beaches that you can have all to yourself!