The Best Time to Visit Tonga: A Month-by-Month Guide

When is the High and Low Season in Tonga?

I.e. When is the Peak, Shoulder and Off-Season in Tonga?

In terms of the tourist seasons, Tonga experiences three: a high season, a low season and shoulder seasons in between.

High Season (July – October & December)

There is one main factor that determines the high season in Tonga; the whale season. Although humpback whales start to arrive as early as June and stay until as late as November, the best months to almost guarantee a good whale swimming holiday are between July and October. With that, around 75% of Tonga’s international arrivals are between July and October.

Furthermore, the high season falls during the southern hemisphere’s winter season, coinciding with it being the coldest months in New Zealand and Australia where most travellers to Tonga are visiting from. Being in the middle of the dry season, it’s also a favourable time for travellers wanting to avoid the rain as much as possible while temperatures are warm.

December is also included in the high season months, as there is a lot of travel to the country during the Christmas period for locals, who use a lot of tourism services during this time.

Low Season (January – April)

After the Christmas holidays, the tourism industry in Tonga is at its quietest in terms of tourist numbers. Although temperatures are at their highest, the higher likelihood of rain puts many travellers off. Check out more benefits of visiting in the least-popular season in the 10 Reasons to Travel in the Low Season in Tonga.

Shoulder Seasons (May, June & November)

The shoulder seasons are all the months in between the low and high seasons. These months tend to experience the best of both seasons: weather that’s warm but not too humid nor too cold, less rain than in the wet season yet fewer tourists than in the high season, etc. Although the shoulder seasons are not good for whale swimming, they are good for just about anything else you might like to do in Tonga. In our opinion, the shoulder seasons are the best time to travel to Tonga.

The Best Months to Visit Tonga for the Best Weather

Weather plays a huge role in many of our minds for determining the best time to visit Tonga. There are two seasons you need to be aware of: the dry/winter season (May to October) and the wet/summer season (November to April).

Skip the next bit and just check out Tonga Weather, Seasons & Climate + Weather by Month to get a full rundown of the weather. Otherwise here’s a quick overview of Tonga’s weather month by month.

The Wet Season (Summer)

Months: November, December, January, February, March and April
Tourist Season: Low season
Temperature: 23-31°C (74-88°F)
Rainfall per month: 210 mm (8.3 in)

About The Wet Season in Tonga

The “Wet Season” can’t help but conjure up damp and dreary images ruining your tropical getaway, but it sounds worse than it is. Although Tonga’s summer season is the wettest and most humid time of the year, there’s always sunshine in between the heavy bursts of rain. The wet season is the quietest time to visit Tonga, resulting in very few tourists, lower airfares and often unmissable accommodation deals. International and domestic flights, however, do become busy and expensive around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays so either book in advance or avoid this short period.

The Best Places to Visit in the Wet Season

While just about everywhere in Tonga is great to visit in the wet season, often feeling like you have the whole place to yourself, staying around Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu, is advised if you have limited time in Tonga, as travel schedules to the outer islands and unpredictable in rainy weather. Learn more about our recommended places to visit in Tonga in the wet season in the list of island groups (and the links to their guides) in the following list:

• Nuku’alofa
• Tongatapu
• ‘Eua 

For more great places to visit, check out The Best Islands to Visit in Tonga.

November Weather

Temperature: 30°C/86°F in the day, 21°C/70°F at night
Sea temperature: 25°C/78°F
Rainfall: 123 mm/4.8 in
See the Tonga Weather in November for a full guide.

Why Visit in November

• See flying foxes becoming more active, especially around Tongatapu
• The fishing is at its best
• Often affordable rates for flights and accommodation.

December Weather

Temperature: 30°C/86°F in the day, 22°C/73°F at night
Sea temperature: 27°C/80°F
Rainfall: 175 mm/6.9 in
See Tonga Weather in December for a full guide.

Why Visit in December

• Experience wonderful singing and a lively community atmosphere at one of the Christmas church masses
• The islands are busier with locals than tourists providing the most authentic cultural experience
• It’s often a time that you can get off work to visit Tonga!

January Weather

Temperature: 30°C/86°F in the day, 23°C/74°F at night
Sea temperature: 28°C/82°F
Rainfall: 174 mm/6.9 in
See Tonga Weather in January for a full guide.

Why Visit in January

• Check out how Tonga celebrates New Year
• Due to the hot weather, the water feels all the more refreshing for snorkelling
• Airfares decrease around mid-January.

February Weather

Temperature: 31°C/88°F in the day, 24°C/75°F at night
Sea temperature: 28°C/83°F
Rainfall: 210 mm/8.3 in
See Tonga Weather in February for a full guide.

Why Visit in February

• The water feels good for swimming, snorkelling, diving and more!
• Visit attractions where you’re likely to be the only one there
• The accommodations that are open are known to do good deals, while airfares can also more affordable.

March Weather

Temperature: 31°C/88°F in the day, 23°C/74°F at night
Sea temperature: 28°C/83°F
Rainfall: 206 mm/8.1 in
See Tonga Weather in March for a full guide.

Why Visit in March

• Experience a tropical storm, which is usually short-lived by fun to watch
• Enjoy the quiet time
• Get good off-season deals in March.

April Weather in Tonga

Temperature: 30°C/86°F in the day, 22°C/69°F at night
Sea temperature: 28°C/82°F
Rainfall: 165mm/6.5″

For more in-depth information, see Tonga Weather in April.

Why Visit in April

• Experience the beautiful singing of the locals at a church service around Easter
• Tranquil island holidays are easy to find
• Holiday costs are still affordable.

The Dry Season (Winter)

Months: May, June, July, August, September and October
Tourist Season: Shoulder and high season
Temperature: 19-29°C (66-84°F)
Rainfall per month: 110 mm (3.9 in)

About the Dry Season in Tonga

The dry season is the most appealing time for many travellers to come to Tonga, due to this season typically having the least amount of rainfall, comfortable temperatures, and having some seasonal activities available. However, that’s not to say that it doesn’t rain at all in the dry season, so it’s best to set expectations right to avoid your spirits being “dampened”. Because it is the most popular time to visit Tonga, airfares and accommodation rates tend to be at their highest, especially from July to October when the whale season is in full swing. Earlier and later in the dry season (i.e. the shoulder season) is when you will start to see airfares decreasing and the tourist numbers dwindling.

The Best Places to Visit in the Dry Season

Honestly, all of the island groups are good to visit in Tonga during the dry season, especially as it never feels too crowded in the islands. But in contrast to the wet season, flights are less likely to be cancelled to the outer islands and ferry journies are more comfortable. So with that in mind, it is a good idea to explore some of Tonga’s middle and northern islands. Learn more about these islands in the list and links to their guides below:

• Ha’apai
• Vava’u
• The Niuas

For more great places to visit, check out The Best Islands to Visit in Tonga.

May Weather

Temperature: 30°C/86°F in the day, 20°C/68°F at night
Sea temperature: 27°C/80°F
Rainfall: 111 mm/4.4 in
See Tonga Weather in May for a full guide.

Why Visit in May

• Experience the benefits of both the wet and dry seasons: warm, sunny but not too humid
• Some of the seasonal resorts start to reopen, giving you more island resort options
• The trade winds pick up for some fun sailing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.

June Weather in Tonga

Temperature: 29°C/84°F in the day, 20°C/67°F at night
Sea temperature: 26°C/78°F
Rainfall: 95 mm/3.7 in
See Tonga Weather in June for a full guide.

Why Visit in June

• The waters are clear for amazing snorkelling and scuba diving
• Catch the vibrant annual Heilala Festival at the end of June
• Experience a tranquil time at Tonga’s outer islands before the tourist crowds arrive.

July Weather

Temperature: 29°C/84°F in the day, 18°C/65°F at night
Sea temperature: 25°C/76°F
Rainfall: 95 mm/3.7 in
See Tonga Weather in July for a full guide.

Why Visit in July

• Get a taste of the Tongan culture at the Heilala Festival
• The whale season begins, making it possible to swim with whales
• It’s cool enough to enjoy activities like hiking, especially in ‘Eua, comfortably.

August Weather

Temperature: 29°C/84°F in the day, 18°C/65°F at night
Sea temperature: 24°C/75°F
Rainfall: 117 mm/4.6 in
See Tonga Weather in August for a full guide.

Why Visit in August

• Whale watching and swimming are available
• Snorkel in clear waters (and scuba dive with operators where available)
• Beachcomb, see the sights and enjoy everything that The Kingdom of Tonga has to offer!

September Weather

Temperature: 29°C/84°F in the day, 19°C/66°F at night
Sea temperature: 24°C/75°F
Rainfall: 122 mm/4.8 in
See Tonga Weather in September for a full guide.

Why Visit in September

• Check out events the Vava’u Blue Water Festival or Faka-Sepitema
• The best month for whale interactions
• Fishing for marlin is particularly good at this time of the year.

October Weather

Temperature: 29°C/84°F in the day, 20°C/67°F at night
Sea temperature: 25°C/78°F
Rainfall: 128 mm/5 in
See Tonga Weather in October for a full guide.

Why Visit in October

• Enjoy the dry weather with fewer tourists
• Catch some last whale swimming tours
• Sailing, windsurfing, snorkelling, diving, fishing and hiking are all good at this time of the year.

The Best Time to Visit Tonga for Seasonal Activities

If you’re visiting Tonga with the intention of doing a particular activity, then be sure to research the best seasons to do it! Whale watching, scuba diving, kitesurfing, surfing, fishing, events and festivals all have “seasonal” elements.

The Best Time to See Whales in Tonga

The whale season in Tonga is between July and October. It is possible, however, to see humpback whales as early as June and as late as November. See our complete guide, When is the Whale Season in Tonga + Best Months for more details on the best time for swimming with whales.

The Best Time for Kitesurfing (Kiteboarding) in Tonga

The best time for kitesurfing in Tonga is during the trade wind season between May and September. With steady low-pressure systems on the tropical belt, however, kitesurfing can be enjoyed all year round in Tonga. Head to The Guide to Kitesurfing in Tonga for our full guide!

The Best Time for Scuba Diving in Tonga

There’s good scuba diving in Tonga all year round, but winter (April to October) tends to be more favourable for visibility due to less rainfall and therefore less surface runoff. However, more scuba diving operators are available between November and June – otherwise, many stop scuba operations for whale swimming. See The Best Time to Dive in Tonga for a comparison between diving in winter and summer.

The Best Time for Fishing in Tonga

Again, there’s never a bad time to go fishing in Tonga. There are, however, better months than others if you are targeting a particular game species:

• Blue Marlin – June to December
• Black Marlin – June to September
• Pacific Sailfish – June to March
• Wahoo – August to November
• Mahimahi – June to February
• Yellowfin Tuna – August to February
• Skipjack Tuna – May to January
• Dogtooth Tuna – July to January
• Barracuda – June to September
• Giant Trevally – July to March
• Spanish Mackeral – July to October
• Kawakawa – July to March
• Coral Trout – July to October and January to April.

Anything that is not on the list is safe to assume it can be caught year-round. Check out The Best Time of Year for Fishing in Tonga for our full fishing analysis.

The Best Time for Events and Festivals in Tonga

To attend cultural events in Tonga, you’ll need to time your trip at particular times of the year. Of course, dates change yearly, but the approximate months for popular events and festivals are:

• Heilala Festival – End of June/Beginning of July
• Vava’u Blue Water Festival – September
• Faka-Sepitema – September
• Tonga Day – November 4
• Easter – March/April

Learn more about each of these events in the 10 Biggest Festivals in Tonga. Plus, check out the upcoming dates for this year in The Top Events & Festivals in Tonga.

The Cheapest Time to Visit Tonga

If you’re on a bit of a budget, travelling in the right season can help reduce some costs.

The Best Time to Visit Tonga for Cheap Accommodation

The biggest saving you can make is on the nightly rate of accommodation if you stay during the shoulder or low season – usually anywhere between November and June, especially for accommodations in Vava’u and resort-style accommodation on ‘Eua, with many adopting dynamic pricing. Otherwise, you’ll find that most accommodations across Tonga’s other islands keep consistent pricing throughout the year.

The Best Time to Fly to Tonga

The best time to fly to Tonga for cheaper flights is late-January to March if coming from the southern hemisphere – typically for the direct flights we list in Which Airlines Fly Directly to Tonga? If coming from the northern hemisphere, you’re more likely to find cheaper airfares to Tonga between October to November or March to June. All of this is explained in more detail in How to Book a Cheap Flight to Tonga.

4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Time to Visit Tonga

1. The Weather

Let’s be honest, you’re not planning a tropical getaway to be cold and miserable. Luckily, Tonga happens to be warm all year round, but there are seasons with higher rainfall and humidity. Therefore, the season for your desired weather might be worth thinking about before you book your flight.

2. How Busy it is

Tonga never really feels too “crowded”, especially as most accommodations across the islands are boutique and tours are in small groups. While that’s definitely one of the charms of Tonga, it also means that accommodations and tours can be booked up quickly! Check out the guide below to see when the tourist high and low seasons are.

3. The Cost

Airlines and even some accommodation providers know when most tourists want to visit Tonga, and they are not afraid to take advantage of this with their prices. If you’re on a budget, you might want to consider visiting Tonga in its low season.

4. The Activities

While many activities can be done year-round in Tonga, there are times of the year that are better than others for a selected few. For instance, whale watching and swimming tours only operate from July to October when humpback whales are in Tonga’s waters. This is one of the main reasons many travellers go to Tonga, which means that some accommodations close down outside of the whale season when there are very few tourists – especially in Vava’u and Ha’apai.