The Luxury Guide to Tongatapu

© TongaPocketGuide.com

How to Get to Tongatapu

Tongatapu boasts complete ease being the most well-connected island in Tonga. Flights, cruise ships and interisland ferries all operate between Tongatapu and the rest of the world (and Tonga’s outer islands). As for getting around, many accommodations offer shuttle services. Private tours also provide a more luxurious way to see the sights around Tongatapu.

Tongatapu by Plane

Tongatapu is connected to the rest of the world (and the rest of Tonga’s islands) through Fua’amotu International Airport, which is approximately a 30-minute drive from the capital, Nuku’alofa. Direct flights to Fua’amotu Airport are available from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, which all have connecting flights to elsewhere. Flights between Tongatapu and Tonga’s islands of ‘Eua, Vava’u, Ha’apai and The Niuas provide the fastest and most convenient method to island-hop in Tonga.

Tongatapu by Cruise

Tongatapu is home to Tonga’s main cruise ship port, which is on the agenda of premium cruise liners. Cruises that visit Nuku’alofa are listed in the 10 Cruises That Visit Tonga. The port can be found at Vuna Wharf on the waterfront of Nuku’alofa. For more information, check out The Guide to Taking a Cruise to Tonga.

How to Get Around Tongatapu

Tongatapu is well-connected by roads across and around the island, with most transport connections made in Nuku’alofa. Car rentals and bicycle rentals are an option for independent travel. Alternatively, bus services, taxis and guided tours are also available. Find out all you need to know about transport in our Tongatapu Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Tongatapu.

(c) tongapocketguide.com

Luxury Activities on Tongatapu

Luxury comes in many different forms on Tongatapu, from land activities, such as playing golf and indulging in a spa, to water activities, such as snorkelling excursions to uninhabited islands to swimming with majestic whales. Other experiences include scuba diving, private tours and shopping for unique pieces, which you can read up on in the 10 Best Luxury Experiences on Tongatapu.

Tonga Golf Club

Want to tee off in every country in the world? Be sure to tick Tonga off the list at the Tonga Golf Club (‘Atele). The Tonga Golf Club provides a relaxing nine-hole golf course in an attractive park-like setting. This year-round golf course is the only one in the entire Kingdom. Learn more about the golf course in The Complete Guide to Golf in Tonga.

Spa Treatments

Tonga is an incredibly relaxed country as it is, but the ambience can be heightened further with a relaxing island massage. Find glorious spas in Nuku’alofa where you can enjoy island-style treatments at Island Glow (Taufa’ahau Road), for instance, or experience the skills of a Filipino head massage at Mia Hair and Beauty (Cnr Wellington and Tu’i Road). Compare spas in our 5 Best Spas in Nuku’alofa & Tongatapu.

Whale Swimming

A once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits in the waters of Tongatapu between July and October. Humpback whales take a remarkable journey from the Antarctic to Tonga to breed and calve. The warm, shallow and sheltered waters are the perfect conditions to swim with these amazing creatures on one of the whale swimming tours available from Nuku’alofa. For a more “premium” version of this experience, Tanoa Expeditions offers a full-day excursion with little luxuries like towels and sunscreen included. Be sure to compare all of the operators in the 5 Best Whale Tours from Nuku’alofa & Tongatapu.

Tongatapu Private Tour

Tongatapu harbours an array of intriguing historical locations, amazing Royal sights, and breathtaking natural land formations. See them all and more on a private tour with Tonga Travel Troupe. This bespoke tour takes you to your bucket list attractions, whether it be the ancient Ha’amonga ‘a Maui Trilithon or the natural water displays of the Mapua ‘a Vaea Blowholes. The full-day tour allows you to stay at each attraction for as long or as little as you desire. There are plenty more island tour guides who will provide private tours on request, as listed in the 5 Best Guided Island Land Tours of Tongatapu.

More Things to Do on Tongatapu

On top of all the activities mentioned, Tongatapu also has incredible handicraft shopping, snorkelling day trips and much more. We go over them all in the 10 Best Luxury Experiences on Tongatapu. For more experiences that don’t necessarily fall into the “luxury” category but are still just as amazing, take a look at the 50 Best Things to Do on Tongatapu.

(c) tongapocketguide.com

Luxury Dining on Tongatapu

“Fine dining” as you might know it doesn’t exactly exist in Tonga, but a casual dine-in experience with mouthwatering cuisine can be experienced all the same. Try some of Tonga’s local delicacies, such as ota ika (raw fish marinated in coconut cream) or lu (meat and coconut cream wrapped in taro leaves). Alternatively, European and Asian cuisine is well represented across Tongatapu’s restaurants should you want to mix things up.

Fine Dining in Nuku’alofa

The largest and most diverse choice of restaurants can be found in Nuku’alofa. Get your dose of European cuisine with a Polynesian twist at Chef Zero (Popua). Their specialities include steaks with a choice of sauces, pork with mouthwatering apple sauce, and fish served in local and international ways.

Dine in or eat al fresco at Little Italy (Vuna Road) on the waterfront. There’s a wonderful choice of creative pizzas, as well as safe favourites. Pasta, steak, lobster and fish are also available on the menu.

A little further along from Little Italy, Seaview Lodge & Restaurant (Vuna Road) offers an upmarket dining experience and cocktail deck overlooking the waterfront. Favourites include octopus with grilled vegetables and grilled snapper on homemade lemon butter sauce.

Get amazing views of the city from The TOP Restaurant & Lounge (Cnr Wellington & Taua’ahau Rds). The entrance is simply an elevator taking you to a large lounge and dining area. As for the menu, choose from an array of international dishes, from tacos to seafood to gourmet burgers.

Learn more about these restaurants, as well as many others, in the 20 Best Restaurants on Tongatapu.

Tongan Umu Feasts and Floor Shows

An unmissable dining experience on Tongatapu is the Tongan umu feast and floor show. Resorts like ‘Oholei Beach Resort (Lavengatonga) and Katea Retreat (Nakolo) host elaborate buffets of traditional staples slow-cooked by hot stones, international favourites, and a Tongan favourite – a spitroast pig. Once you’re full to the brim, a floor show begins with traditional dancing and costume performed with grace and vigour – all depending on the dance style. A Tongan floor show is not a floor show without the fire dance finale! Learn more about these experiences in the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

Dining Around Tongatapu

Dining outside of Nuku’alofa usually means eating at one of the resort restaurants or being treated to homecooked meals provided by your accommodation host. Katea Reteat (Nakolo) boasts an open-air restaurant with carved tables and ocean views. A highlight is their twice-a-week Tongan feast and floor show, as well as Sunday lunch buffet. Learn more about the show in the 10 Best Cultural Shows in Tonga.

For a complete list of recommendations, see The Food Guide to Tongatapu: Places to Eat & Food Tours.