A Guide to Ferry Transport in Tonga
Tonga is a nation of 169 islands, so to really experience it you’re going to need to do some island-hopping. One of the cheapest ways to do that is to take the ferry. Taking the ferry in Tonga is often one of the most memorable experiences in The Kingdom; a lengthy voyage on a ferry transporting both passengers and cargo. In this guide to travelling Tonga by ferry, we go through the ferry experience, routes, schedules and more.
5 Quick Tips for Taking the Ferry in Tonga
- Keep ahold of your ticket for the entire journey; some ferry services require tickets to be checked when departing the ferry, as well as when getting on
- Check and double-check the ferry schedules! They can even change on the day of departure
- Ferry journeys are lengthy, from 2 hours to 24 hours! Pack supplies for the journey
- Cabins are available to book on the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa and MV Taka I Pomana for a more comfortable night’s rest
- Most car rental companies will not allow you to transport vehicles between islands.
And that’s not all! For more ferry tips, see the 10 Tips for Taking the Ferry in Tonga (as soon as you’re done reading this article, of course).
© TongaPocketGuide.comWhat are the Ferries Like in Tonga?
The majority of interisland ferries in Tonga are either slow cargo-style ships or barge ferries. Here’s a quick rundown of what it’s like to take the ferry in Tonga.
Tonga Ferry Companies and Boats Overview
Tonga has several ferries operated by several companies. Needless to say, knowing who is who can be a little confusing so here is a quick overview of who each ferry company in Tonga is, which boats they operate, and which destinations they serve:
- Eua Sea Transport Co. (ETSC) – MV ‘Onemoto and MV Maui – Tongatapu and ‘Eua
- Malau Shipping – MV Malau – Tongatapu and ‘Eua
- Tofa Ramsay Shipping – MV Taka I Pomana and MV Vaomapa – Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u and ‘Eua
- Friendly Island Shipping Agency (FISA) – MV ‘Otuanga’ofa and MV Niuvakai – Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u and The Niuas.
© TongaPocketGuide.comFerry Facilities in Tonga
Different ferries have different facilities. The barge ferries that are mostly used to service between Tongatapu and ‘Eua, as well as the occasional return journey to Ha’apai, have facilities such as toilets, indoor seating areas and outdoor decks, as well as a canteen selling snacks like pies, noodles, snacks and drinks.
Ferries taking longer journeys to Ha’apai, Vava’u and The Niuas have additional facilities, such as showers which are typically no extra charge to use. Cabins with beds are also available for an additional fee – see How Much Do Ferries Cost in Tonga?
All ferries can transport vehicles and cargo. Note, however, that most car rental companies do not allow vehicles to be transported between islands.
Finally, there are crates for check-in baggage. You can have one 7 kg (15 lbs) carry-on bag onboard. However, you will need to check in any larger/heavier bags or items before boarding.
The Price of Ferries in Tonga
Ferries are by far the cheapest way to get between the island groups in Tonga. Tickets must be bought at ticket offices (or under the marquee at the wharf, as is the case on ‘Eua) before departure. You typically do not need to book too far in advance for passenger tickets, except November, December and January which are the busiest months for ferry travel. Bookings can generally be made over the phone or on Facebook Messenger. Ferry tickets can only be paid by cash, cheque or bank transfer.
For typical ferry fares, head over to our complete guide, How Much Do Ferries Cost in Tonga?
© TongaPocketGuide.comFerry Routes and Durations in Tonga
So where can you travel to in Tonga by ferry? Regular ferry services run between Tongatapu and ‘Eua. Ferries also run between Tongatapu and Vava’u, stopping at islands in Ha’apai along the way. Finally, a ferry occasionally runs between Tongatapu, Vava’u and The Niuas.
Where Can You Take the Ferry in Tonga?
Ferries move between Tonga’s five island groups, stopping by multiple destinations in the island groups of Ha’apai and The Niuas. The ferry ports in Tonga are as follows:
- Tongatapu – Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Wharf, Nuku’alofa.
- Ha’apai – Taufa’ahau Wharf, Pangai on Lifuka Island.
Other islands in Ha’apai include Nomuka, Tungua, Matuku, Ha’afeva and Uiha. - Vava’u – Halaevalu Wharf, Neiafu on ‘Utu Vava’u Island
- ‘Eua – Nafanua Wharf, ‘Ohonua.
- The Niuas – Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.
Learn about the different island groups in The Best Islands to Visit in Tonga.
How Long Does it Take to Take the Ferry in Tonga?
Taking the ferry in Tonga is a long journey, best suited to travellers who have plenty of time to visit Tonga. The durations of ferry trips are as follows:
- Tongatapu – ‘Eua: 2 hours – 2 hrs 30 mins
- Tongatapu – Ha’apai: 13-14 hours
- Ha’apai – Vava’u: 7-10 hours
- Vava’u – Niuatoputapu: 16 hours
- Niuatoputapu – Niuafo’ou: 12 hours
- Niuafo’ou – Vava’u: 24 hours.
For more travel times to be aware of, check out How Long Does it Take to Travel Around Tonga?
© TongaPocketGuide.comTonga Ferry Schedules
Ferries run on ever-changing schedules in Tonga, where up-to-date schedules can be found at the Visitor Information Centres in Tonga, as well as on the Facebook Pages of the ferry companies.
Ferries in Tonga operate from Monday to Saturday. Ferries do not operate on a Sunday under Tongan law.
When planning to travel by any one of the ferries, double-check the ferry schedule the day before travel. It’s also worth calling the ferry company for an up-to-date departure time on the day of travel, as ferries tend to depart, well, whenever they want. This has left many first-time ferry travellers behind, so don’t get caught out!
The phone numbers for each ferry company are as follows:
- Tofa Ramsay Shipping – Nuku’alofa 7725972/8725970, Vava’u 7512814/8725973, Ha’apai 7715001/8615143, ‘Eua 7702269/8776541
- FISA – +676 23853
- ESTC – 7709202
- Malau Shipping – Nuku’alofa 7763950, ‘Eua 7713367.
Oh, and for more information about getting a local SIM card, check out The Best SIM Card in Tonga For Travellers.
Where to Find Ticket Offices in Tonga
Another way to find ferry schedules, as well as to buy ferry tickets, is to visit the ferry ticket offices. Offices in Nuku’alofa (Tongatapu) are located across various buildings at Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf and tend to be open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and until 12/1 pm on Saturday.
Meanwhile, ticket offices at the wharves on the outer islands tend to only open an hour or so before a scheduled ferry arrival. Malau Shipping on ‘Eua also has an office open on weekdays at Malau Hall, Angaha.
For more boat transport tips, see the 10 Tips for Taking the Ferry in Tonga.
© TongaPocketGuide.comHow to Take the Ferry to ‘Eua
‘Eua Sea Transportation Council (ESTC), Tofa Ramsay Shipping and Malau Shipping have ferries departing from Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf in Nuku’alofa. The Nuku’alofa ferry ticket offices for the ‘Eua ferries can be found at the western end of Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf in the two buildings opposite the large modern building.
Journeys between Tongatapu and ‘Eua are approximately two hours. The latest ferry costs for passengers and vehicles can be found in How Much Do Ferries Cost in Tonga? Although ferries run on a schedule, it’s best to reconfirm departure times – either by phone, at the ferry ticket offices or on Facebook. There are typically 3-4 ferries a day that go back and forth between Tongatapu and ‘Eua Monday to Saturday.
Ferries depart and arrive in ‘Eua from Nafanua Wharf in ‘Ohonua. Tickets can be purchased from the wharf prior to departure (keep ahold of your ticket for the entire journey, as sometimes they check tickets when you disembark). Otherwise, Malau Shipping’s office is located in the Malau Building (across the sports field from Niueiki Hospital, Angaha).
See more ways to get to ‘Eua in our ‘Eua Transport Guide.
© TongaPocketGuide.comHow to Take the Ferry to Ha’apai
Frequent cargo/passenger ships run between Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai, stopping at the Ha’apai islands of Nomuka, Tungua, Matuku, Ha’afeva, Uiha and Taufa’ahau Wharf on Lifuka.
Tofa Ramsay Shipping and FISA both operate ferry services to Ha’apai about twice a week each. The FISA ticket office in Nuku’alofa is located in the large modern building at the western end of Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf. Tofa Ramsay Shipping office is located in the smaller buildings opposite.
The ferry crossing is a lengthy process of around 13-14 hours to get to Ha’apai from Tongatapu. Alternatively, it is around 7 to 10 hours from Vava’u. Note that Pangai is further north than the other Ha’apai islands so is quicker to reach from Vava’u.
In Ha’apai, the main wharf that most visitors to Tonga travel to is Taufa’ahau Wharf in Pangai on Lifuka Island. Ticket offices at the wharf open an hour before ferries are scheduled to arrive.
While there is a ferry schedule, ferries are known to run off it, so it’s best to call or visit the ticket office prior to departure and recheck the schedule the day before you travel (see “Tonga Ferry Schedules” for tips).
See more ways to get to Ha’apai in our Ha’apai Transport Guide.
© TongaPocketGuide.comHow to Take the Ferry to Vava’u
There are two ferry companies operating vessels between Vava’u, Tongatapu and Ha’apai, the Friendly Island Shipping Agency and Tofa Ramsay Shipping. These ferries run between Tongatapu and Vava’u, stopping at various locations in the Ha’apai islands before arriving at Halaevalu Wharf in Neiafu on ‘Utu Vava’u Island (and vice versa).
Tofa Ramsay Shipping and FISA both operate ferry services to Vava’u about once a week each. The FISA ticket office in Nuku’alofa is located in the large modern building at the western end of Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf. Tofa Ramsay Shipping office is located in the smaller buildings opposite. The ticket offices in Vava’u can be found at Halaevalu Wharf, usually open an hour before the ferry is scheduled to arrive.
Ferries take approximately 16 to 23 hours to travel between Tongatapu and Vava’u or about half that from Ha’apai. Be sure to recheck ferry schedules the day before departure as schedules are often changing and can be cancelled due to bad weather.
See more ways to get to Vava’u in our Vava’u Transport Guide.
© TongaPocketGuide.comHow to Take the Ferry to Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou (The Niuas)
The Friendly Islands Shipping Agency and Tofa Ramsay Shipping run a ferry service to Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou usually once a month, but schedules are erratic and need to be checked with the ferry companies. Conditions such as bad weather can delay ferry schedules.
Ferries will typically depart from Halaevalu Wharf in Vava’u and take approximately 16 hours to reach Niuatoputapu. The service then continues to Niuafo’ou taking approximately 12 hours, before the ferry makes its way back to Vava’u.
See more ways to get to The Niuas in our Niuas Transport Guide.
© TongaPocketGuide.comHow to Get to Tonga’s Other Outer Islands
Of course, there are a lot more inhabited islands in Tonga than the ones visited by the interisland-group ferries. Scheduled small boats, chartered boats and resort transfers are available to get to some of Tonga’s other outer islands.
Learn about getting to Pangaimotu Island in Tongatapu, Tofua, Kao and Ha’ano in Ha’apai, and all of those glorious island resorts in Vava’u in The Guide to Boat Transfers & Water Taxis in Tonga.
More About Travelling in Tonga by Ferry
That’s it for our complete guide to ferry travel in Tonga. Learn more about transport in Tonga by taking a look at the following guides:
- The Guide to Boat Transfers & Water Taxis in Tonga
- The Guide to Domestic Flights in Tonga
- 10 Ways to Get Around Tonga
Finally, for itineraries to inspire you on where to visit, take a look at the following compilations: The Best Tonga Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Tonga Itineraries for a Weekend.
