Ferry Fares and Other Costs When Taking a Ferry in Tonga
Want to do some island-hopping in Tonga? Taking one of the inter-island ferries is by far the cheapest way to do it! You can get between the islands of Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u, Ha’apai and even the far-flung Niuas by ferry for a fraction of the price of a flight. However, this is at the expense of time, where ferry crossings have been known to take a whopping 24 hours between Tongatapu and Vava’u, for instance. Is it worth spending the pa’anga? Find out how much ferries cost in this price guide.
5 Tips for Purchasing Ferry Tickets in Tonga
- Passenger tickets don’t generally need to be booked in advance, except during the busy season of November to January
- It’s best to book vehicles in advance, as there is limited space. However, most car rentals in Tonga will not allow you to transport vehicles between islands
- Tickets can only be paid for with cash, bank transfer or cheque
- Either pack food and drinks for the journey or a few extra pa’anga to buy snacks from the canteen
- Tickets are typically refundable, but the ferry company will keep around 20% of the fare.
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).
(c) tongapocketguide.comFerry Prices to/from Tongatapu
The main arrival island for most travellers, Tongatapu is where many travellers get the ferry from to explore other islands, as well as make the return journey to catch their flight out of Tonga. Ferries from Tongatapu depart and arrive at Queen Salote Wharf in Nuku’alofa.
Passenger Ferry Prices for Tongatapu
How much does it cost to travel to or from Tongatapu by ferry? The approximate prices (which are subject to change) are:
- ‘Eua to Tongatapu – TOP$30
- Ha’apai to Tongatapu – TOP$70-$80
- Vava’u to Tongatapu – TOP$90-$100
- Tongatapu to The Niuas – TOP$150
Note that prices are usually cheaper for children aged 3 to 16 years old. Infants (0-2 years old) usually travel for free. Cheaper rates are also sometimes available for seniors (70+ years).
Learn more about Tongatapu in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu and other transport methods for the island in 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Tongatapu.
© TongaPocketGuide.comFerry Prices to/from ‘Eua
‘Eua Island sits 45 km (28 mi) southeast of Tongatapu. Tongatapu is the only other island in Tonga offering a ferry service to ‘Eua, so you will need to make connections in Tongatapu if travelling from elsewhere. Three ferries travel between Tongatapu and ‘Eua, making for plenty of departures from Monday to Saturday. The wharf on ‘Eua is Nafanua Wharf in ‘Ohonua.
Passenger Ferry Prices for ‘Eua
How much does it cost to travel to or from ‘Eua by ferry? The approximate prices (which are subject to change) are:
- Tongatapu to ‘Eua – TOP$30/adult, TOP$20/high school student, TOP$10 primary school student, TOP$15/senior.
Note that prices are usually cheaper for children aged 3 to 16 years old. Infants (0-2 years old) usually travel for free. Cheaper rates are also sometimes available for seniors (70+ years).
Learn more about ‘Eua in The Complete Guide to ‘Eua and other transport methods for the island in the 5 Ways to Get to (& Around) ‘Eua.
© TongaPocketGuide.comFerry Prices to/from Ha’apai
Ha’apai is the central island group of Tonga, making it one of the more appealing destinations to take the ferry to from either Tongatapu or Vava’u – although, there are more departures from Tongatapu. While there are multiple ferry stops in Ha’apai, most travellers will want to stop at Pangai, the main town of the Ha’apai islands located on Lifuka Island. This is close to where most resorts and activities are based.
Passenger Ferry Prices for Ha’apai
The ferries stop at multiple islands in Ha’apai, including Nomuka, Tungua, Matuku, Ha’afeva, Uiha and Taufa’ahau Wharf in Pangai. However, the price to depart at any of these islands from Tongatapu or Vava’u is the same:
- Tongatapu to Ha’apai – TOP$70-$80
- Vava’u to Ha’apai – TOP$80-$90.
Note that prices are usually cheaper for children aged 3 to 16 years old. Infants (0-2 years old) usually travel for free. Cheaper rates are also sometimes available for seniors (70+ years).
Boat Prices to Uoleva
If you want to travel to Lifuka’s neighbouring island of Uoleva, how much are we talking about? Approximate prices are the following:
- Small boat between Lifuka and Uoleva – TOP$250
- Large boat between Lifuka and Uoleva – TOP$1,000
- Resort transfer Lifuka and Uoleva (per person) – TOP$50-$155.
Learn more about Ha’apai in The Complete Guide to Ha’apai and other transport methods in the 5 Ways to Get to (& Around) Ha’apai.
© TongaPocketGuide.comFerry Prices to/from Vava’u
Vava’u is the second northernmost island group in Tonga, accessible from Tongatapu, Ha’apai and The Niuas by ferry. Ferries arrive and depart from Halaevalu Wharf in Neiafu, which is the main town of the Vava’u Group located on Vava’u’s main island, ‘Utu Vava’u.
Passenger Ferry Prices for Vava’u
How much does it cost to travel to or from Vava’u by ferry? The approximate prices (which are subject to change) are:
- Tongatapu to Vava’u – TOP$90-$100
- Vava’u to Ha’apai – TOP$80-$90
- The Niuas to Vava’u – TOP$150.
Learn more about Vava’u in The Complete Guide to Vava’u and other transport to get to the island group in the 10 Ways to Get to (& Around) Vava’u.
© TongaPocketGuide.comFerry Prices to The Niuas
The Niuas is the northernmost island group of Tonga, located closer to Samoa than to the next nearest Tongan island group, Vava’u. Two ferries depart for The Niuas, usually once a month each, stopping at Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou. For the latter, tenders are deployed to get passengers to the rocky island.
Passenger Ferry Prices for The Niuas
It is slightly cheaper to sail to Niuatoputapu than Niuafo’ou. Bear in mind if taking the return journey by ferry, you will need to return via Niuafo’ou to get to Vava’u anyway.
- Vava’u to The Niuas – TOP$150.
Learn more about The Niuas in The Complete Guide to The Niuas and other transport methods in The Niuas, see the 5 Ways to Get to (& Around) The Niuas.
© TongaPocketGuide.comTonga Ferry Cabin Fares
For those who want a chance at a better night’s (or day’s) sleep, cabins are available on the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa and MV Taka I Pomana, which are ferries that run between Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u and The Niuas.
Cabins in Tonga’s ferries cost approximately TOP$250.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
© TongaPocketGuide.comTonga Ferry Prices for Vehicles
Vehicles can be transported to all destinations in Tonga except Niuafo’oua. For visitors to Tonga, however, transporting vehicles by ferry is not likely to be of interest, as most car rental companies do not allow their vehicles to be transported to other islands. Nevertheless, if you want some ballpark figures for vehicle transport on the ferries of Tonga, they are as follows:
- Tongatapu – ‘Eua (Nissan X-Trail or similar) – TOP$90-$200
- Tongatapu – Ha’apai (Nissan X-Trail or similar) – TOP$1,750
- Tongatapu – Vava’u (Nissan X-Trail or similar) – TOP$2,100
- Tongatapu – Niuatoputapu (Nissan X-Trail or similar) – TOP$2,800.
Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change.
More on The Cost of Ferries in Tonga
That’s it for our guide to the cost of ferries in Tonga. For more ferry and budgeting advice, take a look at the following:
- Tonga Ferry Guide: How to Use Ferries for Interisland Travel
- The Guide to Boat Transfers & Water Taxis in Tonga
- 10 Tips for Taking the Ferry in Tonga
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in Tonga Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Tonga Cost? and Tonga Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get Around Tonga.
