Tonga Honeymoon & Romance Itinerary: 5 Days

© TongaPocketGuide.com

How to Get Around Tonga in Five Days

With Tonga being a scattering of 169 islands, you can bet that your romantic getaway is going to involve travelling over both land and water. While we give you some transport tips within the itinerary, here’s a quick overview of how to get around Tonga on your honeymoon.

Road Transport in Tonga

Upon arrival to each island group in Tonga, accommodations typically offer airport transfers or car rental companies can deliver vehicles to the airport. Tongatapu also has taxis. Check out How to Get an Airport Transfer in Tonga for more on the subject.

For travelling on both Tongatapu and Ha’apai, car hire offers the most flexibility, convenience and privacy. Get advice on car hire from What You Need to Hire a Car in Tonga. Alternatively while on Tongatapu, this itinerary is doable with a mix of taxis (see The Complete Guide to Taxis in Tonga), hiring private drivers (see How to Hire a Driver in Tonga for more advice), as well as taking guided tours such as the 10 Best Sightseeing Tours in Tonga. For Ha’apai, rely on your resorts to get around (some have bicycle hire) or rent a car.

Overwater Transport in Tonga

In this itinerary, we mostly recommend taking domestic flights between the island groups, which is the fastest and most convenient for most travellers – see Domestic Flights in Tonga: A Guide to Interisland Flights. Note that no flights operate on a Sunday and are prone to cancellations due to bad weather; that’s why this itinerary allows for extra days at each destination, as well as leaves a day between domestic and international flights.

For getting to island resorts, resorts offer their own boat transfers, which need to be arranged before arrival. Otherwise, check out A Guide to Boat Transfers & Water Taxis in Tonga for alternatives.

For all of your transport options across the islands, check out our Tonga Transport Guide: 15 Best Ways to Get Around Tonga.

© TongaPocketGuide.com

Day 1 – Arrival in Tonga + Fly to Ha’apai

Travel time: 5 mins terminal transfer + 50 mins flight + 20 mins – 1 hr Ha’apai airport transfer (see Tonga Travel Times & Distances).

With just five days in Tonga, you have no time to waste transitioning to paradise! After landing at Fua’amotu International Airport on Tongatapu, take a taxi to the domestic terminal where you’ll catch a 50-minute scenic flight to one of Tonga’s most idyllic island groups, Ha’apai!

Ha’apai is often described as a real hidden gem of the South Pacific; 62 small islands decorating the ocean yet relatively undeveloped providing absolute serenity for a private honeymoon experience. You’ll be staying in a quiet corner of one of the main islands, Lifuka, Uoleva and Foa.

Your chosen resort will pick you up from the airport and take you to your next romantic stay.

© TongaPocketGuide.com

Days 2 & 3 – Explore Ha’apai

This is paradise: sandy shores lined with palms and leading onto azure lagoons. It’s what most couples picture for an island escape.

If you feel like relaxing, resorts offer yoga classes, kayak and paddleboard rental and have plenty of hammocks on the beach. Otherwise, the more active couple can experience scuba diving over unspoiled reefs, explore the islands by bicycle or horseback, or, once again, swim with beautiful whales in the right season.

Romantic Activities in Ha’apai

• Be treated to a private island experience
• Experience a life-changing whale-swimming tour
• Explore the islands on horseback
• Have a private dining experience
• Be each other’s “buddy” on a scuba diving trip
• Relax and rejuvenate in a yoga session together
• See the sights by bike
• Test your relationship in a double kayak
• Stargaze at some of the darkest skies
• Snuggle up in a hammock.

For more details on each experience, see the 10 Most Romantic Things to Do in Ha’apai.

Dining Recommendations

For something a little different, it’s well worth making your way to the sandy south of Lifuka Island to Leleno ki Moana (Hihifo) for beachfront dining on impeccably presented plates. Otherwise, more recommendations can be found in The Food Guide to Ha’apai: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

© TongaPocketGuide.com

Day 4 – Ha’apai to Nuku’alofa

Travel time: 20 mins – 1 hr airport transfer + 50 mins flight + 30 mins Nuku’alofa airport transfer.

Although it’s going to feel impossible to leave the stunning islands of Ha’apai, we recommend leaving the day before your flight out of Tonga. Not only will this give you contingency time, in case the flight out of Ha’apai is cancelled (which is not unusual), but it also gives you time to experience Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, which is your next destination.

Hit the skies once again with glorious views of the island archipelago before landing back in Tongatapu. Your accommodation in Nuku’alofa will likely be able to organise transfers. Otherwise, take a taxi to Nuku’alofa where you’ll be able to wine and dine for your last evening in Tonga. If you have more time in Nuku’alofa, see if you can do one of the 10 Romantic Things to Do in Nuku’alofa. Otherwise, there is always tomorrow.

© TongaPocketGuide.com

Day 5 – Explore Nuku’alofa + Departure

Travel time: 30 mins.

Perhaps you have time to do some sightseeing or one of the 10 Romantic Things to Do in Nuku’alofa if you are taking one of the evening flights out of Tonga. Otherwise, treat yourself to an indulgent breakfast at the Friends Cafe, Cafe Escape or Coffee Post before getting a taxi to Fua’amotu International Airport for the final time on your honeymoon.

Day Tour of Nuku’alofa

Potter around the capital soaking in the sights of grand churches, the Royal Tombs, the Royal Palace and more. Check out A Self-Guided Day Tour of Nuku’alofa. We even have a cycling itinerary in The Best Cycling Routes in Nuku’alofa & Tongatapu.

Romantic Activities in Nuku’alofa

• Indulge in a couples massage at Island Glow
• Enjoy an island escape to Pangaimotu Island
• See the sights by bike
• Sit down to a romantic dinner in one of the city’s restaurants
• Get her/him a personalised Tongan gift
• Learn a new skill together like crafting your own Tongan souvenir.

Get more details on each activity in the 10 Romantic Things to Do in Nuku’alofa.

Departure

Your accommodation should be able to transfer you to Fua’amotu Airport from Nuku’alofa. Otherwise, book a taxi from the information centre or the taxi ranks in town.

Remember to arrive at the airport a couple of hours before your scheduled departure so that you have enough time to check in, go through security and browse the small selection of retail offerings. For anything else you need to know about leaving Tonga, it’s all listed in our guide, Leaving Tonga: Departure Tips & Checklist.

And it’s “Nofo ā” (goodbye) to Tonga!