Nuku’alofa
Tonga · Tongatapu · 3 m
Description
Nuku’alofa is the capital of Tonga and the arrival point for almost every visitor to the kingdom. It sits on the north coast of Tongatapu, the flat coral island that carries two thirds of the country’s population. The waterfront holds the Royal Palace, the royal tombs of Mala’ekula and the produce halls of Talamahu Market, and on Sunday the whole town goes to church while everything else closes. The rest of Tongatapu is a day of driving that takes in the Mapu’a ’a Vaea blowholes, the trilithon of Ha’amonga ’a Maui and the swimming cave at Anahulu. Offshore islets and humpback whales are both a short boat ride away.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 4 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Mapu’a ’a Vaea Blowholes(Day trip)
- Talamahu Market
- Ha’amonga ’a Maui Trilithon(Day trip)
- Royal Palace of Tonga
- Humpback whale swimming (July - October)(Day trip)
- Anahulu Cave & Beach(Day trip)
- Pangaimotu Island(Day trip)
- Free Wesleyan Centenary Church Sunday service (weekly on Sunday)
- Ha’atafu Beach(Day trip)
- Royal Tombs at Mala’ekula
- Kolovai flying fox colony(Day trip)
- ’Oholei Beach & Hina Cave dinner show(Day trip)
- Lapaha Langi terraced tombs(Day trip)
- Fafa Island(Day trip)
- Abel Tasman landing site at Ha’atafu(Day trip)
- Captain Cook’s landing place at Holeva(Day trip)
- Tongan National Centre
- Liku’alofa Beach(Day trip)
- Vaipua sunset coast drive(Day trip)
Getting there
- Airports:
- TBU
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry