Flights to Nuku'alofa

From the airport

Taxis and hotel transfers take around 30 minutes to the centre. Flights from Auckland often land in the afternoon or evening, so arrange a pickup in advance. Few flights operate on Sundays, and most of the island is quiet, so plan arrival days with care. Car hire is available, and visitors need a temporary local licence from the police, which hire firms can help arrange.

The waterfront and town

The white wooden Royal Palace, built in the 1860s, faces the sea and is viewed from outside its grounds. Talamahu Market sells fruit, vegetables, tapa cloth and woven mats. The Centenary Church holds large Sunday services known for their singing. Small resorts on Pangaimotu and Fafa islands are reached by boat from the harbour in 10 to 30 minutes.

Around Tongatapu

At Houma, the Mapu 'a Vaea blowholes send spray high into the air along a coral terrace when the swell is up. The Ha'amonga 'a Maui is a stone trilithon at the eastern end of the island, dated to around the 13th century. The terraced royal tombs, or langi, at Lapaha mark the old seat of the Tu'i Tonga. 'Anahulu Cave has limestone chambers and a freshwater pool for swimming. Whale-watching boats also leave from Tongatapu between July and October.

Food and customs

Try 'ota 'ika, raw fish in coconut cream, and lu pulu, corned beef and onion wrapped in taro leaves and baked in an umu, an earth oven. Shops close on Sundays by law. Cover shoulders and knees in town and in church, and avoid swimwear away from the beach. Tipping is not expected. Check current UK government travel advice and your insurance before you go.

Ready to fly to Nuku'alofa? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll compare connections for your dates.