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Lagoon Islands
Picture Tonga Islands  Large Picture Interesting sights with important archaeological areas and gorgeous uninhabited lagoon islands. Click an icon in the Map of Tongatapu for more pictures Buses around Tongatapu are extremely cheap but there is no fixed timetable and usually stop after 4pm in rural areas and 5pm in town. The most attractive sandy beach on Tongatapu extends along the north west coast for almost a mile with good swimming and snorkelling and the most popular surfing waves in Tonga. This popular beach area offers several small budget style resorts and surfing camps. The beach opposite the Good Samaritan Inn is a little coarse and the waves can be rough at times, but this is still one of the nicest spots on the island and an excellent place for beachcombing. The archaeological ruins at Lapaha offer around 30 burial mounds of ancient royalty like the one pictured. The trilithon at Haamonga is the largest of its type in Western Polynesia but still little is known . Plantations dominate rural Tongatapu with taro fields, pumpkins, vanilla and coconut plantations - there is virtually no natural forest remaining. The local Tonga golf course offers nine holes and club hire. The coastal road passes several km inland from this wild stretch of coastline where a coastal trail connects a string of gorgeous cove beaches. However, these beaches are not good for swimming or snorkelling. The secluded cove beaches along the south coast offer fine white sand with swimming holes and the sound of crashing waves upon the reef. The sheer cliffs at Hufangalupe offer dramatic coastal walks and the chance to spot whales during their migration from May to October. The natural stone bridge along the Hafangalupe Coastal Trail is a unusual feature worth visiting. However, the islands most spectacular attraction is the blowholes at Houma which extend for miles, not just one blowhole but a whole series of them along the coast booming as the surf crashed through them. There are few beaches along the north east shore. This side of the island has been uplifted over thousands of years and is 10 to 30 metres higher than the virtually flat west coast. The beaches along eastern Tongatapu have been raised over time creating limestone cliffs. These difficult to reach cove beaches offer absolute privacy except for a few local fishermen. Tongan villages are generally clean with small bordered gardens around single story cement houses with corrugated roofs. Whist few villages are visually attractive, most boast at least one large elaborate church. Tongan roads are very quiet and speed restrictions of 40km are enforced. The tiny coral islands and turquoise lagoon make are the stuff of South Pacific dreams. Snorkelling in the lagoon is excellent with an abundance of small colourful fish and hard corals. Island hopping trips can be arranged from Nukualofa or the island resorts.A typical coral island has palm trees, sandy beach around its perimeter, sandy bottom lagoon for swimming and is fringed by a coral reef ideal for snorkelling. The offshore islands are mostly uninhabited and make an ideal destination for cruising by local speedboat. The fabulous beach at Fafa Island Resort with palm trees and golden sand, great snorkelling and absolute privacy. Stunning Nuku Island was the location for the original UK reality TV show Shipwrecked and today remains uninhabited. The sand bar off Nuku is a popular dropping off point for snorkelling in the sheltered lagoon. Ata island, one of a dozen uninhabited coral islands in the outer lagoon. Although there are no scenic flights around Tongatapu, the daily flights to Haapai and Vavau offer splendid aerial views. |
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