Tonga advice?

[BSOD]

Looking in to Tonga, and have seen the dive/whale ops Dive Vava'u and Beluga Diving mentioned here (way way back). Anybody gone with Dolphin Pacific ( Dolphin Pacific Diving - Vava'u, Tonga) ?

Is there anything worth seeing/doing/diving in Tongatapu, or is it more of a jump off point between your international flight and Vava'u?

 

[darrennina]

I run a dive center in Ha'apai the only place to come in Tonga - but of course I'm biased. We are at the northern end of Foa Island on probably one of the best beaches in the islands. 2 choices of top quality resorts Sandy Beach and Matafonua Lodge and some of the best diving in the islands everything from caves to walls to pinnacles to coral gardens check out our web site and please don't hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions.
I have a video to share but the forum wont let me post url's as i just joined this forum send me a message and i can send you the links

all the best
Darren

 

[shark girl]

love Vava'u- amazing pristine diving round there! I went out with Dive Vava'uDive Vava'u: Kingdom of Tonga - Humpback Whale Watching and Diving with Certified Divers - Vacation of a Lifetime.- did 8 dives with them in 2008 and liked it so much I returned in 2009. Paul and Karen, who run the place, are very knowledgeable and great at spotting macro life, which I love. Visited some great locations for sharks too. Haven't been to Ha'apai yet- sorry Darren- but I've had your op recommended and will certainly pop through on my next trip to Tonga!

Tongatapu pales in comparison with the island chains to the north, though if you have to stay there between flights there are some interesting things to do. I did have a couple of neat days hiring a car and exploring fruit bat colonies, amazing coral arches and fishing pigs. Just be aware that you have to get a driving licence from the police station in Nukualofa before you can drive. The beaches out to the North West are quite lovely and the snorkelling is ok, and there are some pleasant islands you can visit as day trips (Pangaimotu also has good snorkelling). I certainly wouldn't linger for more than a few days, though.

Where ever you end up, do go to a church service on a Sunday (even if you are not Christian, the singing is amazing), and explore some of the villages round Vava'u- the people are very friendly, and we were invited into the weaving hall to see the women's work.

 

[BSOD]

shark girl - if you don't mind my asking, where'd you stay in Vava'u and how did you like it? I'd seen Mala Island mentioned as having nice snorkeling right from their beaches, but it seems a bit further from town (which has it's pluses and minuses). Also from tripadvisor, it sounds a bit hit or miss since they've changed ownership/management a number of times.

Also, have you had any issues with the Tongatapu-Vava'u flight? I've read they don't necessarily follow the timetable (leaving hours early/late), though that info was from a few years ago (haven't been able too many recent posts on Tonga). Basically wondering if it'd be safe to allot a day+ in Tongatapu on the way back, so as not to miss the departing international flight.

Darren - thanks for the info. I'll look in to Ha'apai too. I'd read the waters can be a bit more variable there, but the two places you listed do seem intriguing.

 

[shark girl]

Allowing an extra day before your international is a good idea, though inter-island flights have improved dramatically. Chathams Pacific, who I believe are your current sole option, were fairly reliable, the airlines before were awful. If your international flight is in the evening and you leave the islands in the morning, then it allows some 'things going wrong' time. If you are working on a tight schedule- don't. Nothing happens on a tight schedule in Tonga, which is one of its charms. At least make sure you have trip insurance.

Mala is lovely and does have good snorkelling; I have visited the island but not stayed there. I stayed at Lucky's Tonga Accommodation Vava'u - Lucky's Beach Houses - Vava'u, Tonga twice and highly recommend it; it is also a bit out of town and is joined by bridge to Vava'u. You can self-cater there, and Lynn's cooking is fantastic; exploring the local villages was great too. Taxis back from town are inexpensive, and Kurt was good about dropping me in. The snorkelling there is ok. Sometimes the dive boat could have trouble getting to me for pick ups at low tide, which was the one down side; I'd either have to wade out to them or they would meet me at another resort. After the dives, I'd usually go into town to do any shopping I needed and get lunch- the Aquarium cafe does great food. It's a popular hangout with sailors working their way through the Pacific, so you might be able to do some crewing.

I also stayed at the Adventure Backpackers in town. This was clean and nice enough. Being in town, you are near what passes for night life on Vava'u, and can hire bikes or walk to explore the island. Vava'u itself doesn't have much in the way of beaches, so you'll need to get off the island for snorkelling or sunbathing. There are a few other hotels on Vava'u, which were out of my price range (but I am a very budget traveller). We picked up some people staying out at the Blue Lagoon, and they had great feedback about the place- the island was certainly beautiful, however it is not cheap!

Here Where the whales sing - Vava'u, Tonga Travel Blog is one of my blog pages for Vava'u- with pictures, in case you are interested. Hope you have a great time, which ever chain you choose!

 

[darrennina]

thanks for the reply bsod email on the way