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Provided by: Jardson Almeida
Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.
*this will be downloaded as a PDF.Price
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Telephone
The guide was updated:Country code: +676
Useful Information
Digital Travel Guide Download
Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.
*this will be downloaded as a PDF.Price
€4,95
International Airports are located on Tongatapu – Fua’amotu International Airport is located 21km south of the capital Nuku’alofa and Vava’u – Lupepau’u International Airport lies 10km north of the capital Neiafu.
Chathams Pacific is currently the only domestic airline servicing the Kingdom of Tonga. They commenced operations in the Kingdom of Tonga in April 2008 and now have a fleet of 6 aircraft servicing 6 ports (’Eua, Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou).
Polynesian Blue Airlines flies to Tonga several times per week from Australia and New Zealand with connections from most cities.
There is no public bus service directly to the airport, but shuttles and taxis are available on international flights. Most accommodation in Nuku’alofa provides pick-up services for their guests if you let them know in advance. Teta Tours provides transfers to and from the domestic and international airport.
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Real Tonga Airline
Real Tonga Airline operates domestic flights between the isles of the Kingdom and is the fastest way to fly from one island to another to-date. Even though the planes do not have the best track record in terms of safety and are operated in a somewhat disorganised way (cancellations at the gate are common, and so are sudden schedule changes), the airline remains the primary way of getting around the islands, especially those far apart.
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Passport/Visa
Visitors to Tonga that come from visa exempt countries don't need visas prior to arrival for stays of up to 90 days. Visa-free countries include: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kirabati, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lusia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vanuatu. All citizens who do not come from one of the aforementioned countries require a visa prior to arrival.
All travelers must hold a valid passport.
Check out whether you need a visa or not at:
www.visahq.com/tonga/requirements
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Best Time to Visit
The tropical maritime climate allows to enjoy the Kingdom of Tonga and all its small islands throughout the year. Snorkelling, diving, sunbathing and other outdoor activities can be fully enjoyed from May to October (the driest season). On the contrary, if you are planning to go from November to April – known as the wet season – be aware that heavy rainfall and cyclones hit the island and most of the outdoor activities are cancelled.
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Time zone
Time zone: GMT +13
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Culture & Customs of Tonga
It may seem like, at its core, life in Tonga hasn't changed much over a long period of time, except for the introduction of cars and WI-FI (limited connectivity).
Here's some travel advice for Tonga:
Hierarchies are strong in Tonga, and men are more powerful than women in the public scene, but within the family sisters are ranked higher than brothers. The older sister makes all the decisions and the younger siblings can't rebut.
Tonga is a very Christian country, meaning that Sunday is devoted to family and church - Sunday Law prohibits all types of activities, from playing to working to even doing the washing. Avoiding being topless (even for men) or wearing black clothes (it means you're mourning) is recommended.
The ubiquitous pigs of Tonga are an attraction in themselves: they roam the island freely and in large amounts, so you're essentially guaranteed to run into at least a few dozen.
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Ferry
The MV Olovaha travels from Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu to Neiafu, Vava’u via Ha’afeva and Pangai in the Ha’apai group, depart on Tuesday and arrive on Wednesday. The return journey from Vava’u to Nuku’alofa departs Thursday. Schedules can vary, so it is best to check with either the Shipping Corporation of Tonga or Tonga Visitors Bureau for the latest schedules. If you plan to travel straight out to the northern islands, check departure times prior to your arrival.
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Rental Cars
Visitors are required to obtain a temporary driver's license to rent a car. The test is usually to produce your home license, your passport and a fee. People drive very slowly in Tonga, observing all the rules of 40 km/hr in towns and villages and outside these areas 65 km/hr.
Some rental car companies:
- Star Rental Car Tonga
Taufa'ahau Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
+676 774 6630
24/7
-Me Rental Tonga
Umusi Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
+676 25 736
24/7
-Avis
Fua'amotu, Tonga
+676 21 179
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Bicycle Hire
Bicycles are a cheap and fun mode of transportation around the main island. Many guest houses have bicycles for hire or complimentary use.
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Bus
The buses in Tonga are an inexpensive way of getting around. There is no scheduled timetable, however, buses usually start early in the morning around 8:00 and run until 17:00 and no buses operate on Sundays. It is advisable if you have travelled out of Nuku’alofa for the day that you are on a bus for return into town by 15:00.
There are two central bus stations located along Vuna Road in Nuku’alofa. Opposite the Tonga Visitors Bureau office, is the Central Bus Station that takes you to the Hospital and around the town area. To travel to the far eastern and western districts, catch a bus from the station opposite the Ministry of Education building.
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Taxi
Recognise a taxi by the ”T” in front of the numbers/letters of the number plate. They are not permitted to operate on Sundays. Please ensure you ask for the taxi fare to a certain place before you agree to pay or get on. There are numerous taxis on Tongatapu and Vava’u and elsewhere very few or none.
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Post
The main Post Office is located in Nuku'alofa and 4 more agents in the outer islands. All together work as a network offering shipping and receiving mail, printing services and business services (rely on them for your business mail).
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Pharmacy
Rely on Neeru's Pharmacy staff for a quick service or for more serious health problems visit Village Mission Clinic and Pharmacy, which offers wider services like doctors appointments, prescriptions and non-prescription medicines, health advice, home services (a fee is required) and more.
Neeru's Pharmacy
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
+676 26 200
Monday – Friday: 9am – 7pm, Saturday: 9am – 3pm
Village Mission Clinic and Pharmacy
(Unit 4 and 5 Patco Business Centre), Taufa’ahau Road, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
+676 27522
Monday – Friday: 8:3am – 5pm, Saturday. 10am – 1:30pm
http://villagemissionclinic.org
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Telephone
Country code: +676
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Electricity
The standard voltage is 240V/50hz. The power plug and socket are type I, meaning that if you're travelling from Europe re the US an adapter is required. Travellers from China, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Argentina don't need an adapter.
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