General tips, esp Ha'apai
Replies: 3 - Last Post: Sep 3, 2012 1:08 PM Last Post By: gwuppa23
jump to
General tips, esp Ha'apai
Hello everyone,I'm going to spend a month in Tonga with my boyfriend in september. We obviously want to see the whales ( do we really need to book in advance if we're there for a whole month?) I'd like to dive and we both want to snorkel. We love nature, walking, cycling, nice beaches, chilling out, not too many people, don't need any nightlife, love just wandering around exploring by ourselves, hanging out with local kids etc-really don't like guided tours at all. Ideally we'd like somewhere cheap and cosy to stay. From what I've seen on here and the LP PDF we'll spend just a couple of days on Tongatapu and Eua and the rest of the time in Ha'apai. Does anyone know anywhere really nice to stay? which islands would you recommend, especially for great snorkelling? How good is the diving? ( compared to say Fiji, Indo, Philippines etc.. just went to PNG and was very disappointed by diving there, though the islands and mainland were stunningly amazing) I've seen a few places on the WWOOF website which we're considering as we'll be there for a month and it seems quite expensive. Has anyone WWOOFed or Workaway-ed in Tonga? Any general hints and tips of unmissable things you love or useful tips of when the ferries go inter-island etc? Is it worth going to Vavau for a bit or is it just a more hectic ( and so for me ,not as nice) version of Ha'apai?
Thankyou so much :)
1
Hi this is Darren the owner of Matafonua Lodge we have a small resort at the northern end of Foa island in Ha'apai and operate a whale watching/ swimming and dive boat.Although you are here in the busy season it is not required to book if you are here for a month you will have no problem finding a spot on one of the boats there are several operators here in Ha'apai .
Feel free to check out our website www.Matafonua.com
2
Hi I have been to Haapai for a week about a year ago and loved it for the reasons U want to go there. Have been to Vavau and prefer Haapai In Vavau it is along was from town to goos beaches and snorkelling and much busier!There are a few nice resorts type places at the top of Foa. One is Darrens There are several basic but very adequate budget places which is where i stayed. Fins and Flukes also do whales diving and snorkeling and are great. They can help U lots. E mail them. There are lots of nice beaches and I recomment that U go and stay on Uoleva at Diannas Place which is budget but cheap or there is an uupmarket place at the southern end. Trips to stay a the either of the islands at the northern and southern ends of the H aapai group can also be arranged. And U can ride around on a rented bike!! Theres plenty of info on the web. Enjoy ur adventure!!
