Tonga
Right on the sandy northern tip of Foa, gazing across at Nukunamo island, family-friendly Matafonua was hammered by Tropical Cyclone Ian in 2014 but has…
Must-see hotels in Tonga
Vava'u Group
For a cheery Tongan family experience, head to smart-looking Port Wine, run by Lu’isa Tuiniua and her son Tai. Sleeping options include original…
Vava'u Group
Moas were flightless, weren't they? Regardless, this newish B&B soars above most Neiafu accommodation. It's immaculately clean for starters, without a…
Tonga
Arguably Tonga’s best resort, Sandy Beach really delivers (this is where the king stays when he's in Ha'apai). A row of elegant bungalows are oriented for…
Tongatapu
Simple, quiet, clean, friendly and a short walk to town – just how any good South Pacific guesthouse should be. Downstairs is a sunny communal lounge and…
Vava'u Group
Just across the causeway a short drive south of Neiafu, this bright white villa is run by an Australian couple (who also runs the vanilla bean processing…
Tongatapu
Photogenic thatched fale (sleeping three) are studded through tropical gardens at Heilala on fab Ha’atafu Beach. There's a restaurant for on-site dinners,…
’Eua
Hideaway is a chilled-out, sound-of-the-surf kinda joint with two rickety rows of rooms, a breezy bar-restaurant and a viewing platform out over the rocky…
Vava'u Group
Lucky's overlooks the water at Talihau Beach at the tip of causeway-connected ‘Utungake. Set up for self-caterers, there are two houses and two fale right…
Vava'u Group
One-of-a-kind Blue Lagoon has a show-stopping position on Foe’ata's northern tip. Each of the five en-suite bungalows here is uniquely constructed from…
Tonga
On the northern end of Uoleva, Fanifo Lofa is geared towards kitesurfers, but anyone can stay here regardless of whether they're prone to flying across…
Tongatapu
Toni’s is a brightly coloured budget complex in Tofoa, 3km south of Nuku’alofa. On the list are kava sessions, airport pick-ups (T$20), shuttles into town…
Vava'u Group
Want to see whales cavorting while you chew your breakfast? This solar-powered resort on ‘Eua’iki features traditional thatched-roof fale spaced along the…
Vava'u Group
The dodgy dirt road leading you here doesn't inspire, passing an old gas storage facility, but once you're ensconced in your motel-style cabin at…
Tongatapu
The rather boutiquey Waterfront is an elegant offering, with neat gardens and Victorian colonial aesthetics. The eight spacious rooms upstairs feature…
Tonga
A clean and friendly spot walking distance to downtown Pangai, with a broad verandah and communal sitting room and kitchen. Beds are distributed through…
Tongatapu
There are two floors of Tuscan-toned rooms atop the buzzy Little Italy restaurant. Expect super professional staff and knock-out sea views from the best…
Tongatapu
With a cosmic focus on surfing (owner Steve knows Tonga's waves backwards), this family-run set-up is laid-back and peaceful. Paths connect a range of…
Vava'u Group
Need an unpretentious, private Tongan island escape? Mandala fits the bill. Miniscule Fetoko Island is adrift midway between Mafana and ‘Ofu, and plays…
Tonga
About halfway down Uoleva's becalmed west coast, this outfit comprises just three private, elevated safari tents and three luxury wooden fales, all with…
Vava'u Group
This German-run honeymooner is a top boutique outfit with perfect beach frontage and five roomy suites, decked out in classy castaway style. Euro…
Vava'u Group
Upmarket (if not mystical) beachfront motel-style units on the northern end of 'Utungake, with one family-sized room and a two-bedroom house sleeping four…
Mafana Island Beach Backpackers
Vava'u Group
Budget accommodation on Vava'u's outer islands is as rare as turtle's teeth! Mafana offers treehouse-style bamboo and beachside fale, with a maximum of…
Tonga
At the southern end of Uoleva, Serenity Beaches features beautifully constructed octagonal fale on both sides of the island. Food utilises fresh local…
Tongatapu
This endearing fave a short stroll from town has large rooms with island vibes. The priciest rooms have balconies from which to absorb the namesake views…
Tonga
Halfway between the airport and Pangai (about 1.5km from each), Ha'apai Beach Resort is chilled-out enclave of blue-and-white cabins on a grassy verge…
Tongatapu
Run by an expat Australian couple, Holty's is a simple, laid-back alternative to the resorts along Ha'atafu Beach. Book the large house (sleeping 10) or…
Tonga
Ponder the stars and lapping west-coast waves at this budget beach-bum paradise. Simple tapa-lined fale have mats over sandy floors, comfy beds, mosquito…
Tongatapu
Down near the ferry piers and the fish market, 'Utu'one is a bastion of cleanliness surrounded by things otherwise. It's a two-storey white hacienda, all…
Tongatapu
Looking for a simple, fetching, self-contained studio nested into the trees on the shore, all to yourself? The beautifully decorated Blue Banana fale…
Vava'u Group
This modern hostel in the middle of Neiafu makes a decent budget base from which to propel yourself into Vava’u’s myriad activities and after-dark…
Tonga
Morphing into the building upstairs/behind Mariner’s Cafe and just a short walk from the wharf, red-and-white Fifita's remains a popular choice. It’s…
Vava'u Group
On a tiny southern Vava'u atoll (just 6.5 acres), Mounu Island Resort comprises four wooden fale spaced around the island for perfect privacy (do your Tom…
Vava'u Group
Top-end, terracotta-tiled units opening onto a full-length verandah overlooking Port of Refuge (good sunsets). Wander down through the tropical gardens to…
Tongatapu
Not far from church, town and sea, yellow-painted, two-tier Noa has a plumb location and plenty of rooms, from dorms to basic singles and doubles and…
’Eua
A little way inland near the forest, the cute red-and-white cabins at family-run Taina's revolve around trim gardens and a communal kitchen and bathrooms…
Tongatapu
Nuku'alofa's classiest beds? You could be right. These sassy NZ-owned apartments on Vuna Rd overlook the sea from a broad balcony, and tick all the…
Tongatapu
One of Tonga’s newer hotels has 20 bright, clean, spartan rooms over two levels. Air-con, friendly staff, in-room safe, wif-fi, minibar, the Emerald…
Tongatapu
This rickety hostel doesn't look like much from the dusty street out the front, but inside things quickly improve. There's a cheery communal kitchen…
Tongatapu
Formerly Ali Baba's, this out-of-the-way place is funky and friendly. Floors are chequered blue-and-gold, and the seven rooms (with two shared bathrooms)…
