Things to do in Tonga
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Mu'a
The Mu'a area contains the richest concentration of archaeological remnants in Tonga. There are 28 royal stone tombs (langi) in the area (15 of which are monumental), built with enormous limestone slabs carried by canoes either from nearby Pangaimotu, Motutapu and other parts of Tongatapu, or possibly from as far away as Ha'apai or even Futuna.
The structure closest to the main road is the Paepae 'o Tele'a (Platform of Tele'a), a monumental, pyramid-like stone memorial. Tele'a was a Tu'i Tonga (king) who reigned during the 16th century, though his body is probably not inside.
The other structure, the Langi Namoala, has a fine example of a fonualoto (vault for a corpse) on…
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Tongan National Centre
It would be a major feat to spend any time in Tonga without having a cultural experience, but a visit to the Tongan National Centre is a good spot to start. The museum contains historical artefacts and cultural items still in use today.
Good-value cultural tours include demonstrations of tapa making, weaving and basketry, traditional dancing and carving.
The dinner show starts with a kava ceremony, features traditional dishes cooked in an umu (underground oven), and has one of Tonga's best traditional dance and music shows.
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Mapu'a 'a Vaca Blowholes
These blowholes ('Mapu'a 'a Vaca' means 'Chief's Whistles') stretch for 5km (3mi) along the south shore of Tongatapu. They are best viewed on a windy day at high (but not too high) tide, when the maximum amount of water is forced up through natural vents in the coral limestone, forming geyser-like fountains of seawater up to 30m (98ft) high.
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Women’s Island Development Handicraft Shop
Local women sell their tapa, cards and various woven items made from pandanus leaves here.
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Vava’u Adventures
Vava’u Adventures, operating out of Aquarium Café, runs exciting three-hour guided kart tours of Vava’u where you can take it all in while driving your own one- or two-seater kart.
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Friendly Islands Bookshop
The only bookshop of any consequence in Tonga was burnt down in the 2006 riots. Now with two stores, but a less comprehensive selection of newspapers and magazines, paperbacks, travel titles and books about Tonga.
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