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The Vava’u Island Groups offers over 50 islands with lush tropical landscapes to explore and enjoy, famed for superb white sand beaches, equal to any in the Pacific and you can be taken to small islands for the day where you spend the time relaxing on the fine sands, swimming and snorkelling within the protective, colourful reefs. Vava'u waters teem with myriad fish, such as the tiny iridescent blue damsel and the gaily coloured clown and parrot fish that dart amongst multi-hued coral pinnacles |
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From June to November, large numbers of whales arrive in these calm, safe waters to mate and have their calves. There are organised whale watching tours available and this is as close to these colossal mammals as you will get anywhere in the world.
Wining and dining is a delight as cafes and restaurants are usually having spectacular views of the main harbour. There is a choice of dining at several independently owned restaurants, cafes and snack bars in and around Neiafu. On most days somewhere throughout the Vava'u group there is usually a family run authentic feast. A visit wouldn't be complete without attending at least one feast where you sit on mats and tuck into roast suckling pig, octopus, clams, fish, lobster, papaya and watermelon while enjoying traditional dancing and song.
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Like all other cultures, identity of the Tongan is constructed and reconstructed and culture is invented in response to the different yet continuous encounters with other cultures. Many migrants, coming in
Tongan food is delightful, and consists mostly of root vegetables such as taro and sweet potato, coconut products, fresh fruit, roasted suckling pig, chicken, corned beef, fish and shellfish. The traditional Tongan feast gets cooked in an underground oven, umu, common throughout Polynesia.
The climate of Vava'u is very pleasant all year around, slightly cooler and less humid than most islands in the South Pacific. From May through December the temperature is around 25°C (77F), humidity around 74%. Trade winds usually build in the afternoon to 12 - 15 knots. From December to April the temperature can claim up to 32°C (92F) and humidity level could reach 95%, although it is not typical.
Emergencies in Vava’u’: Police 922, Fire 999, Hospital 933 and any emergency assistance 911. Legal drinking age is 18. The sale of alcoholic drinks is prohibited from midnight Saturday till midnight Sunday. Duty Free allowance for Tonga Overseas travellers of 2.25 litres of spirits or any other alcoholic beverages and there is a duty free shop in town. Post Office in Vava’u is opposite the wharf and is open from 9am-4pm Monday to Friday. Telephone international country code is 676. The Tonga Communication Corporation is located next the Vava’u Post Office and is open all the time for domestic and long distance calls. Time is 13 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and is the first country to see the light of each day. (It is 3 hours ahead of the east coast of Australia.) Visas NOT required for most countries including Australia, New Zealand and USA. Shopping in Vava’u is renowned for its beautiful and high quality basket ware- hand woven from coconut and pandanus leaves. Vava’u is also home to Tonga’s best bone carvers and jewellery makers. There is a wide range of handicrafts available in Vava’u and generally you can deal with the person who made the item... The national currency is the Pa’anga (TOP). Banks are open in Neiafu, from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Fridays. On Saturdays, the Westpac Bank of Tonga and the ANZ are open from 9am to 11.30am. ATMs are also available. Sunday is a day of rest devoted to church activities, and all shops are closed – however certain restaurants are open for tourists as well as limited tours which must be pre-booked.
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Tonga is made up of four island groups and Vava’u is arguably the most beautiful and undiscovered of those four. Vava’u is rapidly gaining the reputation of being the one of the most exciting tourist regions of the country and the South Pacific.
Great all round snorkelling and diving in this region with exceptional visibility that is the envy of all other Pacific nations. There are a number of excellent underwater caves in these waters that have rarely seen, why not discover them? 
Vava’u is also a popular destination with international yachties because of its protected harbour and scenic anchorages. Yacht races are popular on every Friday during the winter season.
Neiafu makes an affordable base to explore the islands on a day tour and there are several good places to stay to suit all budget. 
and leaving, bring or leave their ideas of culture, so there is a variety of culture in presence in Tonga. Dance in Tonga has traditionally been an important art form, turning oral histories and folk tales into a visual form praising and honouring gods, chiefs, places and people. The extended family is the basic social unit on Tonga, and it serves as a mini welfare state, with wealth, food and goods shared equally among all members. 
