PACIFIC ISLANDSThe Pacific Islands are really close to New Zealand, and have such beauty and culture to share. Most of the world is familiar with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. - but this is just a fraction of the island hideaways that make up the Pacific Islands group. The flight time to most Pacific Islands is only 3-4 hours from NZ, and there are regular flights each week. Enjoy the fact that so close to NZ you can step into a different way of life that revolves around people, is a slower pace and brings many cultural experiences (and sunshine!). TONGATongatapuInternational flights land at Nukualofa airport on the main island of Tongatapu in the pacific island nation of the Kingdom of Tonga.Staying in Nukulofa...If you are staying in Nukualofa, and are looking for cheap, clean accommodation then try the Pacific Bed & Breakfast . This is a small guesthouse (translate this as quiet and private!), and is conveniently located with good access to essential shops and internet. It is also smokefree which is very welcome - as smoking is commonplace - even the bus drivers smoke while on duty...There is a lot of culture and history in Nukualofa and on the rest of the main island. Even though it is not a big place it is not easy to find your way around initially. There are pretty much no sign posts! (and a comprehensive map is also hard to get). So help from a local tour guide is recommended. We enjoyed using Edwards Tours, as Edward (yes, it really was Edward) was both knowledgeable and passionate about his culture and heritage. He spent most of the day driving us to out of the way places we would never have found on our own! There are very few signposts on the whole of the island! And we found Teta Tours offered excellent service and value for getting to and from the airport; plus they also offer comprehensive tours of the island too. Cultural DifferencesTourists also need to be aware of the cultural differences, and take on board their sensitivities particularly with regard to clothing and nudity. Locals generally swim fully clothed, so if you are looking for more of a beach resort holiday then it is advisable to head off the mainland to the tourist beach areas that are more accommodating of swimwear and bare skin.Visiting the Outer Islands...There are also many, many small outer islands with much to offer, including Eua Island (see below for more information).Many visitors travel to the outer islands for swimming, diving, snorkelling, whale watching and much more. One such place is Eua Island. You can find some great local information at Experience the natural beauty that is 'Eua Island. 'Eua's Trekking and hiking are said to be some of the best in the south pacific and whale watching can be experienced from land and sea. 'Eua island, It's warmth is surpassed only by it's people.
Guide Book for Tonga (and Samoa)I always find it helpful to do some reading before I travel, and even better to take a guide book with me. As always, Lonely Planet have a helpful book available which also includes the pacific islands of the Samoan Islands - Samoa and Tonga (Lonely Planet Multi Country Guide).Even though half the fun is the exploring and finding your own way around a place, it can be difficult to find all the interesting parts of a new place. So a Guide Book written by fellow travellers who have spent a lot of time in one place can be really valuable - especially if you have limited time.
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