Vava’u Group

With its sheltered anchorages, Vava’u is a haven for yachties and is renown as both the sailing paradise of the Pacific and one of the world’s great sailing centers. It is also regarded as a water based nature lover’s paradise and the most scenic region in the Kingdom of Tonga.

If you’re here from July to November, you can see the humpback whales that come to the warm waters to mate and calve. There’s an extensive charter boat operation to get close to these magnificent creatures. For something really special, you might choose to swim with the whales.

Snorkelling, diving, sport fishing and sea kayaking are all on the menu here as well. Beneath the water, the great visibility – up to 30m (100 ft.) – makes journeys out to remote underwater caves and mysterious shipwrecks a delight.

Swim inside Swallows Cave, dive into Mariners Cave or discover the calm waterways by sea kayak. If you are feeling up to it, why not venture out overnight and stay under the stars on your own white sandy beach.

If you like game fishing, the local experts say that you have a better chance of catching or tagging the mighty blue marlin in these waters than anywhere in else in the world.

For a day on land, take a stroll through Neiafu and stop and have a drink, lunch or even dinner at one of the great cafes or restaurants overlooking the Port of Refuge. Then if you are fit and energetic, the climb to the top of Mt Talau is not to be missed.

There are 72 islands (and 20 are inhabited) in the Vava’u Group, so go out and explore!