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Tonga Travel - Getting Around
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Travelling between the main island groups in Tonga is rather unreliable. Flights are offered from Tongatapu to Haapai (35 mins) and Vavau (55 mins) on a daily basis except Sunday by Peau Airlines in DC10s and Conair aircraft.
There is also a regular flight from Tongatapu to Eua (10 minutes) and a once weekly flight to Niuatoputapu which takes over 2 hours.
Public buses meet some local flights into Tongatapu but if there's not one around, a taxi will cost around T$15 into town. The Paradise International Hotel bus meets all flights at Vavau Airport and sometimes takes non-guests into Neiafu Town for T$5. Otherwise, a taxi will cost around T$10 into town. On Ha'apai, your hotel or guesthouse will meet you at the airport.
Inter island ferries operate between Tongatapu and Eua Island five times a week and takes 2 hours often across rough seas. There are also twice weekly ferries to Lifuka Island in Haapai and on to Vavau but the seas are notoriously rough.
Public buses on the main island of Tongatapu are pretty good and travel to most places on the island. Finding a reliable schedule though is pretty difficult. Head to the bus stand in Nukualofa and look at the front of the bus for its destination. Don't, whatever you do, rely on the bus drivers information - Tongans prefer to give an incorrect answer than no answer at all which can be confusing! Taxis around the island are cheap. Car hire is a good option for those wanting to explore at their own leisure but be warned of strict speed limits (55 km/h and 40 km/h through villages) and the unusual practice that if you hit something (which is likely to be one of the many wandering pigs) don't stop. Instead, head straight for the police station and let them sort the problem out for you. To drive in Tonga you will need to obtain a Tongan driving licence from the Police Station in Nukualofa. There is no test - just a fee of T$15 and a hour or so wait. There is limited moped hire on island but bicycles can be hired from several places in town the island is small enough and flat enough to make this a very enjoyable experience.
On the island of Lifuka / Foa in the Ha'apai Group there is a twice daily bus run from the south point of Lifuka Island across the causeway to the north point of Foa island and back again. Taxis are hard to find. So that leaves it to cycling around, which is fine, because the island is small and flat and bicycles are readily available to hire. Travelling to the outer islands of the Ha'apai Group is relatively straightforward - head to Pangai Wharf in the morning and find out which boat is going where.
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