Neiafu (Vava’u) - Communications
See more details in the main Tonga Communications section.
In Neiafu, the post office is the red building opposite the market and next to it is the Tonga Telecommunications where there is a public telephone available 24/7. Phonecards can be purchased at various stores in town (Cafe Tropicana, TCC and several other small shops).
24/7 public phones are outside Aquarium, Bella Vista, Cafe Tropicana and the TCC office.
The international telephone code for Tonga is 00 676.
If you need to mail packages or letters to Vava’u, there are 3 different courier company agents available in Neiafu – DHL, UPS and FedEx (see contact details at bottom of section). There is also TNT for NZ deliveries. Please note that it is best to order anything urgent through these courier companies as early as possible, as the time quoted for a delivery is often much longer in reality!
Address packages to:
S/Y Name, Yacht in transit, Care of: Topicana Cafe, (your name), Fatafehi Road, 34, Neiafu, Kingdom of Tonga.
Do contact Tropicana Cafe well in advance so they know to expect your parcel.
Parcels are subject to inspection from the Tonga Customs. Do address to “Yacht in Transit”, but be aware that duty and tax may still apply.
Internet
Cafe Tropicana, Mango Café, Bella Vista all offer internet and email services. PC services available at Tropicana. Free Internet is generally worth the money you are paying for it. Most free providers only give you WiFi if you buy something. It is advisable to test that the internet works before ordering food or a beer.
VHF
Within Vava’u, most businesses including bars and restaurants have VHF radio and the majority monitor Channel 26.
Common working channels are 06, 08, 14, 17.
Please refrain from using the following channels unless you call them:
- 09 Beluga
- 10 The Ark
- 11 Te Pana
- 69 Fishing/Dive Vavau
- 71 Fishing
- 72 Moorings
- 73 Moorings working, and
- 77 Mounu
The Cruisers Net information exchange service operates each morning at 0830 Monday to Sunday. VHF Ch. 26 and 06 as backup.
VHF26 is a strong repeater channel that reaches south to the Ha’apai. Please be aware that this channel is monitored by the Ministry of Transport, Customs, Immigration so be careful what you are talking about, and please keep it short.
Mobile Phones
If you plan to buy a SIM card for a phone from another country, you will need to have the network unlocked before leaving your prior area, as they cannot do that in Vava’u – only in Tongatapu.
Digicel and TCC have low rates to USA, Canada, NZ, Australia and an increasing array of countries. Credit available at Cafe Tropicana. Pay full rate for 3 or 4 minutes and get the next 30 or 40 minutes free.
Rates are also available on landlines using TCC Landline cards from 15cents a minute to the above countries and 25 cents a minute to mobiles. 24-hour payphones at Aquarium Cafe, beside Cafe Tropicana and at the TCC Office.
Greg at Café Tropicana has a cutter to cut sim cards for Apple/Android phones.
Last updated: February 2023
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at [email protected]. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Shore Services: Banks & Financial
Related to following destinations: Neiafu (Vava'u), Tonga
Port Navigation
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Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
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Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
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Cruisers should be aware. On September 10th, 2019, the co-owner of the hideaway bar in neiafu physically attacked a customer at their establishment. During a conversation, she choked and tackled my wife. My wife now has bruises all over and is suffering neck and back pain from being tackled to the deck. We have reported the incident to the police, but thought the cruising community should know.
This was not a Tongan, but an expat who owns a business. This should not be a reflection of neiafu or the people here. The community is wonderful and this is an incident not at all to do with the people of neiafu
Brief updates from Royce Reid:
Wanted to briefly update a couple of things regarding Tonga.
The check-in in Vava’u was fast and simple. They told us how to extend our boat permit from 4 months to 12. the Customs guy also said there is a proposal under consideration to extend the cruising permit from 12 months to at least 18 months.
The immigration people were friendly and fast and told us where to go to extend our 30-day entry visas. We hauled out in Vava’u at the boatyard there and it was fast efficient and friendly.
We also got a quote for the bottom job and it was almost half price VS. New Zealand. they have also opened a chandlery there. If they don’t have it on hand they can order it tax-free from NZ and it arrives fast with fed ex ( within 7 days we were told ) or cheap by boat.
But takes three weeks. We replaced flares and brought interior paint and some nuts and bolts. Not a huge shop but it has the necessities and arranges for specifics! All in all, it was an awesome easy experience and that’s not even commenting on how amazing the cruising there is!
Royce Reid.
I had arrived Saturday (the 3rd of Nov.) at 1530 local time and managed to get cleared. I was told by the Customs agent that they stay on a stand-by basis every Saturday till 1600.
I managed to call when we were 30 miles away raising awareness of our arrival, and also contacted Vava’u Radio on VHF Ch 26 twice before arriving.
Posted on behalf of Clare Sudlow:
Vava’u Bluewater Festival
Calling all South Pacific Cruisers! – Don’t miss the 2016 Vava’u Blue Water Festival! A fun-filled week in Vava’u, Tonga from October 1st- 8th.
Enjoy the friendliest of welcomes & a week of local festivities, parades, informative talks & parties centered around a mid-week fun cruisers race day.
For full info visit: http://www.vavau.to/bluewaterfestival