HAZARD ALERT: On December 24, 2024 Tonga Geological Services issued a Hazard Alert warning all mariners to keep at least 4km away from the Home Reef Volcano – until further notice – due to ongoing volcanic activity. See Restrictions for more information.
COMMS ALERT: A number of communications issues in Tonga are having a serious impact on cruisers. The undersea fibre has been damaged and repairs are still being completed. Digicel currently has limited service only. In August 2024, Starlink was granted a temporary six month license to continue operating in the country. See this news item for more details.
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukuʻalofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name and is the country's most highly populated island.
Tongatapu is Tonga's centre of government and the seat of its monarchy.
A large eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha-apai underwater volcano occurred on 15 January 2022, causing a tsunami and ash fall in Tonga. The eruption was one of the biggest in Tonga in the past 30 years. See news item for details and useful links for further information. Many places are still suffering the effects of this event so as the locals where are the best places to go.
A new island, about 65 kilometres north north-west of Tongatapu (approx. 20° 34′ 12″ S, 175° 22′ 48″ W), started forming in January 2016 after a volcano began erupting. Tonga's lands and natural resources ministry has examined the island and stated that the newly formed landmass is around 800m wide and 1.3km long.
Tongatapu is one of the areas in Tonga which is now subject to Special Management Areas (SMAs) and Fish Habitat Reserves (FHRs).
See the Tonga Restrictions section for full details.
Nuku'alofa is a great first stop in Tonga for a number of reasons. The international airport is there and there are regular flights to and from New Zealand each day, so easy for a delivery crew to jump off and head home or for friends and family to fly in.
There are lots of excellent shops and markets stocking fresh food and all your regular staples. There is an excellent large hardware store and all kinds of repair people to help fix the bits you've broken on the way.
Olini Sapoi is a useful guy to know, he can help take you and your jerry cans to the fuel station, run your crew to the airport, arrange fresh drinking water (water out of the tap is not drinkable post volcano), help run you around to find spare parts or fix things and is a generally helpful and friendly guy: sapoiolini@gmail.com - he relies on donations to fund his services.
21°08'12"S, 175°11'02"W (harbor entrance)
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