Tourism in Tonga

Tonga consists of 176 islands with a wide range of appealing characteristics. Some islands are thickly wooded, others have active volcanos, and the rest boast white sandy beaches with clear waters which are excellent for viewing the coral reefs. The islands are home to exotic birds, the rare flying fox and fruitbats. Other tourist attractions include Tonga’s water-sports. Eau has a world-standard surfing beach and there is excellent swimming throughout the islands, especially for scuba-diving and snorkelling. Other water attractions include Humpback whales and blow holes which spurt water up to 18m into the air. Historically the 1789 mutiny on the HMS Bounty took place in the waters surrounding these islands. Land based attractions include the Royal Residences and Tombs, the Anahulu Cave which is a cavern of stalactites and stalagmites, The Terraced Tombs and the Ha’amonga Trilithon (a stone arch) which are made from coral.