Tonga Travel Guide

Air New Zealand flies between Los Angeles and Tonga at least once a week, with a brief stop in Samoa. Those flights go on to Auckland and return over the same route. Air Pacific connects Tonga to its flights to Fiji from Los Angeles, Australia, and New Zealand. Polynesian Blue flies to Tonga from Auckland and Sydney. Polynesian Airlines flies a small, propeller-driven plane between Tonga and Apia.

No flights go into, or out of, Tonga on Sunday, when local airports are closed.

Arriving & Departing

Except for the few international flights destined for Vava'u, most land at Fua'amotu Airport on Tongatapu, 24km (14 miles) or a 30-minute drive from Nuku'alofa. The terminal has currency exchange counters, an ATM, a duty-free shop, a snack bar, and a small handicraft outlet. International passengers can purchase duty-free liquor and cigarettes after clearing Immigration but before going through Customs.

Transportation from the airport into Nuku'alofa is by hotel minibuses or taxi. The bus ride to town costs T$10 (US$5). The one-way taxi fare into Nuku'alofa is about T$25 (US$13); the drivers will be happy to take U.S., New Zealand, or Australian currency.

A departure tax of T$25 (US$13) is charged of all passengers leaving on international flights. You pay it in Tongan currency at Fua'amotu Airport, at a separate booth outside Immigration. There is no departure tax for domestic flights.

There is no currency exchange facility in the departure lounge, so swap your money before clearing Immigration.