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Last trip to Tonga for 2025 all done

A Tongan scene with a dog hiding
Spot the dog - not Spot, the dog.

7 trips in a year

I managed to make 7 trips to Tonga this year - three when I was still nursing (and so was ‘off’ when in Tonga), and four in my new job as an analyst. I’m really grateful to both my previous employer in the ICU, and my current for allowing me to travel regularly - and to work remotely over here. I’m incredibly lucky to be able to come to this beautiful place while my wife is deployed here.

I’ve met some wonderful people and had incredible experiences in this pacific paradise, and I’m really looking forward to coming back in the new year. Tonga is a very special place. It can be incredibly frustrating, but the natural beauty of its ocean and the warmth of its people more than make up for some of the struggles of day to day life here.

Whales are incredible

If you are thinking of coming over, I strongly encourage it, especially if you are thinking of doing a whale swim. I have been twice now - both times with the amazing team at Tahi Tonga - full disclosure: they are freinds of mine, but I would still recommend them regardless. The experience is second to none, and I remain incredibly impressed with the care and passion they have for their work - and most importantly the beautiful whales. They had a great season this year, and next year can only get better.

Food

Food can sometimes be a challenge over here, but I’m grateful to have had some very memorable meals and drinks this year. Particular shoutouts to the staff and management of the ubiquitous Billfish bar - good people every one, and our default drinking hole this year. I’ve loved the coffee from Weta, and ate the best pie on the island at the Tonga Cold Store. Willy Borealis gets my prize for the best value on the island - fantastic Chinese at a very reasonable price, and what a name! Highly recommended! Bula Chef Restaurant has recently opened, and while the service can sometimes be a little hit-and-miss, it more than makes up for it with its beautiful views and fantastic food. I love Top bar and restaurant, and really recommend a trip up in the lift for a nice view of Nuku’alofa, especially at night. Friends Cafe and The Coffee Post are also great places to meet and get a nice snack. PTH bar is the first bar I’ve ever been to where I can order a beer - and a hammer. It’s at the back of the PTH Hardware store (aka Tonga Bunnings), and whilst everything is in bottles the vibe is great and the staff are lovely. Recommended - and don’t forget to try their fabulous Egg Drop sandwich! Overall though the best food I’ve had on the island has been that made at home.

This trip was only a week long but it feels like we packed in a load of adventures. A wonderful friend of ours decided to take up the hobby of sailing, and promptly bought a 26ft yacht - despite never having sailed a day in her life. Supported by her able-bodied crew she has taught herself the basics and we had many memorable days and evenings onboard.

Highlights of the year

Highlights of the incredible diving over here were - of course - the whales - but actually a close second was seeing two sea kraits on two separate diving trips. I watched in awe as these incredibly dangerous (but perfectly docile) creatures slunk gently across the sea bed, ignoring enthralled me. A single octopus - rare during the day - was another highlight (sorry Ishla). Overall the snorkelling around the main island of Nuku’alofa is amazing. The island is surrounded by a reef, but swim out to the point where it drops away and you are in an ocean paradise. Unforgettable.

A group of six people are smiling and sailing on a boat with a cloudy sky and ocean in the background.A large cruise ship sails on a cloudy ocean.A person wearing a hat is swimming near a sailboat in clear blue water, with a tropical island and palm trees in the background.A person wearing sunglasses and a cap is smiling while sitting on a sailboat in the ocean.A smiling couple is taking a selfie on a sailing boat with a man in the background giving a thumbs-up.Two people are relaxing on a boat, with their feet up, looking out at the open sea under a clear blue sky.A person stands on a docked sailboat with calm turquoise water and trees in the background.A white Honda minivan is on the road with a makeshift cardboard license plate reading TEST.Aerial view of a coastal landscape featuring lush greenery, sprawling fields, a winding road, and expansive ocean beneath a partly cloudy sky.A breathtaking view of a cloudscape with sunlight streaming over a vast expanse of fluffy clouds and blue sky.Palm trees silhouetted against a vibrant sunset sky with a few clouds, seen near a coastal area.A person walks along a tranquil beach with a dramatic sunset casting light through the clouds.A small fire burns in a sandy pit on a beach at sunset, with dramatic clouds and calm ocean in the background.Bright pink and purple bougainvillea flowers dominate a lush garden scene under a clear blue sky.A street scene features a small store with a red sign, vibrant pink flowering trees, parked cars, and a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.A rustic rural setting features a tree with graffiti, a small building with colorful artwork on its side, and a car parked under a clear blue sky.A dog is walking across a sunny street with trees and a building in the background.A two-story building labeled Wally's and Borealis is situated on a sunny street corner with a blue sky and scattered clouds above.A plaque commemorates the Nuku'alofa Sidewalk Project, funded by Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China, and commissioned in December 2020, featuring both the Chinese and Tongan flags.A weathered, abandoned house with a rusted roof and peeling paint stands behind a gated entrance, set against a partly cloudy sky.

My first trip to Tonga is nearly done

Auto-generated description: A serene waterfront scene at sunset features calm waters, silhouetted ships, and a sky painted with soft pink and purple hues.

St Patricks Day on a tropical island

Thanks to the amazing team at the very awesome Billfish bar (highly recommended), we were able to celebrate St Patricks day in style with Guinness and green-tinged finger food. Apart from the temperature being nearly 30 degrees it was just like being back in Ireland! Thanks John and team for an awesome afternoon.

Four days of downpour

The weather has been challenging last week with four days of almost constant strong rain and some flooding. Tonga has a rainy season from November to April, and a dry season from May to October. The wettest months here are January, February, and March with an excess of 250 mm of rainfall per month. We certainly had that the past four days - it wasn’t just a light drizzle but an absolute downpour, and some places were quite flooded. In typical tongan laid-back style noone seemed really to stress too much about it and life just went on with barely a mention.

Eating out

We’ve eaten out a bit this last week and have been hugely impressed with the quality of food we’ve had. My favourite meal has been at Momma’s Harbourview Restaurant which is just around the corner from where we live. Fantastic service, delicious food and a really good price. I highly recommend their BBQ chicken!

We’ve had awesome coffee at both Friends and the Coffee Post in town, and we made a trip out to Tupu’anga Coffee for a coffee and a fresh coconut - ice cold out of the fridge and incredibly refreshing. Their Lu Sipe pie is certainly worth the visit alone!

Speaking of pies we have been well served in that department too - Cowleys bakery and my personal favourite the Vietnamese Cafe have meant that we’ve been able to have awesome mince and cheese pies whenever we like.

Finally there is the amazing Builders Burger - again not too far from where we live. The thing that sets this place apart is the fact that it has its own seawater pool which is open to anyone (not just diners). It’s a really beautiful place right on the water with views of the port and moored ships. It does an awesome burger too!

Some pics from this weeks adventures

A serene coastal scene at sunset features gentle waves, a silhouetted ship in the distance, and a sky painted with soft purple and pink hues.A small, waterlogged area with two houses, a car, and a trampoline, surrounded by grass and palm trees.A flooded area is surrounded by greenery and buildings, with water reflecting the cloudy sky.A large ship is sailing on a calm sea under a cloudy sky, with a rocky shoreline visible in the foreground.A wooden pier extends into a calm body of water where several people are swimming, with a rocky shoreline and cloudy sky in the background.A person is smiling while holding a coconut drink with a straw at an outdoor table.A person is sitting at an outdoor table with two coconuts, drinking from one while overlooking a waterfront.Two drinks, one a green beverage in a glass with a straw and the other a pint of Guinness, are placed on a table in front of a person wearing a white shirt with a leaf pattern.A small wooden deck with tables and chairs overlooks a calm body of water under a cloudy sky.A fenced yard is flooded with water, reflecting a van, houses, and an overcast sky.A chalkboard sign displaying Welcome to Bujibhai for the best fish fry and coconut stands on a roadside near a grassy area with trees and power lines.A child walks towards a small outdoor cafe or kiosk underneath a canopy, with a palm tree-lined sky in the background.

Some more pictures of beautiful Tonga

Auto-generated description: A person stands at the shoreline, gazing at the ocean while holding sandals in one hand.

Our first drive around

Taking advantage of our awesome ute we took ourselves off for a drive on our first weekend here ….and got completely lost. But oh my goodness it was amazing! The weather has been terrible but that hasn’t stopped us from exploring as much as we can.

The pictures of the ute on what looks like an abandoned track was us following Google Map’s directions to get to the other side of the island - it was like that for around 10km.

It’s hard to describe how warm it is here too - despite the rain (and we have seen a lot of rain) it’s still really warm.

Some pics from the week

Two people are lounging on beach towels under a palm tree, with one asking the other if living there would just mean lying around happily all the time.A black car is parked on a narrow forest path surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation.A rural scene shows a dirt road with dogs, parked cars, and an old bus surrounded by greenery.A narrow dirt road flanked by lush, green vegetation is seen from inside a vehicle, with another car visible ahead in the distance.A smiling person is seated at an outdoor restaurant table at night.A pig and a piglet are grazing near a dilapidated bus and some metal frames in a grassy area.A two-lane road is flanked by commercial buildings, cars, and utility poles under a cloudy sky.A pig and a piglet are standing on grass near a puddle, with bushes in the background.

Welcome to Tonga! 🇹🇴

Auto-generated description: A serene beach scene features gentle waves, a cloudy sky with the sun shining through, and scattered trees along the shoreline.

Amazing welcome to this incredible island

We were welcomed to beautiful Tonga by Ishla’s work colleagues - some photos below (click any image for a larger view).

A display of bananas, papaya, and other tropical fruits is arranged on a table with a decorative leaf base.A person wearing a red and white cap is swimming in a bright blue pool under a partly cloudy sky, with trees and a fence surrounding the area.A person walks down a quiet street with buildings, parked vehicles, and a stop sign visible under a partly cloudy sky.A vibrant display of assorted flowers and tropical fruits is arranged on a wooden table.A breadfruit hangs from a leafy tree surrounded by grass and greenery.A buffet table is set with a variety of dishes, including sushi, fruit, pastries, and desserts on a blue tablecloth.Palm trees and a vibrant sky create a tropical atmosphere behind a tall fence.Two people are sitting in front of a decorative backdrop with a floral garland around their necks, beneath a Welcome Ishla & Ian sign.A roasted pig is presented on a table alongside various dishes and a decorative floral arrangement.A smiling man and woman wearing Hawaiian leis take a cheerful selfie indoors with snacks in hand.Tall palm trees and lush greenery line a sandy beach under a clear blue sky.