Sailing Holidays in Tonga

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With over 100 small islands to visit a day cruise is a great way to see the islands. The small uninhabited islands within Tongatapu Lagoon make a fantastic day cruise destination and you can visit three of these on a day tour from Nuku'alofa Harbour, including Fafa Island Resort, Royal Sunset Resort and Pangaimotu Island which is set up mostly as a day cruise detaination. Each of these are small islands with lovely beaches, turquoise lagoons and good snorkelling offshore. Guests staying at Fafa Island Resort can take an island hopping excursion of the seldom visited islands along the fringing reef of Tongatapu Lagoon, with a stop at a sand spit and Nuku Island which once hosted a Shipwreck TV series.

Vava'u Island is another excellent place to enjoy a day out on the water with most day cruises departing Neiafu Harbour but also with pick-ups sometimes available from the Tongan Beach Resort. Highlights of these cruises are visiting the Japanese Gardens for snorkelling, stopping off at Eueiki Island for a beach walk, and visiting Mariner's and Swallows cave for snorkelling and exploring.

Tonga is an exceptional sailing destination and is the most popular anchorage in the South Pacific for overseas yachts visiting en route between North America and Australia. The sailing season is from May to September when the tradewinds are at their most consistent and the cyclone season has pased. It's possible to charter a yacht from Neiafu Town in Vava'u or ask around the harbour at Nuku'alofa where sailing tours are sometimes offered by visiting yachts.