Nuku A’lofa is the capital of Tonga and the most populated island in the tongatapu region of the kingdom. Cruise ships dock in the port which is right in front of the King’s Palace and residence and the center of town. Prepare to be welcomed by the minister of Tourism who will introduce a brass band, dancers and a host of vendors lining the pier. Registered taxi drivers will be in traditional dress and available for tours. Taxis aren’t metered, so you’ll need to describe the tour you’re looking for (full or half day) or the destination you want to go and ask the price. We opted to take a private tour with Rachel in her small car. Her husband James drives a large van for bigger groups. On our tour, Rachel took us to the sites on both the eastern and western sides of the island including the Tsunami rock (a huge rock brought on shore thousands of years ago by a tsunami), the three headed coconut tree, the Chief’s Whistles (blowholes best seen at high tide when they spray over 30 meters in the air), the flying foxes (endemic bats that are considered sacred and the property of the king) of Kolovai, the fishing pigs, white sand beaches and the Ha’amonga Trilithon which resembles something from Stonehenge. But the real tour from Rachel was about language, lifestyle, respect and resilience. She took us to see the village and resorts that had been completely decimated by the Tsunami triggered by an oceanic volcanic eruption on a Saturday afternoon in January of 2022.
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