Nukualofa Island Vacations and Nukualofa Island Luxury Travel Package
Nuku'alofa means "residence of love." The kingdom's capitol city is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, and numbers 30,000 inhabitants. Its most prominent buildings are the large churches and the Victorian Royal Palace west of the Vuna Wharf. This handsome white palace with its red roof was in fact prepared in New Zealand; it was then assembled here in 1865-1867 by Edward Becker, the director of the Tongan branch of the Hamburg trading company Goddefroy & Sohn (the upper veranda was added in 1882). The royal family now lives in Kauvai; the palace is not open to visitors.
The best way to photograph the palace is from the seaward gate in the west, on which the resplendent royal coat of arms is displayed. The three stars represent the country's three island groups; the three sisters stand for the three royal families, while the dove and the crown respectively symbolize peace and the monarchy. "God and Tonga are My Inheritance" is the royal motto.
Moving from this gate alongside the palace toward the center of the city on Vaha'akolo Road, one sees the Vilai Army Barracks (the headquarters of the Tongan army) on the left. Shortly after this, the gigantic Centenary Church (1952) of the Wesleyan Church of Tonga, on the right, is not to be overlooked. This church has room for about 2000 worshipers, and the king and queen are frequent participants in its Sunday services.
If one leaves Vaha'akolo Road a short stretch further, turning left onto Laifone Road, one soon reaches the monumental church building of the Free Church of Tonga. Across from this are the Royal Tombs, the burial place of the royal family, which have been made inaccessible to visitors by a broad stretch of grass. The royal tombs have been located here since 1893.
The Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua rises imposingly above the intersection of Laifone Road and Taufa'ahau Road. Completed in 1980, this church has attracted the attention of connoissears thanks to its pagoda-like architecture. Astonishingly enough, both a library and a Japanese restaurant have been opened in the lower story of the building. The restaurant is so popular at lunchtime that you must sometimes wait a while for a table.
The main shopping street, Taufa'ahau Road, offers a pleasant constitutional back to the seaside. The Langa Fonua, a cooperative of village women, sells Tongan handicrafts at astonishingly low prices. Especially beautiful items include painted bast (taps), woven articles, mats, baskets and bags. The Friendly Island Bookshop, also on the same street (in the Tungi Arcade), offers the latest publications about the South Seas and Tongan music and literature.
The German Consulate (Deutsche Honorarkonsulate) is somewhat hidden away in the back yard of the Sanft Building on Taufa' ahau Road, but is easily recognizable by the German eagle emblem. The philatelic bureau, with its collection of South Sea postage stamps, which are coveted by collectors of stamps, is situated on the second floor of the post office; across from this building is the Prime Minister's Office.
Parliament House, built in 1894, is located one block further east on Railway Road; this building was also constructed in New Zealand and then transported to Tonga. Fruits and vegetables are hawked nearby at the colorful Talamahu Market.
Freshly caught fish and all kinds of sea animals are offered at the Vuna Wharf. This was formerly the main landing place for large ferries and cargo ships; these operations were moved to the new Queen Salote Wharf, east of the Faua Jetty, in 1966.
The Treasury Building stands opposite the Vuna Wharf, directly on the sea; this building formerly served as the municipal post office. The bus stop for longdistance buses is also located at the Vuna Wharf.
The government-owned International Dateline Hotel is located a bit further to the southeast. It is the best and most atmospheric hotel on Tongatapu.
Boats headed for the offshore islands and `Eua depart from the Faua Jetty, which is a yachting and fishing harbor located about 1000 yards (1 km) from the city center.
Enchanting Isles off Nuku'alofa
The offshore islands to the north of Tongatapu are favorite day-trip destinations for the natives here. A pleasant boat ride to one of the smaller vacation islands is especially worthwhile on Sundays, when all of Nuku'alofa is "closed."
The trip to the Royal Sunset Island Resort, 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the capitol on the island of 'Atata, only takes an hour; a small village is also located on this island. The Fafa Island Resort (4.5 miles/7 km and about a 45-minute boat ride to the north) is well-suited for a bathing holiday with a relaxed atmosphere. As for the island itself, one can comfortably walk around its circumference in 20 minutes. On the island of Pangaimotu, only about 15 minutes from the harbor, the Tongan Beachcomber Island Village also awaits its guests. On Makaha'a Island, the Australian-run Sun Island Resort has a splendid sand beach.
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