Getting around Tonga

To get between island groups, you basically have to fly (or yacht). The one national airline is owned by one of the princes and is called Air Peau. As of late 2004, they flew a 60 year-old DC-3 which was quite an experience. To get around the main island, Tongatapu, Teta Tours and Toni's guest house offer day tours of all the main tourist sights (40-80 Pa'anga depending on how many are on the tour). You can hire a car from the Friend's Tourist Centre (near the main post office) for about 50 Pa'anga and a tour of the island is about 120 km. There are few or no road signs on Tongatapu so you'll need a good map if you're touring in a car. The speed limit on most of the island is 40kph and this is stuck to by the local drivers. You're meant to also buy a local Tongan driving licence on top of your existing licence before you drive (25 Pa'anga). The roads are good in and around Nuku'alofa but deteriorate the further from the town and the further south you travel. Most cars in Tonga are in a terrible state, maintained on a budget and held together by a combination of 'Western Union' stickers and prayer. The low speed limit helps to keep accidents down. Service buses to various points on Tongatapu run from the bus concourse on the seafront in Nuku'alofa although there are no timetables posted and local sources say that they are not reliable after about 1530 hours on most days.