Tongatapu to Vava’u

We Have Arrived!

After a quick but necessary stop in Tongatapu to clear customs, refuel, and stock up on fresh produce from Nukuʻalofa market, brimming with pineapples, taro, bananas, and bundles of fresh vegetables and herbs, we set off on our passage north toward the stunning Vavaʻu Island group, approximately 150 nautical miles away. The journey took around 19 hours, but like any good adventure, it wasn’t just about the destination, it was about everything in between. Scattered between Tongatapu and Vavaʻu are the lesser-known, lightly inhabited or completely untouched islands of the Haʻapai group. A dreamy chain of low-lying coral atolls and volcanic islands. These remote islands, including Nomuka, Haʻafeva, Uoleva, and Lifuka, dot the ocean and offer some of the most pristine anchorages in all of Tonga.

About halfway through our voyage, we made a stop at Nomuka Iki, a tranquil, uninhabited islet fringed with coral reef and coconut trees. It was the perfect and comfortable overnight anchorage. The following morning, we were up and moving again by 6 a.m. Darkness still clung to the horizon as we eased carefully past the whitewater breaking over the reef structures and then the rising pink glow of morning made for a surreal and unforgettable departure. Pure magic!

Once we hit open water again, the ocean sprang to life. The stretch of sea between Haʻapai and Vavaʻu is a rich migratory corridor for marine life, and we were treated to a show. Pods of humpback whales. It was also a super productive leg for those fisherman in search of table fish for the freezer, of which we caught Mahi Mahi and Wahoo (yum) and Blue Marlin which were all released.

With ocean temperatures ranging between 25 and 26.5°C, conditions were perfect for trolling, and the visibility was crystal clear, allowing glimpses of deep pelagic blues and flashes of silver below the surface. The journey from Tongatapu to Vavaʻu is more than just a transfer between points — it’s an unforgettable passage through one of the South Pacific’s last truly wild places. It’s a route where nature still calls the shots and rewards those who travel slowly and pay attention