Lokupō Platform 

This beautiful spot provides a lookout over the untouched east coast of 'Eua (pronounced "ay-wah").

Lokupō is the old name for the forest and beach behind me in this photo. Today, it is officially called 'Eua National Park, but everyone refers to it still as Lokupō. This is the largest rainforest in the Kingdom of Tonga, and it's incredibly dense. It's also full of Golden Orb Spiders (nephila tetragnathoides). They're not poisonous, but the females can grow up to the size of your hand. Their webs are also incredibly thick and strong - I walked into one and literally bounced back. The web also stuck to my glasses, pulling them off my face. Naturally I freaked out and was madly trying to check if a giant spider was on my face, whilst also trying to recover my glasses. Unfortunately I was alone and there was no one around to laugh at how ridiculous this sequence looked, but thankfully there was no spider on me. Anyway the forest is very dense and incredibly difficult to navigate. Untouched beauty.

Laku Fa'anga Cliffs

Welcome to Laku Fa'anga Cliffs. The legend of the cliffs is one of famine; there was a family of 7 who lived at these cliffs in a time of great famine. As other sources of food ran out, the only food left was fā, the fruit of the pandanus tree. One day, the parents realised they were running low on the fā and their family would not survive much longer. Out of love, the parents decided to throw themselves off the cliff, sacrificing themselves. In doing so, they turned into turtles, and in this form they would frequently visit the shore to check on their children.

However, after a while, the fā completely ran out, and with no food left at all, the children decided to throw themselves off the cliff to be reunited with their parents. It was later that the locals noticed that if you recite a chant and throw some fā over the cliff, seven turtles can be seen in the water coming to eat the fruit.

This is the chant:

Tuakau'ia (The father's name)

Mo ho'o fanau (and your children)

Ha'u 'o kai 'a e fā (come and eat the fā)

Te u laku atu (that I will throw to you)

I stopped at these cliffs to read my books and enjoy sitting on what felt like the edge of the world. There's not much tourism here, especially in rainy season, so most places I've been have just been me. I spent 6 hours along this coast and am very grateful to have had this time here in Tonga. 

Accommodation: ‘Eua 

Getting from the Airport

Getting between Tongatapu & 'Eua

Transport

Taxis

There are local taxis which are quite cheap to get around.

Hitchhiking

If you're solo travelling or traveling with just one or two friends, I recommend hitchhiking. 

After hitchhiking in more than 60 countries, I still rate Tonga as the easiest country to hitchhike in. When hitchhiking in Tonga, you’ll notice what I call the “Three Car Rule”; it will take a maximum of three cars passing you before you get a lift:

1. The first car may have a Chinese or expat family – they will not stop for you. 

2. The second car may be a 5 seater car with 6 Tongans already squished inside. They won’t be able to take you, but they will pull over, apologise that there’s no room, and invite you to Sunday lunch at their family’s home after church. 

3. The third car will have space, and they’ll pick you up as though you’re a long lost member of the family.

When hitchhiking, I found quickly that Tongans are too accommodating! When you hop into a car, make sure you find out where they are going first before you tell them your end destination. If you tell them where you are going first, they will tell you that’s their location as well and will drive you all the way there, even if it’s significantly out of the way for them. Tongans are some of the warmest and most open people in the world, but you will never be waiting long when hitchhiking and it can be uncomfortable to make a family detour just to drop you off! 

Tongans are such a giving people, so it’s nice to have something that you can share with your hitchhiking rides as well. Peanuts are popular and sold by vendors all across Tonga, as well as seasonal fruits. I’d recommend picking some of these up to share with your drivers when you see a vendor selling some. 

Hire Cars

There are a few places to hire a car in Tonga, with prices averaging around 50 Pa’anga per day for a scooter and 70-90 Pa’anga for a vehicle. You cannot hire cars on Sunday as everything is closed on Sundays. 

Island Car and Scooter Rental 

Contact details: 

• +676 8450380 or +676 8416383 or +676 26998

• islandrentals80@gmail.com

• Location: Pahu Tongatapu Tonga

Open Hours: 

• Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. 

Prices:

• Scooters are TOP$50 per day 

• Vehicles are TOP$50-90 per day

Sunshine Rental 

Contact Details:

• +676 23 848 Mobile: +676 77 19615 or +676 88 15780

• sunshinerentalcar@gmail.com

• Location: Corner of Laifone Rd and Unga Rd, Nuku'alofa

Open Hours: 

• Monday to Friday: 8am – 5pm 

• Saturday: 8.30am – 2pm.

Prices:

• Qwerty

Fab Rentals

Contact Details

• +676 23077

• leeintonga@gmail.com

• Location: Ma'ufanga, Nuku'alofa. Airport pick-up and drop-off available. 

Open Hours

• 8am – 5pm Monday to Friday

• 8am – 12pm Saturday

Prices

• Part day, whole day, and weekly rates on all cars

• qwerty