Tongan law prohibits any person from appearing in a public place without a shirt. Dress conservatively. This means sleeves, and shorts or skirts below the knee. Wear shorts and a t-shirt when swimming at a public beach. Bathing suits and bikinis are fine at resorts, but most Tongans swim fully dressed.
From December to April, the weather is hot and humid, with considerable rainfall. From May to November, the weather is cool, dry and pleasant, with an average temperature of up to 22°C. Trade winds make for pleasant days and cool nights.
Month Avg Daily Min Avg Daily Max
Mean 20.2 26.1
Jan/Feb 24.2 29.7
Mar/April 21.8 28.2
May/Jun 17.6 24.6
July/Aug 17.8 23.9
Sept/Oct 19.5 25.5
Nov/Dec 23.1 28.1
There are two telecommunications companies in Tonga: Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC, phone 20 000, www.tcc.to) and Digicel Tonga (www.digiceltonga.com). The companies link Tonga to the world with the latest satellite system, email and mobile phones. TCC provides local, national and international communication services, fax, International Subscriber Dialling (ISD), Connection, International Roaming (U-Call) and Satellite Telephone.
Pay Phone Countrywide: open 24 hours. Please note that pay phones are located at the Tonga Post, Friend’s Café, Fua’amotu International Airport, outside TCC buildings and various locations in the town and rural areas as well as in ‘Eua, Ha’apai and Vava’u. You can use a phone card to make local and overseas calls.
Phone Provider Phone (676) Email
Digicel Tonga Ltd 876 1000 vivienne.walshe@digicelgroup.com
Lord’s Mobile 24 913 lords@kalianet.to
UCall Mobile Shop 27 006 ucall.mobile@tcc.to
Post Office
Tonga Post is located on Taufa’ahau Road in Nuku’alofa. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am-4pm.
Newspapers
Tongatapu Phone (676) Available
Taimi ‘o Tonga 27 477 Thursday
Talaki Newspaper 28 186 Wednesday
Kele’a 21 553 Wednesday
Tonga Chronicle 23 302 Wednesday
Online Newspaper: www.matangitonga.to
Tongatapu Location Phone (676)
Café Escape Fund Management Building 21 212
Friends Tourist Centre Taufa’ahau Road 26 323
Dataline Uata Building, Taufa’ahau Road 27 688
Tau’olunga Komipiuta Fasi 24 828
Info-Tech Fanga 27 399
TCC Fongoloa 20 000
Café Tropicana Neiafu 71 322
Coconet Café Neiafu 71 311
Lighthouse Café Neiafu 71 395
There are two ATM Machines in Vava’u
Vava’u
ANZ ANZ Bank, Neiafu 24 hrs, 7 days
Westpac Westpac Bank, Neiafu 24 hrs, 7 days
Banks
There are three commercial banks in Tonga: Westpac Bank of Tonga, ANZ Bank and MBF Bank. All three have branches in Neiafu, Vava’u.
ANZ Bank: Open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm and on Saturday 9am-12noon – Ma’ufanga branch only.
Westpac Bank of Tonga: Open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.
MBF: Open Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.
Vava’u Location Phone (676)
ANZ Bank Neiafu 70 670
MBF Neiafu 70 006
Westpac Bank of Tonga Neiafu 70 068
Eftpos
There are at present 224 Eftpos outlets found throughout Tonga for easy payment, which accept the following cards – Visa, MasterCard, Amex, JCB, Local Debit Card, Handicard, Visa Debit Card.
The Tongan pa’anga (TOP$) equals 100 seniti (cents).
Notes: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50.
Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners & JCB) are accepted at most major hotels and some restaurants and stores. Travellers cheques are widely accepted at major banks and hotels.
Up to date exchange rates are available from all the local banks and money exchanges. Also many hotels and accommodation providers will be able to give you the daily rate or a rough indication.
Business Hours
Government offices open from 8:30am-4:30pm and shops are generally open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Saturday shopping hours are from 8am to 1pm. On Sunday, all shops are closed.
Taxes
Consumption Tax (CT) of 15% applies to imports and domestic supplies of goods and services.
Tipping
Tongans do not expect tips, although no offense will be caused if special service is rewarded in this way.
Electricity
240 volts AC Hz/50 cycle.
Religion
This devoutly Christian nation honours Sundays across every island group – the Sabbath is declared sacred in the Tongan Constitution. Virtually every denomination is represented in Tonga with each church taking an interest in the development of the country.
Sunday Church Services
Church Tongan Service English Service
Free Wesleyan Church (FWC), Centenary 10-11am 4-5pm
Catholic Churches:
St. Anthony of Padua Basilica (Nuku’alofa) 10-11:30am 8-9:30am (every 1st Sunday)
St. Mary’s Cathedral (Ma’ufanga) 8-9:30am 10-11:30am
St. Michael’s Church (Sopu) 9:30am-11am(every Sunday)
Anglican Church, St. Paul (Fasi) 10-11am 8-9am (every Sunday)
Assemblies of God (Nuku’alofa) 10am-12noon
New Life Church (Havelu) 10am-12noon
Seventh Day Adventist Church (Mangaia) 10am-12noon 8-9am (every Sunday)
Free Church of Tonga (Nuku’alofa) 10-11am 3-4pm
Church of Tonga (Nuku’alofa) 10-11am 3-4pm
Emergency Services
Visitors requiring immediate emergency services in Tonga should call one of these emergency contact numbers.
Tonga Telecommunications emergency operators 911
Police 922
Hospital 933
Diplomatic Representatives
Country Phone (676) Email
HE Dr. Jonathan Austin New Zealand 23 122 Ext 0 moli.finau@mfat.govt.nz
HE Mr. Thomas Roth Australia 23 244 Ext 131 ahctonga@dfat.gov.au
HE Mr. Wang Donghua China 24 554 chinaemb_to@mfa.gov.cn
HE Mr. Yasuo Takase Japan 22 221 sepiuta.fusimalohi@nu.mofa.
go.jp
Honorary Consuls
Mr. Carl Sanft Germany 23 477 sanft@kalianet.to
Mrs. Tupou Pasikala Fiu France 7715 835 tupoupasikala@yahoo.fr
Ms. Aloma Johansson Sweden 25 269 johansson@kalianet.to
Mr. Tevita Puloka Korea 28300 tevita.puloka@group-
construction.com
Health Services
Hospitals
Vava’u Location Phone (676)
Prince Wellington
Ngu Hospital Neiafu 70 200
Doctors
Tongatapu Location Phone (676) Business Hours
‘Ana ‘Akauola Longolongo 25 725 4:30pm-7:30pm Mon-Fri,
9am-12noon Sat
Makameone Taumoepeau Kolofo’ou 24 939 5-7pm Mon-Fri
Semisi Latu Fasi 23 946 5-7pm Mon-Fri
Siale ‘Akau’ola Kolofo’ou 28 850 5-7pm Mon-Fri
Toakase Fakakovikaetau Havelu 28 390 5-7pm Mon-Fri
Veisinia Matoto Havelu 28 390 5-7pm Mon-Fri
Dentists
Vava’u Location Phone (676)
Prince Wellington
Ngu Hospital Neiafu 70 200 8:30am-4:30pm
Pharmacies
Tongatapu Location Phone (676) Business Hours
Fasi Pharmacy FWC Building, Fasi 22 955 9-5pm