Tonga's mythical tale is that the islands of Tonga were fished up from the bottom of the sea by the Polynesian god Maui. The Tongans themselves are Polynesians who arrived from the west.

Not abandoning their adventurous spirit, Tonga became a feared empire, and under the influence of the Tu'i Tonga (the royal title for Tonga's ruler), Tongan warriors and their huge double-hulled canoes dominated the Pacific from Fiji, Samoa and Niue, to Tokelau and beyond.

Today, Tonga enjoys a more peaceful climate... With comfortable average daily temperatures ranging from 18 °C to 28 °C (with up to 35 °C on a hot summer day) Tonga is a nice place to be year-round (and there's always a beach nearby if you do need to cool off!)

[Introduction] | [History & Climate] | [Getting There & Around] | [Tongatapu] | [Ha'apai] | [Vava'u] | [Entertainment] | [Planning Your Visit] | [Events & Festivals] | [More Information]