Vava’u, one of the northern island groups in the Kingdom of Tonga, is your whale-swimming destination. See map in the left column.

To get to Vava'u - the island were we swim with the whales - you need to fly to the capital of Tonga Nuku'alofa, on the main island of Tongatapu and you will need to book a domestic flight from Tongatapu to the islands of Vava'u in the north of Tonga - this a 55min flight on the domestic airline, Chathams Pacific.

Domestic flights in Tonga:

The (professional and efficient) domestic airline 'Chatham Pacific' is the ONLY domestic airline operating the route from Tongatapu (Nuku'alofa) to Vava'u.

Chathams Pacific, New Zealand owned and operated by Chathams Airlines.

How to Book your Domestic flights with us!

We book them for you once you have booked your WhaleSwim tour and your international flights to Tonga.

Once you have booked your tour and your international flights into Tonga. . . . .

Step 1.
Log on to your online booking - click Edit and click Flights - along the top menu.

Step 2.
Scroll down to Book your internal/domestic flights to Vava'u

Step 3.
Complete the required information requested (day, dates of flights etc) and SEND to us!

EASY!!!

Please note. . . . . .

There are NO international or domestic flights in Tonga on Sundays.

Important information for 7 and 9 day tour guests:
IF YOUR TOUR BEGINS AT TREASUE ISLAND EU'EIKI ECO RESORT - YOU NEED TO BE IN VAVA'U BY 12.00 FOR THE WELCOME LUNCH ON FRIDAY (THE START OF YOUR TOUR)
Your boat transfer departs Neiafu at 2.30pm for Eu'eiki Island,
WE CANN0T ARRANGE ANOTHER TRANSFER FOR YOU.

Our 7 day tours finish on Saturday mornings, and the 9 day tours finish on Monday mornings. The earliest flight from Vava’u to Tongatapu on Mondays is at 7.00am, arriving in Tongatapu at 7.50am.
When booking your return flights please make sure you allow plenty of time for check in on your connecting international flights. Allow for the occassional delay.

Important information for 4-Day tour guests:
Our 4-day tours begin at 8.30am on the first morning of the tour, this means the whalewatching boat departs the jetty in Neiafu at 8.30am sharp. You will need to be in Neiafu at the jetty on time in your gear ready for a day on the water and swimming with the whales. Therefore, we recommend that you start your holiday a few days before the tour begins. We do not pick up from island resorts on the first day

WE CANNOT BOOK THE FIRST FLIGHT FROM TONGATAPU TO VAVA'U ON THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR 4-DAY TOUR - IT ARRIVES TO LATE FOR OUR 8.30AM DEPARTURE!

As explained, our 4-Day tours are designed as a reasonably priced 'add-on' to an 'already booked/planned' holiday in Tonga or a short holiday in Tonga, WhaleSwim Adventures is happy for you to book extra accommodation in our booking system BUT we cannot act as travel agents and give advice on activities or accommodation outside of your tour with us.

Check our Accommodation page for information on good quality accommodation - we have inspected all accommodation in Tonga - and only advise these properties. Book others at your own risk!

From Australia

Via Nuku'alofa to Vava'u
Pacific Blue/Polynesian Blue (Virgin Blue) Pacific Blue: www.flypacificblue.com flies direct to Tonga from Sydney every Monday & Thursday.
They sell snacks/meals onboard (meals are not included) - HOWEVER, they frequently run out half way down the plane, so we suggest that you bring food to have during the flight. Many of our guests have arrived in Tonga at 11pm very hungry and there is no food available in Nuku'alofa at that time of the night..
From Sydney to Tonga
Mondays & Thursdays's DJ183 departs 15:00 arrives in Tonga at 22:25

From Tonga to Sydney
Mondays & Thursdays DJ182 departs 11:40 arives in Sydney at 14:15

Other ways to get to Tonga
You can also fly via Auckland New Zealand with Air New Zealand - there flights are on special and you may find them to be cheaper that Pacific Blue to Tonga.
Air NZ: www.airnz.com.au

You can fly from any major city in Australia to Nadi Fiji and connect with the Air Pacific flights to the main island of Tonga. Air Pacific and Pacific Blue fly daily to Fiji.
Pacific Blue: www.flypacificblue.com       Air Pacific: www.airpacific.com

Please note: There are no international or domestic flights in Tonga on Sundays

From Europe

Via Nuku'alofa Tonga (the main island)
Connect with a Star Alliance (air points member) - the Air NZ flight from London or Los Angeles direct to Tonga.
Tues London-Los Angeles NZ01 16.15 - 19.30
Tues Los Angeles - Tonga NZ27 23.45 - 08.30 (Thurs)
Return
Tues Tonga - Los Angeles NZ26 22.00 - 14.15
Tues Los Angeles-London NZ02 16.40 - 11.00 (Wed)

Air Pacific operate flights to/from Tonga on Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays.

Please note: There are no international or domestic flights in Tonga on Sundays

 

From UK

Via Los Angeles to Nuku'alofa Tonga (the main island)
There is a once-a-week flight with Air NZ www.airnz.co.uk via Los Angeles to/from Tonga - departing Heathrow every Tuesday and arriving in Tonga at 8.30am Thursday morning .Departs Tonga every Tuesday night and arrive back in London on Wednesday.
Tues London-Los Angeles NZ01 16.15 - 19.30
Tues Los Angeles - Tonga NZ27 23.45 - 08.30 (Thurs)
Tues Tonga - Los Angeles NZ26 22.00 - 14.15
Tues Los Angeles-London NZ02 16.40 - 11.00 (Wed)

Call Trailfinders or Travel House to see if they have a better fare.

You need to then book a domestic flight in Tonga to Vava'u to meet your WhaleSwim expedition. See information in right column.

Air Pacific operate flights to/from Tonga on Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays..

From USA & Canada
Direct Flight from Los Angles to Tonga

There is an Air NZ flight every Tuesday from Los Angeles to Tonga arriving Thursday morning and returns every Tuesday night arriving back in Los Angeles at 2.15pm. (Yes, it arrives before your leave!) You fly over the International Dateline therefore loosing or gaining a day. www.airnz.com (TBU is the code for Tonga)
Air NZ:
Tues      NZ 027 LAX-TBU (Tonga)    depart 23.15 - arrive 08.15 ( + 2 days Thurs )
Tues      NZ 026 TBU-LAX                  depart 21.00 - arrive 13.40 ( same day )

Air Pacific:
LAX To Nadi Fiji:
FJ811 LAX-NAN 22.30  05.15 (arrival PLUS 2 days - Thurs - Sat - Mon - Tues)
Nadi Fiji - LAX
Monday            
Flight FJ 810            Departs Nadi Fiji 11.20pm              Arrive Los Angeles 3.10pm (same day)
Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday - Sunday
Flight FJ812            Depart Nadi 10.00pm                      Arrives Los Angeles 1.15pm (arrive same day)

From New Zealand

There are 2 international airlines servicing Tonga - Air NZ and Pacific Blue.

Via Nuku'alofa Tonga to Vava'u
Air NZ offer good prices online www.airnz.co.nz and specials at The Flight Centre from time to time.
You can also connect any cheap deal to Auckland (with and all major international airline) and connect with the Air NZ flights to/from Tonga. (TBU is code for Tonga)
2009 Schedule
Auckland to Tonga
Monday NZ066 AKL - TBU 07.15 – 11.05
Tuesday NZ026 AKL – TBU 15.45 – 19.35
Wed NZ066 AKL - TBU 16.00 – 19.50
Frid NZ064 AKL - TBU 22.10 – 02.00 (Sat)
Sat NZ064 AKL - TBU 13.30 – 19.30 (no domestic flight connections to vava'u until Monday Monday)
Tonga to Auckland
Monday NZ065 TBU – AKL 12.05 – 14.05
Wed NZ867 TBU – AKL 20.50 – 22.50
Thurs NZ027 TBU – AKL 09.30 – 11.30
Sat NZ063 TBU – AKL 03.00 - 05.00
Sat NZ065 TBU – AKL 20.40 – 22.40

Pacific Blue/Polynesian Blue http://www.flypacificblue.com
Have several flight a week to Nuku'alofa, Tonga - check online for the best deals.

 

Air Pacific operate flights to/from Tonga on Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays..